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Nur Yasmin
March
Mar. 17 - Mount Merapi, straddling Yogyakarta and Central Java, erupted 17 times on Wednesday, with incandescent lava flowing up to 1.2 kilometers in the southwest direction based on observation from 00:00 a.m. to 6 a.m. local time.
In addition to the incandescent lava, Head of the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) Hanik Humaida noted that Mount Merapi recorded 43 earthquakes, with an amplitude 3-27 mm and a duration of nine seconds, and one earthquake, with an amplitude of eight mm and a duration of nine seconds.
Another earthquake was thereafter also recorded with an amplitude of three mm for 11 seconds, as well as a distant tectonic earthquake, with an amplitude of two mm and lasting for 71 seconds.
White thick smoke was observed bellowing as high as 50 meters from the crater's peak, while the weather around the mountain was sunny and cloudy.
Weak to moderate winds blew to the west, with air temperatures of 13-21 degrees Celsius, humidity of 72-89 percent, and air pressure of 627-707 mmHg.
During the observation on Tuesday from 18:00 p.m. to 24:00 p.m. local time, Mount Merapi released incandescent lava five times as far as one km in the southwest direction.
The BPPTKG continues to maintain the alert status of Mount Merapi at Level III.
Areas in the south to the southwest that comprise Sungai Kuning, Boyong, Bedog, Krasak, Bebeng, and Putih are projected to be affected by the lava and hot clouds emitted from Mount Merapi.
In the meantime, Mount Merapi's volcanic material could disperse as far as three kilometers from the mountain's peak. (Antaranews)
March
U.S. general says North Korea might flight test new ICBM design 'in the near future'
Mar. 17 - North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its inter-continental ballistic missiles “in the near future,” the head of the U.S. military’s Northern Command said on Tuesday, a move that would sharply increase tensions between Pyongyang and Washington.
The warning by Air Force General Glen VanHerck appeared based on North Korea’s October unveiling at a parade of what would be its largest ICBM yet, and not specific intelligence about an imminent launch.
Still, VanHerck made his remarks a day ahead of a debut trip by President Joe Biden’s top diplomat and defense secretary to South Korea and underscores U.S. concerns that Pyongyang may resume testing of missiles and nuclear weapons after a hiatus of more than three years.
Even during the testing lull, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for continued production of nuclear weapons for his arsenal, launched a series of smaller missiles and unveiled the ICBM.
VanHerck told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang’s “considerably larger and presumably more capable” ICBM further increased the threat to the United States. Still, he expressed confidence in U.S. missile defenses.
The U.S. general also noted that Kim released himself from a moratorium on testing over a year ago.
“The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future,” VanHerck said in his written testimony.
Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a U.S.-based website that tracks North Korea, said that while an ICBM test was possible “I’m not sure how likely it is.”
She speculated that instead North Korea would be more likely to restart test launches with shorter-range missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
“It seems more likely that if North Korea is going to start testing missiles again, it will start with ones where testing has been almost normalized,” Town said.
A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that while there have been indications in recent weeks that North Korea may be preparing for a missile launch, one did not appear imminent.
The White House on Monday confirmed a Reuters report that the Biden administration sought to reach out to North Korea but had received no response, extending a chill in relations that began at the end of Donald Trump’s administration.
After the White House remarks, North Korean state news reported that the sister of the North Korean leader here, Kim Yo Jong, criticized the Biden Administration for ongoing military drills in South Korea.
“If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step,” Kim said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.
The joint U.S.-South Korean springtime military drill begun last week was limited to computer simulations because of the coronavirus risk, as well as the efforts to engage with the North. (Reuters)
March
EU to sanction Myanmar military's business interests next week, France says
Mar. 17 - France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that the European Union would next week approve sanctions against the business interests of those responsible for last month’s military coup in Myanmar.
“The technical discussions are being finished in Brussels and we will confirm them next Monday,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told a hearing in the French Senate, referring to the next meeting of EU foreign ministers.
According to diplomats and internal documents seen by Reuters, the measures will target companies “generating revenue for, or providing financial support to, the Myanmar Armed Forces”.
While the bloc maintains an arms embargo against Myanmar, and has applied sanctions to some senior military officers since 2018, the measures would be its most significant since the coup.
“Obviously (we) will suspend all budgetary support and also there will be measures directly targeting those responsible for the military coup d’etat and hitting the individuals and their own economic interests,” Le Drian said. (Reuters)
March
Mar. 17 - The rise in digital transactions following vast developments in technology requires a further formulation of rules to reduce potential risks, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said.
"At least there are four reasons why digital transactions need some rules," Indrawati observed at the International Conference on Digital Transformation in Customs here on Tuesday.
The first reason is — to have a good record on digital transactions in Indonesia, she stated.
The imposition of import duties and requirements for businesspersons to report digital transactions would create a more accurate trade statistic, which would help the authorities to take further policy action, she explained.
Second, digital transactions are considered to have a high risk of misappropriation or illegal dealings, so the government needs to strictly monitor them, the minister said.
The technology of 3D-printing that has gained popularity recently could allow users to produce goods that can potentially harm the public, she noted.
Thus, the digital transaction mechanism could open the chance for tax fraud, intellectual property rights violation, and money laundering, she pointed out.
Third, the imposition of the digital transaction tax would guarantee a level playing field between conventional and digital traders, Indrawati stated.
The minister admitted that conventional traders have complained of unfair tax imposition between conventional and online traders.
"This is a challenge for us to create a fair playing field for all players. Imported films, video games, and other digital products should be treated fairly with printed books," she said.
Four, the imposition of import levies on digital products sent via electronic transmission is aimed at avoiding potential loss to the state revenue, Indrawati said.
"Economic and digital transactions would erode the conventional tax basis, hence the government should be able to adapt to the new trend," she added. (Antaranews)