Latest news with #Sumatra
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Four islands off Sumatra belong to Aceh, Prabowo rules, ending province's dispute with North Sumatra
JAKARTA: Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto has ruled that four contested islands off the northwestern coast of Sumatra belong to Aceh, putting an end to the province's long-running dispute with neighbouring North Sumatra. The Indonesian government decided the islands of Lipan, Panjang, Mangkir Gadang and Mangkir Ketek were administratively part of Aceh province after a limited Cabinet meeting led by the president on Tuesday (Jun 17). The islands had been at the centre of a bureaucratic tug-of-war between Aceh – a special autonomous province with broader self-governing powers than other provinces – and North Sumatra after a recent ministerial decree listed them as part of Central Tapanuli regency in North Sumatra. The decree, issued on Apr 25, prompted protests and renewed scrutiny of the islands' rightful status. Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian clarified on Tuesday that Prabowo's decision was grounded in official documents dating back over three decades. Among them was a 1992 decree that unambiguously placed the four islands within the jurisdiction of Aceh's Singkil regency. 'We found an original document from Nov 24, 1992 – yellowed with age but still intact – that clearly includes the islands as part of Aceh. It was compelling enough for us to prepare formal records confirming its authenticity,' said Tito. Prabowo's decision followed joint consultations with the governors of both affected provinces. Aceh governor Muzakir Manaf and North Sumatra governor Bobby Nasution both participated in the virtual meeting and signed a formal agreement recognising Aceh's administrative claim to the islands. Muzakir welcomed the decision, saying it brought clarity to an issue that had caused unnecessary tension. 'This should settle everything. No party is at a loss here, and most importantly, the islands remain under the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia,' he said. Bobby echoed the sentiment, urging residents of both provinces to avoid divisive rhetoric. 'Aceh is our neighbour. Let's not be swayed by provocations or misinformation. What matters most is unity,' said Bobby, who is also the son-in-law of former President Joko Widodo. According to news outlet Jakarta Globe, a survey conducted in 2022 found the islands to be uninhabited. But they contain cultural and religious markers such as graves and monuments erected by the Aceh government. Lipan island is mostly submerged due to rising sea levels, news outlet Tempo reported. Panjang is the largest of the four islands with an area of 45.81 hectares, the size of about 45 football fields. Mangkir Ketek has an area of 6.36 hectares while Mangkir Gadang's area is 7.48 hectares. They are 1.2km to 2.4km from mainland Sumatra, Tempo reported. The dispute over the islands has attracted heightened attention in recent years, partly due to their strategic and economic potential. They are near the Offshore West Aceh oil and gas block currently operated by Conrad Asia Energy, which has estimated gas reserves of 296 billion cubic feet, reported Jakarta Globe. They are also near the Offshore North West Aceh block, which is believed to hold vast energy resources. Muzakir said the islands are also believed to hold valuable reserves of natural gas.
The Guardian
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘It's very easy to make yourself appear like Bono': Warren Ellis on opening an animal sanctuary in Sumatra
When the pandemic forced musicians all over the world to cancel tours, Warren Ellis decided to take his career in a new direction. From the bounds of his home he co-founded an animal sanctuary in Sumatra, Indonesia. In 2021 the Dirty Three virtuoso and Nick Cave collaborator was introduced to the veteran animal rights activist Femke den Haas. Together they established the centre for old, disabled and displaced animals who couldn't be released into the wild. The sanctuary – Ellis Park – now lends its name to a documentary by the True History of the Kelly Gang film-maker Justin Kurzel: a stirring portrait of the park's inhabitants and dedicated caretakers. Immortalising Ellis's poignant first visit to the park in 2023, the documentary traverses the lush vegetation of Sumatra and ventures to Ellis's home town, Ballarat, and his studio in Paris, offering a glimpse into the life of a famously private Australian musician. 'I was very concerned at one point when we had half filmed it, and tried to get it stopped,' he says. Kurzel first heard about sanctuary during a catchup with Ellis at the 2021 Cannes film festival. 'Justin said to me, 'I'm curious why you did it and I think the answer's back where you were born,'' Ellis says. Returning to the schoolyard of his childhood and to his parents' home, the film's first half shows Ellis reckoning with his past in real time. In striking, intimate vignettes, he reflects on the indelible influence of his father – a musician who sacrificed the seeds of his dream career to care for his young family, and who taught Ellis songwriting by singing verses from poetry books. 'We filmed in there four days before the whole family disintegrated,' Ellis says, recalling his parents' ill health and his father's eventual death. 'I never thought I'd put that much of myself in [the film], and, as it transpired, the camera was on me when there were some big life things going on.' It was a conversation with a film-maker and fellow Cave accomplice, Andrew Dominik, that soothed Ellis's anxieties about being overexposed. 'If you're going to get something from it,' Dominik told him, 'you've got to open yourself up to the process.' When Ellis met Den Haas, the latter was running the Sumatra Wildlife Center, a 'tiny' reserve that provided vital rehabilitation to injured wildlife, especially victims of abuse and the illegal exotic pet trade. During their first conversation, Den Haas told Ellis about a 5,000 sq m plot of land neighbouring the centre. He immediately promised to buy it and donate the land to provide essential housing for unreleasable animals. 'He said, 'Doubts are toxic. There are no doubts; we just do it,'' Den Haas remembers. 'Within two weeks, we started to look at the land and make the deal with the landowners.' Within three or four months, the centre's size had increased fivefold and the sanctuary was operational. About this time 1,300 trafficked animals were confiscated nearby. For Den Haas, the timing was 'magical'. With the sanctuary up and running, her team now had the resources to offer these animals – many of them captured in Africa – life-saving veterinary care and shelter. Ellis Park provides a window into the lives of these animals and their caretakers, introduced in balletic, slow-motion closeups thanks to the deft, unobtrusive work of its cinematographer, Germain McMicking. 'Not once was his presence felt; he just dances around everything,' Ellis says. Sign up to What's On Get the best TV reviews, news and features in your inbox every Monday after newsletter promotion While Den Haas has previously protected the animals from overreaching film crews, she appreciated the sensitivity of Kurzel's team. 'They really came and filmed things how they were … And when you're watching the film, you get to see [the animals'] emotions and understand they're all individuals and have a unique and horrific background.' Ellis was conscious of the risks involved in documenting his own philanthropy: 'The problem is, it's very easy to make yourself appear a Bono-like character who's just grandstanding.' Upon his arrival in Sumatra, Den Haas welcomes him with open arms, inviting him to release an eagle rehabilitated by the centre. For Ellis, this posed a dilemma: he didn't want to 'look like some privileged guy that has built an animal sanctuary [to] blow out the candles [when] it's not even my birthday'. But with Den Haas's coaxing, Ellis accepts the honour in the film's moving climax. 'He didn't want to be in the spotlight, like, here's the guy that made it all possible,' Den Haas says. 'But he did make it all possible.' Ellis describes the film as an 'accident' that developed organically through his trust in Kurzel. Accordingly, the documentary has a living quality. The score – by Ellis, of course – was recorded as it was made, with the musician shown tinkering on his violin in paddocks and monkey cages, as well as improvising in the studio. These images cede to scenes shot in Sumatra while the embryonic music lingers – a reflection of the sanctuary's evolving form. Working on a film 'enables you to step out of that protective comfort zone that a band allows you to have and just do your thing for a common cause', says Ellis, for whom 'preciousness' is a young person's game. This common cause is clear in Ellis Park. Since the film was shot, the sanctuary has received an influx of bear cubs and baby gibbons whose mothers have been killed or injured by perpetrators of the illegal pet trade. Den Haas hopes it will soon shelter the bears in forested enclosures. The sanctuary is still growing, and so is Ellis. 'You know, I went over there expecting the film to be about abused monkeys and primates and birds,' he says, 'and I left there realising the most extraordinary animals are people.' Ellis Park is out now in Australian cinemas. The film will be released in the UK and Ireland in autumn 2025
ABC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Warren Ellis on why he bought a Sumatran wildlife sanctuary — with Justin Kurzel and Zan Rowe
Warren Ellis is best known as the charismatic violinist with legendary Australian instrumental rock trio Dirty Three and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Justin Kurzel's new documentary Ellis Park is a both portrait of Ellis as he comes to terms with his Ballarat childhood, and a film about the devastating impacts of wildlife trafficking, and why Ellis was driven to buy land in Sumatra to home rescued animals. The pair join the ABC"S Zan Rowe at the film's premiere to talk about their collaboration, the act of creation, and of giving back. This conversation was recorded at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Speakers Warren Ellis Musician, Dirty Three, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and more Film score composer Author, Nina Simone's Gum: A Memoir of Things Lost and Found Justin Kurzel Director, Ellis Park, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, True History of the Kelly Gang, Snowtown and more Zan Rowe (host) Presenter, Take 5, Double J and ABC TV
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Fact Finding
There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Fact Finding Constructor: Catherine Cetta Editor: Amanda Rafkin GONG (1A: ___ bath (meditation practice that involves healing vibrations)) As is suggested by its name, a GONG bath involves being immersed in sound produced by GONGs. They are touted as promoting deep relaxation and stress relief, as well as enhanced creativity. ETTA (9A: "Tell Mama" singer James) "Tell Mama" is the title song from ETTA James' seventh studio album, released in 1968. The song was one of the biggest hits of ETTA James' career, but in her 2003 memoir, the singer confessed that she never cared for the song. OREO (13A: Cookie with a Double Stuf variety) Our crossword friend OREO is making its first June appearance and its 14th appearance of 2025. APES (14A: Bonobos and orangutans) Bonobos are an endangered species of great APE that live in an area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. Orangutans are a red-haired species of great APE that spend most of their time in trees. They are found in Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia. LITTLE CAT FEET (19A: Metaphor for fog's silent arrival, in a Carl Sandburg poem) "Fog" is a poem by Carl Sandburg that was first published in 1916. "The fog comes / on LITTLE CAT FEET / It sits looking / over harbor and city / on silent haunches / and then moves on." My cat, Willow, says, "Hey, I have LITTLE CAT FEET!" HOP (24A: Sock ___ ('60s dance movement)) Sock HOPs were dances that were often held in school gymnasiums. The dances earned their name because dancers were required to remove their shoes in order to avoid damaging the gyms' varnished floors. I remember going to a sock HOP when I was in junior high school. That wasn't in the '60s though – it was 1977. ALASKA (28A: Denali's state) Denali is a mountain in the Alaskan Range and is the centerpiece of Denali National Park in ALASKA. With a summit elevation of 20,310 feet, Denali is the highest mountain in North America. AMINO (33A: ___ acids (molecules that combine to form proteins)) Over 500 AMINO acids (organic compounds containing AMINO and carboxylic acid groups) exist in nature. Only 22 of these AMINO acids are proteinogenic, that is, incorporated into proteins as directed by the genetic code of organisms. As proteins are the building blocks of muscles, AMINO acids, which are the building blocks of proteins, are necessary for muscle growth. Hooray for science in the crossword! IGA (48A: Tennis star Swiatek) IGA Świątek, a professional tennis player from Poland, won the French Open in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the U.S. Open in 2022. GOBLIN (1D: Green ___ (Spider-Man villain)) In Marvel Comics, the alias, Green GOBLIN, has been used by at least four different supervillains, the first of which was Norman Osborne. The Green GOBLIN's superpowers (and insanity) are chemically induced, the result of ingesting Goblin formula, an unstable performance-enhancing serum. The weapons used by GREEN GOBLIN resemble bats, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns. EPIC (6D: "Beowulf," e.g.) Beowulf is an English EPIC poem dating to between 700-1000 CE. Its author is unknown. Beowulf, named for its hero, is one of the most often translated works of Old English literature. XENA (7D: TV's warrior princess) XENA is the title character of the TV show XENA: Warrior Princess, which originally aired from 1995 to 2001. Lucy Lawless portrayed XENA. ALEX (15D: Two-time Women's World Cup champion Morgan) ALEX Morgan is a former professional soccer player. She played for a number of teams during her career, including NWSL's San Diego Wave FC (2022-2024). ALEX Morgan also played on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, and was a part of the 2015 and 2019 World Cup-winning teams. I have previously written about her "sipping tea" goal celebration at the 2019 World Cup. Fun fact: In the 2018 movie: ALEX & Me, ALEX Morgan plays a fictionalized version of herself. PAD (26D: ___ see ew) PAD see ew is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish. We have seen this dish a couple of times recently in clues for the word "Thai." RARITY (43D: Black sheep or blue lobster, for example) I wasn't able to find specific data about the RARITY of black sheep, but I found a couple of sources that said a blue lobster is a one in 2 million occurrence. That is indeed a RARITY. TAPAS (50D: Chopitos and croquetas, e.g.) TAPAS are a variety of appetizers or snacks that are popular in Spanish cuisine. Chopitos are battered and fried cuttlefish (baby squid). Croquetas are a type of fried dumpling made of a thick batter surrounding a filling. NEMO (52D: "Finding Dory" fish) Finding Dory is a 2016 animated movie that is a sequel and a spin-off of the 2003 movie Finding NEMO. A couple of other clues I especially enjoyed: YELP (64A: "You stepped on my foot!" sound) TSK TSK (8D: "I disapprove!" sound) LITTLE CAT FEET (19A: Metaphor for fog's silent arrival, in a Carl Sandburg poem) I CAN'T FACE IT (36A: "This is too much for me!") INTERNET CAFE (51A: Hangout spots where customers pay for access to the web) FACT FINDING: An anagram of the word FACT is found in each theme answer: LITTLE CAT FEET, I CAN'T FACE IT, and INTERNET CAFE. I'll be honest – it took me a moment to FIND these FACTs. At first I was not looking for a hidden anagram theme. Once I realized that FACT, I was able to identify the scrambled FACTs: CAT/F, T/FAC, and T/CAF. Thank you, Catherine, for this enjoyable puzzle. One more thing today: The first blog I wrote about a USA Today crossword was about the June 9, 2020 puzzle. That means today is my 5th blogiversary! I'm delighted to still be writing about the USA Today crossword, as doing so brings me great joy. I'm ecstatic (and honestly a little amazed) to now be doing so for USA Today. And I continue to be grateful for you, the readers. USA TODAY's Daily Crossword Puzzles Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Crossword Blog & Answers for June 9, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher
Sky News
31-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
Indonesia quarry collapse: Number of dead rises to 14
The number of people killed in Indonesia after a rock collapse at a quarry has risen to 14, officials said on Saturday. The Gunung Kuda quarry in the province of West Java gave way a day earlier, crushing more than 20 people. Twelve injured people were rescued and 10 bodies were recovered from the debris during search efforts on Friday. Rescuers then retrieved three more bodies later that day, while another worker died in hospital, bringing the death toll to 14, the National Search and Rescue Agency said in a statement. Five more people are being treated in hospital with serious injuries. But six to eight others are thought to be still trapped under the rubble and the search continues. Local television showed emergency personnel, police, soldiers and volunteers desperately digging through the debris at the foot of a steep limestone cliff on Saturday. Other footage captured excavators trying to shift huge rocks and workers placing body bags in an ambulance. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the collapse, but illegal or informal mines are common in Indonesia, and bring the risk of landslides, flooding and tunnel collapses. On Friday, West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi said he had ordered the closure of this quarry, as well as four other similar sites in the province. Last year, a landslide triggered by torrential rains wiped out an unauthorised gold mining operation on Indonesia's Sumatra island, killing at least 15 people.
