VEGA MA’ARIJIL ULA

2211411026

NEWS REPORTING WORKSHOP (THURSDAY 1 P.M)

HUMAN INTEREST STORIES

Islands in focus: China to help promote Surakarta’s tourism

            The Chinese government has expressed interest in cooperating with the Surakarta administration in the tourism sector. Speaking after a meeting with Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi “Rudy” Rudyatmo on Friday, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xie Feng said China had already cooperated for a long time with Bali in the tourism sector and was planning to do the same with Surakarta, which is also the hometown of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

            “Surakarta has a palace, museums and heritage buildings. For all this time, most tourists from China come to Indonesia only to visit Bali. We will advise them to visit Surakarta as well,” said Ambassador Xie Feng, who attended the wedding ceremony of President Jokowi’s son the night before. Rudy happily welcomed the Chinese government’s interest to help develop the city’s tourism industry.  “We can work together not only in the tourism sector, but also in developing the industry’s supporting infrastructure, including urban planning and the preservation of heritage buildings and museums,” he said.

VEGA MA’ARIJIL ULA

2211411026

NEWS REPORTING WORKSHOP (THURSDAY 1 P.M)

FIFA's Blatter slams US action, Europe 'hate' campaign

            FIFA leader Sepp Blatter said Saturday he was "shocked" at the way the US judiciary has targeted football's world body and slammed what he called a "hate" campaign by Europe's football leaders. In an interview with Swiss television, Blatter said he suspected the arrest of seven FIFA officials on Wednesday under a US anti-corruption warrant was an attempt to "interfere with the congress" at which he was elected Friday.

            He also condemned comments on FIFA made by US judiciary leaders including Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Lynch said corruption in football was "rampant, systemic and deep-rooted, both abroad and here in the United States." Blatter noted that the United States had lost the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, and England, another major critic, lost the 2018 World Cup to Russia. He said the United States was the "number one sponsor" of Jordan, where his challenger for the FIFA presidency Prince Ali bin al Hussein.

            Blatter also hit out a UEFA president Michel Platini, who had called for his resignation over the corruption scandals. "It is a hate that comes not just from a person at UEFA, it comes from the UEFA organization that cannot understand that in 1998 I became president," he added. Blatter won the FIFA presidency on Friday when his challenger Prince Ali withdrew after the first round of voting.

VEGA MA’ARIJIL ULA

2211411026

NEWS REPORTING WORKSHOP (THURSDAY 1 P.M)

'We can't repeat our Wembley mistake'

            Mathieu Flamini says Arsenal have learnt from last season’s “nightmare” start to the FA Cup final. The Gunners found themselves two goals behind after just eight minutes against Hull City but fought back and completed a famous victory with Aaron Ramsey’s extra-time winner. Saturday’s final gives Flamini a chance to lift his third FA Cup under Arsene Wenger, and he believes last season’s experience will only benefit Arsenal.

            “For us to go another year to Wembley and to have the opportunity to win it again of course is a lot of pleasure,” said Flamini. “We have more experience and we have to make sure we at least try not to make the same mistakes as we did last year. “We all agree it was a nightmare but we have more experience on FA Cup. We make sure to learn from our mistakes and not to do it again because we made it very difficult for ourselves last year. We will try to make it more simple and easier.

            “It was a difficult situation going many years without winning a trophy for such a big club. It went well and we finally won the FA Cup. This year we have the possibility to do it again. There’s less pressure this year but we really want to do well and to confirm we are a super team with a lot of quality. “It's never easy to win a final,” added Flamini. “I had the chance to play a Champions League final and I remember losing it. Of course you can't compare the FA Cup final to the Champions League, but a final is a final. It's never easy.”

            Francis Coquelin’s emergence as a first-team regular has limited Flamini’s game time, but the 31-year-old insists he is happy with life in north London. “When the team is winning there is not much to say, except working hard and trying to prove every day you can get back in the team.”