VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): Indonesia's National Football Association (PSSI) informed that FIFA has cancelled U-20 World Cup Drawing in Bali, although the global football federation has yet to send an official letter to PSSI about it.

Member of PSSI Executive Committee Arya Sinulingga disclosed the information during a press conference in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here on Saturday.

He mentioned that initially, the drawing event for U-20 World Cup was scheduled to take place in Bali on March 31. However, the Bali Provincial Government has expressed its refusal of welcoming Israel's national team, which led to that part of event being cancelled.

"Indeed, we have yet to receive the official letter from FIFA. But the message is clear: it is cancelled. We understand (that such that decision) is due to the refusal from Bali Governor, Bali Government, regarding the presence of Israeli team. So by itself, the drawing cannot be done without participation of one contesting team," he elaborated.

Sinulingga mentioned that the association understood that it is hard to separate politics from sport. Hence, the head of PSSI, Erick Thohir, will work with Foreign Affairs Minister to handle the aspects of diplomacy and foreign affairs as well as with the Youth and Sports Ministry as the host of the U-20 World Cup, he pointed out.

He also said that Thohir would report the latest situation to President Joko Widodo, so they can work to resolve the issues. Thohir also expected to communicate with FIFA to seek for the best solution, Sinulingga mentioned.

He affirmed that PSSI has talked to the Bali administration about the decision. However, PSSI respects the province's decision.

"We, PSSI, act as the host. First, (Bali) has refused the presence (of Israeli team), and then the drawing (got cancelled), so it ends up being difficult for us, we can no longer ask for it to be hosted there," he stated.

This issue could put Indonesia at risk of being sanctioned by FIFA, he said. Because Indonesia has already offered itself to host the competition, thus it is committed to bearing all the consequences that come with it, Sinulingga explained.

He stressed that if Indonesia fails to meet the expectations, then it has already violated the agreements which have been made.

"In 2018, we were banned too. We experienced that, so it is not something new, that we had already gone through it. And we do not want it to recur to us," he added.

Bali is one of the locations set for the U-20 World Cup. Other locations include Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, Surabaya, and Palembang. (antaranews)

China's defence ministry said on Friday that it yet again had to monitor and drive away the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Milius that entered its territorial waters in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands.

"We sternly demand the U.S. to immediately stop such provocative acts, otherwise it will bear the serious consequences of unforeseen incidents," a spokesperson said in a statement from the Ministry of National Defence.

The U.S. Navy said the guided-missile destroyer was asserting its navigational rights and freedoms.

"Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations," the U.S. Navy 7th fleet said in an emailed statement.

U.S. forces operate in the South China Sea on a daily basis, the U.S. Navy said.

It was the second straight day of a stand-off between the two super powers amid growing tensions in the South China Sea.

China claims vast swathes of the area that overlap with exclusive economic zones of various countries including the Philippines. Trillions of dollars in trade flow every year through the waterway. (Reuters)

New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said she will discuss concerns about key regional and global security challenges when she meets with her Chinese counterpart, foreign minister Qin Gang in Beijing Friday.

Mahuta arrived in China on Wednesday for a four-day trip, the first by a New Zealand minister since 2019, and has been meeting with business and women leaders before her meeting with Gang.

In a statement earlier in the week, Mahuta she said would use the meeting to advocate "for approaches and outcomes that reflect New Zealand’s interests and values, including on human rights."

"I also intend to raise New Zealand’s concerns about key regional and global security challenges, including the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine."

China is a powerful ally of Russia and both have criticised the U.S. and NATO for undermining global stability.

New Zealand has long been seen as the moderate, even absent, voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance. But New Zealand's tone on both security and China's growing presence in the South Pacific toughened in the past year after China and the Solomon Islands struck a security pact.

“This visit provides an opportunity to have a constructive discussion across a broad range of areas - both where our interests and values align, like that of climate change, and where they differ,” Mahuta said.

New Zealand and China's interactions have remained largely cordial with the two countries upgrading their free trade agreement in 2022 even as Australia's relationship with China deteriorated. China remains New Zealand’s largest trading partner.

New Zealand had a change in leadership in January and new prime minister Chris Hipkins has said very little about foreign politics or how he sees security or geopolitical developments. (Reuters)

About 3,600 people were evacuated from buildings in Hong Kong's crowded Kowloon district on Friday as firefighters battled a blaze in a warehouse.

There were no reports of casualties and the fire was put out in the evening five hours after it began in what is one of the world's most densley populated areas.

The warehouse is owned by China Resources Group (1109.HK) but it was not clear what was being stored there.

The state-owned company, which runs businesses from healthcare to consumer products such as beer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Yellow smoke emanating from the building had a chemical smell, a Reuters journalist said.

"Members of the public affected by the smoke and unusual odour carried by the wind are advised to close their doors and windows and stay calm," the government said in a statement as the fire raged.

Police told Reuters that about 3600 people from nearby residential schools and buildings needed to be evacuated. Two people were sent to hospital.

A 39-year-old mother came to pick up her nine-year-old son as he waited alone, with police officers nearby.

"It's very smelly," said the woman, who gave only her surname, Lee. "I am worried whether there are toxins affecting my child's health." (Reuters)