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European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders expressed concern about the inderpendence of the judiciary (Photo: AFP/Wojtek RADWANSKI) 

The European Commission wrote to Poland and Hungary on Friday (Nov 19) to launch a process that could lead to them being deprived of funds over threats to the EU legal order.

The move came as the European justice commissioner visited Warsaw, expressing concern about the independence of the judiciary and urging the government to respect EU court rulings.

"The Commission services sent administrative letters to Hungary and Poland," a Commission spokesperson said, adding that they "have now two months to send the requested information".

A European source told AFP that Brussels demanded Warsaw explain measures it has taken to limit the independence of its judiciary and to challengee the supremacy of EU law.

In Hungary's case, the commission will raise concerns over public contracts, conflicts of interest and corruption in the spending of EU funds, the source said.

Poland and Hungary are the first states to be targeted under the EU's new "conditionality mechanism".

The new process entered into force in January and is separate from the bloc's infringement procedures for members deemed in breach of EU rules.

Under it, national governments can eventually find themselves cut off from EU funding if they fail to bring their practics in line with EU law.

Both Warsaw and Budapest have contested the legality of the mechanism and appealed to the European Court of Justice, which could rule within months.

The European Commission, which oversees the use of the mechanism, has said it will not take formal action until the court has ruled whether it is in bounds.

But officials have begun assembling the evidence necessary to proceed -- hence Friday's requests for information.

"We don't start concretely the formal procedure today," Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said in Warsaw, calling the letters "a mechanism of clarification".

Reynders urged Poland to abolish a "disciplinary chamber" for judges - a central part of judicial reforms pushed through by the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party despite EU objections.

Reynders said Poland must also reform the disciplinary system for judges and re-install judges removed by the reforms, which the government says are needed to root out corruption.

"The main concern that we have in Poland is about the independence of the judiciary," Reynders told reporters.

Poland has ignored an EU court order to scrap the disciplinary chamber and its Constitutional Court last month issued a ruling challenging the primacy of EU law.

Reynders also commented on two photographs of the devastation in Warsaw after World War II given to him by Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro during their meeting.

Ziobro had tweeted that the photos showed "the destruction that the Germans made, implementing the ideology of the segregation of nations".

"They show that Poles are and will be sensitive to the principle of equal treatment of countries, also in the EU," Ziobro said.

The current Polish government complains that it is being unfairly treated in the EU.

Asked about the photos, Reynders commented that "after the Second World War, it was possible to build the European Community and then the European Union... to have a real peaceful continent in Europe"//CNA

Gulf Clan leader Dairo Antonio Usuga was captured by Colombian authorities on October 23 (Photo: Colombian army/AFP/Handout)

Colombia's President Ivan Duque on Friday (Nov 19) declared the "end" of the Gulf Clan drug cartel, formerly the country's largest, after the capture of its leader and dozens of other members.

Dairo Antonio Usuga, also known as Otoniel, was arrested on Oct 23 in a raid involving 500 police and military personnel.

The 50-year-old is waiting to be extradited on drug trafficking charges to the United States, which had offered a $5-million reward for his capture.

In recent days, authorities arrested another 90 suspected members of Colombia's largest cocaine cartel, which operates in concert with Mexican drug gangs in almost 30 countries.

"The Gulf Clan as a monolithic structure has reached its end," Duque told Colmundo Radio.

"The chain of command was completely broken and it was highly concentrated in the person of 'Otoniel,'" he said.

The president also warned remaining members of the Clan to "surrender, or we will hit them hard."

Otoniel, the subject of 26 Colombian arrest warrants for murder, terrorism, child recruitment and kidnapping, among other crimes, was arrested in the country's northwestern forests, where he also fought with far-right paramilitary forces.

Four soldiers have been killed in what authorities said was retaliation for the crackdown on the Gulf Clan.

Police say the group was responsible for a third of all cocaine exports from Colombia -- the world's biggest producer of the drug.

The United States is the main destination.

The Indepaz research institute estimates that the Clan has a force of some 1,600 men, while authorities say it has about 3,800 fighters and members.

Colombia is officially at peace after signing a pact with the FARC guerilla group in 2016 to end more than half-a-century of armed conflict.

But it has seen a flareup of violence in recent months due to fighting over territory and resources by dissident guerillas, the ELN rebel group, paramilitary forces and drug cartels//CNA

Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister Abdul Halim Iskandar unveiled a digital village in Air Seruk village, Belitung, Bangka Belitung, on Saturday (November 20, 2021). (ANTARA/HO-Kemendes PDTT/FR)

Village digitalization must be followed by improvement in villagers' digital literacy, Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration Minister, Abdul Halim Iskandar, has said.

"Development of digital-based villages is important considering the current wide penetration of the Internet," he noted in a written statement issued here on Saturday.

"Despite this, digitalization should still be responded with adequate digital literacy because there are negative impacts in using Internet-based gadgets," he said.

Development of village digitalization is important to do to improve services for the people, he added.

Various village administration services would be easier to do through digitalization, he said while inaugurating a digital village in Air Seruk village, Belitung, Bangka Belitung, on Saturday.

"Digital technology would not only help village governments to access information concerning citizens, it would also facilitate villagers in accessing village (-related) information such as the realization of village funds and village budget utilization," the minister explained.

In addition, village digitalization could also be utilized to speed up the movement of the rural economy, he said.

Currently, villages in Indonesia have many quality products, both in terms of goods and services, he highlighted. With digitalization, promoting the products of Air Seruk village would be easier, he added.

"Right now, when you open the marketplace, there are many BUMDes (village-owned enterprises) online stores that promote farming, crafting, and tourism service products. This is certainly a very exciting development," he affirmed.

However, there are negative impacts of village digitalization that should be handled, he said.

"Digital literacy should be homework for villagers so that they are not impacted by the negative impacts of digitalization, such as the spread of hoaxes or illegal online loans," the minister expounded.

According to Belitung district head Sahani Saleh, Air Seruk village is a pilot project for village development in Belitung//ANT

East Kalimantan Tourism Office Head Sri Wahyuni. (ANTARA/Arumanto)

The East Kalimantan Tourism Office is promoting several cultural and tourism objects, with high potential, through holding some competitions this year.

The tourism and cultural competition features quizzes on East Kalimantan's tourism and culture as well as several traditional games matches, East Kalimantan Tourism Office Head, Sri Wahyuni, stated in Samarinda on Saturday.

Wahyuni noted that the competition will take place at the East Kalimantan pavilion in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) at Jakarta on Sunday, November 21.

"This activity is a follow-up introduction to East Kalimantan's tourism and cultural activities for Jakarta's community. The implementation is held at the TMII East Kalimantan pavilion," she noted.

The office head revealed that for holding the East Kalimantan tourism and culture recognition activities, some 60 community personnel in Jakarta will be involved in the showcasing of the tourism and cultural aspects.

The participants will be introduced to several traditional games from East Kalimantan Province, such as egrang, begasing, belogo, and menyumpit.

Wahyuni noted that Deputy Governor of East Kalimantan, Hadi Mulyadi, will be present to open the competition.

"The quiz match will be conducted in the preliminary and final sessions," she remarked.

The traditional games competitions will also be held through preliminaries and finals. The egrang and belogo categories will be divided into men's and women's groups, while there are no categories for begasing and menyumpit, she noted.

East Kalimantan is a province, with myriad potential, in terms of the nature, culture, forest tourism, adventure, scenic beaches, and seas. The province is named "Paradise of The East", according to the Tourism Office of East Kalimantan.

Earlier, Deputy Governor of East Kalimantan, Hadi Mulyadi, also affirmed his belief that Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan, can be an international destination due to the presence of the scenic Mahakam River//ANT