Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - Floods that have been inundating certain parts of Riau Province in Sumatra Island over the past two months have claimed the lives of six people, with majority of the victims being children, the local search and rescue agency said. The Pekanbaru National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported here that two of the six victims were found dead on Thursday. They were residents of Kampar District, who went missing for three days. Walid (27) drowned in the overflowing Kampar River in Simpang Tibun Village, Kampar Subdistrict, and Mukhlis alias Ilik was found dead in Kuok Village, Bangkinang Barat Subdistrict. According to the Basarnas spokesman, Kukuh Widodo, another victim, identified as Gilang (14), drowned in a creek of Payung Sekaki Subdistrict, Pekanbaru city. The Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) noted that the flood waters have caused six people, mostly children, to get drowned. On Dec 10, a child named Zasiah Sapana (4) drowned in Ranah Bukit … [Read more...] about Floods kill six people in Riau: Rescue agency
Transportation Ministry plans seven pilot projects in 2019
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Directorate General of Land Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation will build seven piers, which will become pilot projects in seven provinces, in 2019. "In the 2019 budget year, we will build pilot projects in seven provinces, which include all of our service improvements at the pier," Budi Setiyadi, Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday. Setiyadi mentioned that the seven locations, including for ports of rivers and lakes, are the ports in Lake Toba, Ampera River Port, and River Port in Asmat District. Meanwhile, crossing ports include the Kalabahi Ferry Port, Tarakan Ferry Port, Pamatata Ferry Port, and Peyeberangan Daruba Harbor. The total budget for the construction of the seven piers is Rp676.2 billion, with details for the construction of river and lake ports reaching Rp660.8 billion, and the construction of ferry ports reaching Rp15.4 billion. He … [Read more...] about Transportation Ministry plans seven pilot projects in 2019
Woman accused of being Russian agent expected to change plea
WASHINGTON — A woman accused of being a secret agent for the Russian government is expected to plead guilty. Maria Butina is scheduled to appear before a judge in Washington later Thursday morning. The 30-year-old gun rights activist is accused of gathering intelligence on American officials and political organizations. Prosecutors say Butina's work was directed by a former Russian lawmaker. They say she worked to develop relationships with American politicians through her contacts with the National Rifle Association. Butina's court appearance comes days after her lawyers and prosecutors filed legal papers asking to change her plea. They said they had "resolved" the case. A judge must sign off on any plea deal. Butina's lawyer has argued she is simply a student interested in better U.S.-Russia relations. … [Read more...] about Woman accused of being Russian agent expected to change plea
Veteran investigative journalist Ron Nixon joins AP
NEW YORK — Ron Nixon, an acclaimed reporter, editor and data journalist, will join The Associated Press as its international investigations editor, based in Washington. Nixon, currently homeland security correspondent for The New York Times, will manage a team of reporters based in London, Cairo, New Delhi, Shanghai and Washington, and work closely with colleagues around the globe to conduct ambitious investigative and accountability reporting on a variety of topics. The appointment was announced Thursday by Michael Hudson, who heads AP's investigative journalism. "Ron brings an impressive range of experience and know-how to the job," Hudson said. "As an editor and reporter, he's adept at immersing himself in all kinds of stories — from investigations of global propaganda, to the day-to-day workings of America's homeland security apparatus." Nixon has covered border and aviation security, immigration, cybercrime and violent extremism at The Times. He has reported in recent … [Read more...] about Veteran investigative journalist Ron Nixon joins AP
Vox mocked for seeking constitutional overhaul so Ocasio-Cortez can run for president
Vox claimed that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s initials, AOC, make her “an honest-to-goodness political superstar.” (AP) Liberal political website Vox is getting accused of jumping the shark after publishing an appeal to “fix the Constitution ASAP” so that 29-year-old incoming Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can run for president – claiming “there’s no time like the present to start working to abolish arbitrary qualifications.” Wednesday's lengthy piece, “It’s ridiculous that it’s unconstitutional for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for president,” declared that everyone from immigrants to recent college grads should be eligible. Vox co-founder and senior correspondent Matthew Yglesias wrote that “phenomenon” Ocasio-Cortez “is the biggest star in the Democratic Party,” and therefore it is “completely ridiculous” that the Constitution makes anyone under the age … [Read more...] about Vox mocked for seeking constitutional overhaul so Ocasio-Cortez can run for president