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Indonesia launches Southeast Asia's fastest train
Deutsche Welle
02 Oct 2023, 14:45
Southeast Asia's fastest train route was officially opened in Indonesia on Monday.
The key project under China's Belt and Road initiative connects Indonesia's capital Jakarta to Bandung, the heavily populated capital of West Java province.
The project was largely funded by China and cost $7.3 billion (€6.9 billion). With speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), the bullet train cuts travel time between the two big cities from three hours to about 40 minutes.
But the train, called "Whoosh," had been beset with delays and increasing costs. The 142-kilometer (88.23-mile) rail was first meant to be launched in in 2019.
Indonesian president inaugurates train
Despite criticisms of high costs and doubts over commercial benefit, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has championed the project.
"The name is inspired by the sound of a rushing high-speed train," Jokowi, as the president is popularly called, said during the launch.
He said the train with its high speed was "the modernization of our mass transportation that is environmentally friendly."
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for maritime and investment, said China Railway has agreed to transfer its technology to Indonesia so high-speed trains can be made domestically.
A Chinese-made bullet train
The project, largely funded by China, was constructed by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China, known as PT KCIC.
PT KCIC is a joint venture between an Indonesian consortium of four state-owned companies and China Railway International Co. Ltd.
The rail deal was signed in October 2015 after Indonesia selected China over Japan following a fierce bidding war.
It was financed with a loan from the China Development Bank for 75% of the cost. The remaining 25% came from the consortium’s own funds.
Indonesia broke ground on the project in 2016, and it was planned to cost 66.7 trillion rupiah ($4.3 billion), but the amount grew to 113 trillion rupiah ($7.3 billion).
The project faced problems ranging from land procurement issues to pandemic-related delays.
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Hurricane Helene: / 100 Bodies Recovered in the U.S., Death Toll May Exceed 600
Hurricane Helene, originating from the Atlantic Ocean, has claimed at least 100 lives across six southwestern U.S. states. However, Washington fears the death toll could surpass 600.
During a briefing at the White House on Monday, Liz Sherwood-Randall, the domestic advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, expressed this concern. She reported that rescue workers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have recovered 39 bodies in North Carolina, 25 in South Carolina, 17 in Georgia, 14 in Florida, 4 in Tennessee, and 1 in Virginia.
“We fear that the actual death toll from this storm could exceed 600,” Sherwood-Randall said at the press conference.
In a separate event the same day, President Joe Biden referred to Hurricane Helene as "horribly devastating" and remarked, "In my lifetime, I’ve seen few hurricanes as destructive as this. Search and rescue operations for the missing continue, and relief efforts are ongoing. We have also begun the process of restoring communication systems. We are fully committed to standing by those affected."
Biden announced that he will visit the six affected states by the end of this week, starting with North Carolina, which suffered the most damage from the storm.
Hurricane Helene made landfall near Big Bend, Florida, at around 11 PM local time on Thursday. Winds at the time were traveling at 140 mph. The storm’s destructive force uprooted countless trees, downed power lines, damaged homes, and flooded roads in and around Big Bend. Due to its extensive damage, the U.S. weather office classified Helene as a Category 4 hurricane.
After hitting Big Bend, Helene moved towards Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina, gradually losing strength. By Friday afternoon, Helen had weakened into a regular seasonal storm, with wind speeds dropping to 35–55 kilometers per hour.
According to FEMA, Helene retained its strength for six hours after landfall in Big Bend before gradually diminishing into a seasonal storm.
Officials from the U.S. Weather Service have stated that Hurricane Helene ranks 14th in terms of destructive power among all hurricanes to hit the U.S. and third in terms of width. When it struck Florida, the storm’s diameter was 675 kilometers.
Due to its vast size, Helene caused heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flash floods across large parts of Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
In the past few days, the weather in most areas has improved, and floodwaters have receded. However, road and communication systems have yet to return to normal. U.S. authorities have confirmed that rescue operations continue in all affected areas.
(Source: Al Jazeera)
Crew on Vietnamese Fishing Boat Injured in Attack in South China Sea
A Vietnamese fishing boat was attacked in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands, claimed by both China and Vietnam, and 10 crew members were injured, Vietnamese state media said Monday. ABC news.
The Vietnamese boat radioed Sunday to report the attack, saying three fishermen suffered broken limbs and seven others received other injuries, the Tien Phong newspaper quoted a local official at Binh Chau commune in Quang Ngai province as saying.
It was not clear what country's boat attacked the Vietnamese vessel, and commune officials told The Associated Press they had nothing to add to the newspaper report.
Vietnam's border guard is investigating the case but has not yet made any information available.
The Paracel Islands are about 400 kilometers (250 miles) off Vietnam's eastern coast and about the same distance southeast of the Chinese province of Hainan.
Both countries claim them, as does the self-governing island of Taiwan.
The newspaper report said the attack on the boat occurred in Vietnamese waters but did not specify exactly where it was.
China claims almost all of the strategically vital South China Sea as its territory, which has caused disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Beijing has been increasingly assertive in pursuing its claims, which has brought China into confrontations with the Philippines and Vietnam.
The United States has no claims in the South China Sea itself but has deployed Navy and Air Force assets to patrol the waterway, through which around $5 trillion in global trade transits each year.
China threatened “serious consequences” last year after the U.S. Navy sailed a destroyer around the Paracel Islands in a “freedom of navigation operation" challenging what it called “excessive maritime claims."
The Paracel Islands have been under de facto Chinese control since 1974 when Beijing seized them from Vietnam in a brief naval conflict.
Last year, satellite photos showed China appeared to be building an airstrip on Triton Island in the Paracel group. As it was laid out at the time, it appeared it would be big enough to accommodate turboprop aircraft and drones but not fighter jets or bombers.
China has also had a small harbor and buildings on the island for years, along with a helipad and radar arrays.
China has refused to provide details of its island construction work other than to say it is aimed at promoting global navigation safety.
It has rejected accusations that it is militarizing the waterway, a key global and security route that is also believed to be sitting atop vast undersea deposits of gas and oil.
81-Year-Old Model Misses Bid for Oldest Miss Universe Contestant
An 81-year-old model fell short in her bid to become the oldest Miss Universe contestant after competing in the South Korean pageant against much younger rivals. ABC news.
Dressed in a beaded white gown, the silver-haired Choi Soon-hwa strutted across the stage and performed in a singing contest at the Miss Universe Korea pageant held Monday at a hotel in South Korea's capital, Seoul.
She missed out on the crown but did take home the "best dressed" award.
Han Ariel, a 22-year-old fashion school student, won the contest and will head to Mexico City for the Miss Universe pageant in November.
Choi, a former hospital care worker who began her modeling career in her 70s, was announced as a Miss Universe Korea finalist earlier this month along with 31 other contestants.
"Even at this age, I dared to grab onto an opportunity and take on a challenge," Choi told The Associated Press hours before Monday's pageant.
"I want people to look at me and realize that you can live healthier and find joy in life when you find things you want to do and challenge yourself to achieve that dream."
It would have been impossible for Choi to compete in the pageant a year ago as Miss Universe had limited the participation to women between 18 and 28. The age limit, which had long drawn criticism, was lifted this year to make the competition more modern and diverse.
Organizers of the Korean pageant also removed the swimsuit competition and eligibility requirements related to education, height, and foreign language abilities to open the contest to more women.
Thailand: Several Dead in School Bus Fire
A school bus caught fire in the Thai capital, Bangkok, with multiple people feared dead, officials said Tuesday.
The bus was carrying 38 students and six teachers on a school trip from Wat Khao Phraya school in Uthai Thani province, when a tire burst, causing the vehicle to crash into a barrier.
Government sources said 16 have been hospitalized, and 25 are feared dead.
A rescue worker told a local news channel the accident occurred around noon in a northern Bangkok suburb. The crash ignited the fuel tanks sparking the fire, the worker added.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra offered her condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
"As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased," she said in a post on X.
She added that authorities were reaching the site and would take care of medical and emergency expenses.
25 unaccounted for
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit told reporters the bus was traveling from central Uthai Thani province to Ayutthaya on a school trip.
"As far as we know now, three teachers and 16 students got out. For those still missing, we are not clear yet," he told reporters.
Local media footage showed huge flames and plumes of smoke coming from the bus before fire crews extinguished the blaze.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the death toll could not be confirmed as officials were still investigating the scene. He feared that around 25 were dead.
He said the driver had survived but fled the scene.
Rescue group Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 said in a Facebook post they had found at least 10 bodies on the bus. The group added that at least 19 people had survived.
Thailand has poor road safety conditions. Outdated vehicles and unsafe driving contribute to its high road accident death toll.
Israel Says Iran Launched Missile Attack
Highlights:
Israel's military said that Iran had launched missiles towards its territory
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has fired dozens of missiles at Israel
The US has warned that Iran may be planning an attack against Israel
Israel's military has confirmed the launching of 'limited' ground raids in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah has denied that Israeli forces entered Lebanon
The Israeli military said on Tuesday night that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel. It was not immediately clear how many or what type of missiles they were, but Israel had already said it was prepared for such an attack. Air raid sirens also went off in parts of the country.
US and Israeli defense officials discuss 'imminent threat' from Iran
Earlier, the US and Israeli defense ministers spoke on Tuesday after the US said they suspected that Iran was preparing an attack against Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin "discussed the imminent threat of an Iranian missile attack against Israel," Israel's Defense Ministry said.
"The minister and secretary discussed Israel's operational readiness to defend its citizens and military assets, as well as US force posture in the region." The Israeli military earlier said it had not detected any "aerial threat" from Iran, but said it was ready to defend itself.
Explosions were heard and seen over the skies of Israel after the Israeli military said that Iran had launched missiles toward Israel. It was not clear whether the explosions came from strikes or Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system. Reuters cited Israeli media as saying that Iran had fired more than 100 missiles in total.
Tel Aviv resident says sirens still being heard
Al Jazeera has just spoken to Akiva Eldar, a Tel Aviv resident, who has been sharing what’s been happening in the last few minutes. “We’re not far from the Ministry of Defence and the Israeli military HQ and we’re still hearing sirens in Tel Aviv,” he said. “We’re not really safe as long as war is still on. There have been clear instructions to stay in the safe rooms and bomb shelters, whoever has them in their houses.”
(Source: Al Jazeera and Deutsche Welle)
Israel to Launch Powerful Strike in the Middle East Tonight
Iran launched at least 200 missile attacks targeting Israel. In retaliation, Israel will carry out strikes in the Middle East tonight, Wednesday night. On Tuesday night (October 1), Israel's military spokesperson Daniel Hagari issued this threat, as reported by the BBC.
In a statement, Hagari said, "Israel and the U.S. air defense systems have effectively responded to the Iranian missile attacks."
He added, "Iran carried out serious actions on Wednesday night, pushing the Middle East toward heightened tensions. Iran will face the consequences of its actions tonight."
Daniel Hagari also mentioned, "This is not the first time Iran has attacked, but this missile attack was extensive, and we have prepared a necessary defensive response."
The Israeli military spokesperson further stated, "The impact of Iran's attack was minimal. Due to the responsible behavior of the public, the activation of our defense systems, and the steps taken by our partners to protect the state of Israel, there have been no significant casualties. We will continue to operate in this way, both offensively and defensively."
Meanwhile, in the face of Iran's missile attacks, Israel's security cabinet took shelter in an emergency bunker. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a meeting there, after which he warned Iran, stating that they would pay a heavy price for the missile attack on Israel.
Notably, Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory on Tuesday night. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the targets of the attack were three military bases in Israel's capital, Tel Aviv.
Iran's Attack on Israel: What the Future Holds?
Iran launched hundreds of missiles towards Israel, with some hitting Israeli territory. This marks the second attack by Iran this year, following a similar incident in April when it fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. Israeli military officials said the immediate threat from Iran seems to have passed, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Iran will face "consequences" for this assault.
Scale of the Attack
The Israeli military reported that Iran fired approximately 180 missiles towards Israel, making this attack slightly larger than the one in April, which involved around 110 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israeli defense systems, but some reportedly hit military bases, schools, and restaurants. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that 90% of their projectiles reached their intended targets, stating that hypersonic missiles were used for the first time. According to IRGC sources, three Israeli military bases were hit.
A man in Jericho, in the West Bank, was killed by debris from the missiles. Israeli officials have not reported significant injuries, though two people were slightly wounded by shrapnel.
Reasons Behind the Attack
The IRGC stated that the missile strikes were a response to Israel's recent assassination of senior leaders in Iran-backed militias, including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan in Beirut on September 27. The IRGC also referred to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, though Israel has not confirmed involvement in Haniyeh's death.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, personally authorized the missile attack. Iran does not recognize Israel’s right to exist and has long supported paramilitary groups that oppose Israel. In return, Israel views Iran as a direct existential threat and has conducted covert operations against Tehran for years.
Effectiveness of Israel’s Defense Systems
Israel's air defense network, including the well-known Iron Dome, was activated to intercept missiles. While the Iron Dome primarily defends against short-range rockets, such as those fired by Hamas or Hezbollah, Israel's multi-layered defense system also includes David's Sling, which handles medium- to long-range rockets and ballistic missiles. For long-range missiles flying outside Earth's atmosphere, Israel deploys the Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors.
Reactions from Israel’s Allies
In response to the missile attack, U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. support for Israel, labeling the Iranian strike as "defeated and ineffective." He also instructed U.S. forces in the region to assist Israel’s defense efforts. The U.S. Navy launched around a dozen interceptors at Iranian missiles, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the U.S. had successfully intercepted several Iranian missiles.
Footage verified by the BBC showed missile interceptions over Amman, Jordan, and it was confirmed that Jordan intercepted missiles in the April attack as well. The UK also played a role, with British fighter jets supporting Israel, as they did in April. UK Defense Secretary John Healey stated that British forces helped prevent further escalation, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer affirmed the UK's support for Israel's right to defend itself. France and Japan also condemned Iran’s actions, urging all parties to avoid further escalation.
What Could Happen Next?
Netanyahu warned that Iran had made a "big mistake" and would "pay for it." Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Haggari indicated that Israel would act when and where it chooses. Iran’s IRGC responded by warning that Tehran's next retaliation would be even more devastating if Israel strikes back.
Following the missile attack, Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in Beirut, targeting Hezbollah positions. Residents in the southern suburbs of the city, where Hezbollah operates, were warned to evacuate as tensions remain high.
(Based on BBC)
