VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Iran carries out political and military maneuvers in the midst of its conflict with the United States. After resolving domestic problem, which was to quell demonstrations in the country some time ago, Tehran showed the support of two major countries, namely Russia and China in terms of military power. Iran along with Russia and China held joint exercises in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman.

The Iranian Navy commander stated that the four-day joint exercise towards the end of 2019 with China and Russia was intended to give a message to the United States. Iran's Navy Rear Admiral Hosseinof Khanzadi said that the joint exercises of the three countries were aimed at increasing security in the region. Earlier Tehran warned any country not to approach the region. Khosein Khanzadi claimed that he had received an order to shoot any foreign aircraft or ship trying to approach the area that was used as a joint training ground. Especially with the intention of spying or in intelligence activities. As is known, tension in the waters of the Indian Ocean especially around the Gulf of Oman increased after two Saudi Arabian tankers were mysteriously attacked. The United States and its allies accuse Iran of carrying out attacks which caused damage to two Saudi Arabian tankers.

The maneuvering of Iran's military cooperation by cooperating with two major powers namely Russia and China marked the new development of relations between Iran and the United States. It can even be said that relations between the two countries have become tense. Iran is trying to strengthen its position by cooperating with two big countries which in some cases are also not well-connected with Washington. China and the United States, for example, have not yet fully completed the trade war, although a new agreement has begun to be reached towards the end of the year. Russia itself is at odds with the United States in their involvement in the Syrian war.

Entering the new year 2020 the world is still tinged with the tension of relations here and there. One of them is between Iran and the United States. There are two things to be noted related to Iranian military cooperation with China and Russia. First, it is a new bargaining position for a balance in negotiations. Secondly, it ignited an escalation that was a sign that US-Iran relations might be getting worse in 2020.

Public Works and People Housing Ministry kept increasing new dam development in some provinces to support national water and food resilience. One of the provinces to have more dam is Lampung. In the province, two dams will be built namely Way Sekampung Dam in Pringsewu and Martatiga Dam in Martatiga District. Minister Basuki Hadimuljono in official statement in Jakarta, Sunday said, water resource and irrigation management will be continued to support sustainable agricultural production.

Minister Basuki said, the three dams will also have raw water, energy, flood control, and tourism which will increase local economy. The two dams will complement water management system, including irrigation supply from Batutegi Dam that had been operating since 2005.

Way Sekampung Dam has 68 million cubic meter capacity to add around 15,000 hectares of irrigation in the Sekampung Irrigation System to be total 70 thousand hectares in total. It was expected the planting intensity can be increased 260 percent mainly for Pringsewu Regency.

The dam will also provide raw water for Bandar Lampung City, Metro City, and South Lampung Regency for almost 2,500 liter per second, with 5.4 Megawatt power potential. The dam can reduce flood amounting to 185 meter cubic per second and becoming tourism object in Pringsewu Regency.

Martatiga Dam is under development with capacity of 148 million cubic meter in the downstream of Way Sekampung River. It is projected to water irrigation land for almost 11 thousand hectares and as raw water source with 830 liter per second capacity.

Besides Way Sekampung and Martatiga, there have been Seguruh and Jabung dams. All were built to optimize Way Sekampung River water which has great potential, especially for irrigation.

Entering the last days of 2019, the world received encouraging news about the United States-China trade war. US President Donald Trump claimed there had been an agreement with China. Trump's remarks can be a good sign of easing tensions between the two big nations which have been fighting in a trade war for 18 months. The United States and China, as Donald Trump stated, have agreed to make agreements in the field of energy and other manufacturing goods and cancel the penalty rate. Although the two sides have not yet officially signed the completion of the trade war, various positive comments have emerged. From Beijing, Chinese Deputy Trade Minister Wang Shouwen stated that his country would import more wheat, corn and rice from the United States. United States government trustee Robert Emmet Lightizer told Reuters news agency that China would buy US $ 32 billion worth of agricultural products in the next two years. Trump's and government officials in Beijing’s statements, became a strong signal about the decrease in tension between Beijing and Washington. Indeed this is only a sign, because until Wednesday 18 December 2019 there has been no confirmation of the signing of an official agreement by the two countries.

After all, what is developing between the United States and China, although not yet official, can be said to be the first phase of a trade agreement between the two countries. In order for the trade war to truly end, further agreement is needed. Hopes for the next phase emerged from Donald Trump's tweet on his Twitter account. Washington asks Beijing to buy more US agricultural products for further negotiations. This means that there will be a further stage, before the United States China trade war is really over. What policies to be carried out by the two countries, of course, still have to be waited for. Both Washington and Beijing must still discuss agreements on intellectual property, financial services and technology. Especially with regard to intellectual property right, it is a sensitive matter that must be discussed carefully.

During this first phase, it is very likely that new surprises will emerge that could have an impact on the global economy. In this perspective, it cannot be denied that the role of these two big countries in the global trade economy is very significant. Developing countries with a medium economic level must continue to be vigilant and fix their respective economic fundamentals.

Traveling to a marine area in South Sulawesi province, many tourists both local and foreign tourists visit Losari Beach. Because of how popular the beach is, it makes Losari beach be visited by a lot of tourists.  For you all who want to enjoy a beach tour that is not so crowded, there are still other beautiful beach destinations in South Sulawesi.  One of them is Akkarena Beach. The location is not so far from Losari Beach. It is about 5 kilometers southwest part of Losari Beach.  The beach is located on the Metro road Tanjung Bunga, Tanjung Merdeka, Tarnalate, Makassar City. The 12-hectare beach is open from 07.00 to 22.00 local time.

To enter the Akkarena Beach, you have to pay an entrance ticket worth Rp10 thousand for adult and for kids, they have to pay Rp5 thousand.  The parking lot fee is  Rp5 thousand for motorcycles and Rp10 thousand for cars.  In the Akkarena Beach, there are various interesting tourism activities that can be done. Besides relaxing and enjoying the natural scenery, you can play jet-ski, ride a banana boat, or make a black sand castle. Don't forget to enjoy the beauty of the sunset on the beach.

To meet the needs of selfies (taking Photos), the manager builds a bridge or it can be called a dock.  The dock area is approximately 150 meters long, with 5 meters wide. It also functions as a place for ships used to meet the needs of tourists. Akkarena Beach also provides culinary spots, which offer special menus, such as Coto Makassar, grilled sponge fish, sibling soup, and any others. Akkarena beach attractions are equipped with various facilities and infrastructures, namely bathrooms, water towers, kids' playgrounds, meeting rooms, volleyball courts, and polyclinics.