The Indonesian island of Bali plans to ban foreign tourists from renting motorbikes after a series of incidents where people violated traffic rules.
“They [should] not ride motorbikes around the island without wearing clothes or clothes, without helmets and even without a driver’s license,” said Governor I Wayan Koster.
Instead, tourists must use the vehicle provided by the travel agency.
The plan sparked controversy as tourism continues to recover from Covid losses.
More than 171 foreign nationals violated traffic regulations from late February to early March, according to local police records. Some tourists also use fake number plates.
“If you are a tourist, act like a tourist,” said the Governor.
Foreign tourists in Bali often prefer to rent motorbikes to get around the island, which does not have a well-developed public transportation system. Two-wheelers are an excellent option for getting in and out of traffic and navigating scenic back roads.
The proposed ban will be implemented through local law sometime this year, but it is unclear how it will be implemented.
One Ukrainian tourist – who asked not to be named – said foreigners should be “given free” to ride motorbikes as long as they present a valid driver’s license.
“We don’t use the services of a travel agency because we want to be independent and like to do things ourselves so we can feel the atmosphere,” he told BBC Indonesia.
Finnish tourist Kristo, on the other hand, supports the proposed ban. “Many motorists pretend to be drunk and don’t wear helmets. It’s hazardous,” he told the Indonesian news website detik.
However, some operators have raised concerns about the impact on business.
Dedek Varjana, chairman of the Bali Motorbike Rental Association, said the proposal was premature and authorities should respond to specific violations rather than imposing a blanket ban.
Allowing foreign tourists to rent only cars could exacerbate congestion, he said.
Such a ban could also damage Indonesia’s reputation in the eyes of other countries, said Nioman Sukma Arida, tourism lecturer at Udayana University in Bali.
He said the increasing number of traffic violations also shows the weak enforcement of existing rules by local authorities.
He suggested strengthening the car rental system, e.g., B. Ensuring tenants have a valid driver’s license, requiring security deposits, and taking action against drivers who violate regulations.
After all, not all passengers behaved severely, he said.
The governor also announced plans to revoke arrival visas for tourists from Russia and Ukraine for violations. He said many people from both sides “went to Bali” during the war but did not comply with local regulations.
In the past week, authorities have arrested several Russian citizens for violating their residence permits. Some have also misused visitor visas to set up businesses.
Tourism accounted for around 60% of Bali’s annual GDP before the pandemic. According to the provincial statistics office, Australia was the largest source of foreign tourists to Bali in January 2023, with more than 91,000 Australians landing there. Russia comes in second, with around 22,000 nationals visiting the province this month.
The remains of a Roman nobleman have been discovered by archaeologists in northern England.
The unidentified woman’s remains, believed to be over 1,000 years old, were found in a lead coffin in the hidden city cemetery of Leeds last year.
The remains of 62 people have been excavated at a previously unknown archaeological site near Garforth. Men, women, and 23 children were buried at the site discovered by archaeologists.
The dead are believed to be those of the late Roman and early Saxon eras, as burial customs from both periods have been found in the tombs, according to a Leeds City Council press release on Monday.
David Hunter, the chief archaeologist at West Yorkshire Joint Services, told CNN on Monday that the discovery came after a commercial developer applied for planning permission from the council.
An archaeological survey of the site – the exact location has not been disclosed – led to the discovery of the remains last spring.
“We definitely got more than we bargained for,” Hunter told CNN. He said his team had reason to believe the site might be of archaeological interest, having found Roman and Anglo-Saxon structures nearby during previous excavations. “But we didn’t expect to find a cemetery with 62 residents at this location,” he added.
The team said that evidence of burial practices found at the site might indicate early Christian beliefs concurrent with Saxon burials. They also found personal items such as knives and pottery.
West Yorkshire/Leeds City Council Joint Service Describing the lead coffin as “extremely rare,” said Hunter, “The tin sheets were the lining of the larger wooden coffins, so this is a very high-status Roman body.”
The casket also contains jewelry, which adds to the team’s suspicions about the person buried inside.
Archaeologists hope the 1,600-year-old burial can help them understand the meaningful and largely undocumented transition between the fall of the Roman Empire around AD 400 and the founding of the later Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
Wooden objects nearly 2,000 years old suggest the Romans used sex toys, according to a study. According to a press release, West Yorkshire was in the Kingdom of Elmet after the Romans left England, which lay between the Wharf and Don valleys, the York Valley, and the Pennines.
Even after the departure of the Romans, many areas, including Elmet, continued to display elements of Roman culture – along with the Anglo-Saxons. This lasted about 200 years.
Hunter described the excavation as “remarkable” and said in a press release: “This can be a significant find for what we understand about the development of ancient England and Yorkshire.
“The existence of two communities using the same burial site is highly unusual, and whether or not their uses of this cemetery overlap will determine the significance of the find.”
West Yorkshire/Leeds City Council Joint Service The remains will undergo testing and analysis, including carbon dating, which the team hopes will help determine the exact time frame and details about the individual’s diet and origins.
Excavations of the site were partly prompted by the fact that previous excavations had uncovered late Roman stone buildings and a small number of Anglo-Saxon-style buildings in the nearby area. The results are only now being published because the site had to be secured for the first tests to be carried out.
Kylie Buxton, site manager, said in a press release: “It’s every archaeologist’s dream to work on a ‘unique’ site, and overseeing these excavations is definitely a career highlight for me.”
Once the analysis of the find is complete – a process Hunter says could take a year or two – the coffin is expected to be displayed at the Leeds City Museum.
In 2022, for the first time in modern Russia’s history, not a single person successfully escaped from a Russian prison, Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Director Arkady Gostev said on Monday.
The outlet RBC noted that in August 2022, two convicts briefly managed to escape from a prison in Perm Krai but were caught just two days later.
In 2019, the FSIN’s press service reported that over the previous 25 years, the number of successful escapes from Russian prisons had decreased by 140. According to the agency, there were 140 escapes in 1994, 25 in 2000, 11 in 2010, eight in 2015, and only one in 2018.
In November 2022, the independent outlet Mediazona reported that Russia’s prison population had seen its most significant decrease in over a decade since Wagner mercenary group founder Evgeny Prigozhin had begun recruiting prisoners to fight in the war in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that the International Criminal Court (ICC) plans to open two war crimes cases related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and issue arrest warrants for “several people,” according to anonymous sources cited by Reuters and the New York Times.
The cases would represent the first international charges brought since the start of Russia’s war and are the result of months of investigation by special ICC teams. The first case concerns Russia’s alleged abduction of Ukrainian children, while the second case focuses on the “unrelenting” targeting of civilian infrastructure, including water supplies and gas tanks.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan must first present his charges to a panel of pretrial judges, who will determine whether legal standards have been met for issuing arrest warrants or whether investigators need additional evidence. The ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor declined to comment on the reports.
ICC’s Khan visited Ukraine last month to probe Russia’s attacks on power and other infrastructure. Speaking to reporters during the visit, Khan said: “We see clearly a pattern, I think, in terms of the number, scale and breadth of attacks against the power grids of Ukraine. And we need to look at why that’s taking place; are they legitimate targets or not; and whether or not they are targeted for other reasons.”
“There seems to be a lot of damage in Ukraine, and it may well be it is part of a policy and part of a plan and we need to get to the bottom of it and see whether or not there is criminal responsibility and if there is we have an International Criminal Court that has jurisdiction to look into it,” he added.
The chief prosecutor was asked whether the court’s process could be too slow to meet Ukrainians’ expectations. In response, he stated that “what people want are not Pyrrhic victories.”
“As a prosecutor we are officers of the court. We are not here to get a round of applause by a conjuring trick. Whenever we do move, (people) should have confidence that this is not a political process,” he continued.
Official Ukrainian statistics indicate that 345 Ukrainian children have disappeared since Russia’s February 2022 invasion, including 15-year-old Arina Yatsiuk, as reported by CNN earlier this month. The Ukrainian government alleges that many of the missing children were abducted and taken to Russia against their will. Meanwhile, the Russian government has openly acknowledged taking Ukrainian children and promoting their adoption by Russian families as part of its propaganda.
A Texas woman could spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair after a thief pushed her to the ground and stole thousands of dollars in a robbery caught on camera last month, police and reports say.
Nhung Truong has been unable to use one of his legs since he was attacked by a man on Feb. 13 after withdrawing a large sum of cash from a bank, according to relatives and Houston police.
Truong, 44, was followed to a shopping center 24 miles from the bank, where the suspect approached him and tried to flee with the money, authorities said.
She dropped some of her items during the fight with the man, Houston police footage shows. The thief made off with an object before quickly returning, picking Truong off the ground and slamming him mercilessly onto the pavement before fleeing with the money, police said.
Police believe he initially stole the wrong item, which he saw before returning.
The family said about $4,300 was stolen, KRIV reported.
But worse, Truong’s spinal cord was damaged in the attack, and he can’t use his left leg, he and his family told KHOU.
“You never know when my legs will walk again,” Truong said through his daughter.
“This is not a big waste of money,” his daughter Linh Duong told the station. “The big loss is the legs.”
Truong is a single mother of three who came to the United States from Vietnam. The victim’s mother explained that her daughter had led a difficult life and lost her husband to liver cancer seven years ago, KRIV reported.
She needed constant care, including help using the toilet.
Doctors said there was a 50 percent chance Truong would walk again.
“If a miracle happens, he can walk again,” Van Duong’s daughter told KRIV.
The money she withdrew from the bank will be used for a trip to Vietnam for him and his family, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his family.
The family asks for financial support for their mother’s care and daily expenses.
North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine on Sunday, as reported by the state news agency KCNA. The launch coincided with the scheduled start of US-South Korea military drills on Monday. The term “strategic” typically denotes weapons that have a nuclear capability, and KCNA stated that the launch confirmed the reliability of the system while testing the submarine units’ underwater offensive operations that form a part of North Korea’s nuclear deterrent. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) expressed high alert and reported that the country’s intelligence agency was working alongside its US counterpart to analyze the launch’s specifics. The joint drills between South Korea and the US, called “Freedom Shield 23,” were scheduled to begin on Monday and are the most extensive military exercises since 2017.
As per the two militaries, the upcoming drills will reinforce the allies’ combined defensive posture and will include field exercises such as amphibious landings. However, North Korea views the drills as a rehearsal for invasion, and in the past year, it has conducted a record number of missile tests and drills, claiming it’s to enhance its nuclear deterrent and make more weapons fully operational. South Korea’s unification ministry spokesperson, Koo Byoung-sam, expressed regret over North Korea’s use of defensive drills as a pretext for provocation and hoped that it realizes that escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula will be futile.
North Korea’s recent submarine launches aimed to demonstrate its resolve in controlling a situation where the US and South Korean forces increase their anti-DPRK military manoeuvres, according to KCNA. DPRK stands for North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The strategic cruise missiles were fired from the “8.24 Yongung” submarine in the waters off the east coast of Korea early on Sunday and hit a target in the sea after travelling about 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), as reported by KCNA. A spokesperson from JCS stated that North Korea’s claims were not always accurate, but no further details were given.
While North Korea has test-fired strategic cruise missiles from a submarine, it remains unclear whether the country has developed miniaturised nuclear warheads that could fit on such missiles. Analysts believe perfecting smaller warheads would be a key goal if North Korea resumes nuclear testing. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, stated that the threat posed by North Korean cruise missiles launched from a submarine must be taken seriously, but Pyongyang could be overstating its capabilities. Easley also added that North Korean soldiers are poorly fed and are being ordered to help farmers address the country’s food shortage.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said there was no information that the missile flew toward Japan’s waters or caused any damage.
“If North Korea’s announcement that the missile had a range of more than 1,500 kilometres was true, it would pose threats to the region’s peace and stability – we are concerned,” Matsuno said.
He said US military deterrence in Asia-Pacific is “essential” in the region, adding the North “may step onto further provocative acts such as a nuclear test.”
North Korea has a large submarine fleet but the 8.24 Yongung (August 24th Hero) is its only known experimental ballistic missile submarine. Analysts say it plays a critical role in the development of missiles, submarine technology and operational procedures, as well as hands-on training of new submariners.
North Korea has said it is building an operational ballistic missile submarine.
While overseeing a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launching exercise on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to intensify drills to deter and respond to a “real war” if necessary.
On Sunday state media reported that Kim led a ruling party meeting to discuss and decide on “important, practical measures” to boost the country’s war deterrence in the midst of stepped-up actions by the United States and South Korea. The report did not provide specifics on the measures.
According to a report by IANS, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has stated that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has declared the establishment of a new national airline called Riyadh Air. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of the kingdom owns the airline entirely. The SPA report on Sunday indicated that Riyadh Air is projected to contribute $20 billion to non-oil GDP growth and generate over 200,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
According to a report by Xinhua news agency, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, SAUDIA, uses Jeddah as its primary hub. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) stated that the new national airline will capitalize on the strategic location of Saudi Arabia, which is situated between three continents, to establish Riyadh as a gateway to the world and a global hub for transportation, trade, and tourism. The SPA further revealed that the new airline, named Riyadh Air, will operate from Riyadh as its primary hub.
Many middle-income Americans struggle to pay their Obamacare premiums. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that while premiums for ACA market plans have generally remained stable (with a 2018 average for family insurance of $1,191 and a 2019 average of $1,154, according to eHealth), people Middle-income Americans are still struggling to secure their coverage. According to health.gov, 2019, health insurance is unaffordable if the lowest possible spending plan costs more than 9.89% of your modified adjusted gross household income (MAGI).
There are a number of factors that influence how expensive health insurance can be for individuals and their families. Administrative costs, rising costs for prescription drugs, and lifestyle choices all drive up healthcare costs. While some factors are beyond your control, others are beyond your control. Find out where you can change the cost of your health insurance and your health as a whole.
Administrative costs
Administrative costs increase. This is partly due to new rules introduced by the Affordable Care Act. The US healthcare system has separate funding sources, policies, out-of-pocket costs, and credentials for different private and public insurance providers. Not only that, but consumers also have to wade through complex coverage tiers to choose a provider covering all their healthcare needs.
The rules are so complex that they require multiple people to process, review, and pay insurance claims. Medical billing professionals need to understand deductibles, coverage, and co-payments for multiple insurance companies. Training and remuneration for these professionals result in higher healthcare premiums and costs.
Rise in prescription drug costs
Americans, on average, pay about twice as much for prescription drugs as these and other modern nations. High drug prices are largely responsible for rising healthcare costs in the country. In Europe, governments regulate drug prices based on the benefits they provide to patients. In contrast, American companies often charge more for drugs than they cost to produce. This is mainly due to the high cost of testing and approval required for drugs before they are released to the public.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle choices also play an important role in healthcare costs. Unlike administration fees and prescription drug costs, you have some control over these factors. Unfortunately, many Americans make poor lifestyle choices that affect their health care and insurance costs. This is one of the reasons why health insurance costs can be very high for some people.
Make the right choice for your health. Inherited diseases and bad luck are at the root of some diseases. However, poor diet, lack of exercise, and other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and neglect to treat certain medical conditions can lead to serious health problems.
The FPL and the “subsidy cliff.”
Those with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty line (FPL) may qualify for ACA subsidies to pay for their premiums and, in some cases, out-of-pocket expenses (such as co-payments and deductions). If it’s outside of that, even if it’s only 401% of the FPL, you could fall off the subsidy scale. 2018 poverty guidelines for the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia
Those who earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and do not qualify for the bonus tax credit face what is known as the “subsidy cliff,” which refers to a sharp decline in government support. There is no elimination of subsidies for those who reach an FPL of 401% and above. This means that people earning more than 400% of the FPL pay the full cost of their insurance premiums. “If you qualify for the Obamacare subsidy, you can be happy with your health insurance premiums – but the truth is, for some families, if you pay just a few hundred dollars more a year, you won’t qualify for the subsidy, and your health insurance costs thousands.” let the dollar ride,” says Scott Flanders, CEO of eHealth. This means those few extra dollars could cost you hundreds or even thousands due to a lack of grants for your ACA health insurance.
Shopping outside of state/federal marketplaces
If you fall off the subsidy scale (or find that the ACA insurance plan is too expensive for some other reason), you will likely benefit from a private marketplace like eHealth. On our online marketplace, we offer ACA plans along with many different alternatives that you may find cheaper. Remember that a more affordable health insurance plan likely means fewer benefits covered. Still, insurance with fewer benefits may be a better option than not being able to afford health insurance. Many middle-income individuals and families look outside the government in exchange for their insurance, whether due to reduced subsidies or something else. Private exchanges such as eHealth offer a wider choice of health insurance plans than state exchanges. Some people may find they can save money by purchasing an off-market plan through a private exchange. You only need a zip code to get quotes on various types of plans for eHealth. You will find it easy to compare plan prices with eHealth to find something that fits your healthcare needs and budget.
Opting for short-term health insurance
Another option that people are looking at is short-term health insurance plans. These plans provide coverage for short periods (from a few months to a year, extendable depending on where you live) at a lower cost than most basic medical plans. According to eHealth, there has been an increase in the number of people interested in buying short-term health insurance instead of ACA coverage.
Remember that this plan offers less coverage than most major medical plans and may not cover the 10 essential benefits required by law to be covered by an ACA plan. However, if you decide to take out short-term health insurance, you won’t incur a tax loss at the federal level, as individual mandate taxes will no longer apply to start in 2019.
Cost of health insurance: FAQs
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on why health insurance is so expensive.
How can I lower my health insurance costs?
If you were hurt or injured, take time to determine the severity of the incident. Is a trip to the emergency room justified? What about your prescription medication? Can you switch to generics to save money? Often they have the same active ingredients without the high price tag. You can also be sure to choose a less expensive healthcare provider on the network if possible.
If you need a significant change in the cost of your insurance, it may be worth looking for health insurance that you can afford.
Can you negotiate health insurance costs?
You can’t negotiate your spending, despite common myths. However, you can try lowering your premium. A higher deductible is just one way to lower your monthly premium. Ask your insurance company for other ideas for saving money.
Why is US healthcare so expensive?
High administrative costs, rising costs of prescription drugs, poor lifestyles, and chronic disease in an aging population all contribute to the high cost of health care in the United States.
Naatu Naatu from the hit Telugu film RRR made history by becoming the first song from an Indian film to win an Oscar.
The hit song won Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards, beating heavyweights like Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
The jaw-dropping pace and choreography captivate audiences worldwide.
India won a second Oscar for The Elephant Whisperers, which won Best Documentary.
The documentary follows a couple caring for an injured baby elephant after being separated from its herd, and is the first Indian production to win in this category.
Set in the beautiful Nilgiri Mountains of southern India, The Elephant Whisperers explores the warm bond that develops between humans and animals as they begin to live together.
However, India’s great victory is still Naatu Naatu, a heartbreaking song that makes thousands of people follow its rhythm.
The song made history in January, winning the Golden Globe for Best Original Song – India’s first. It also won the Critics Award for Best Song the same month.
While accepting the Oscar, composer MM Keeravani said the song was “the pride of every Indian.”
He said he grew up listening to songs by The Carpenters – an American musical duo – and sang the rest of his speeches to their hit Top Of The World.
The crowd erupted in laughter and cheers when he said RRR, “put me on top of the world.”
Many Indians took to Twitter to express their joy at the song’s win.
N. Chandrababu Naidu, an influential politician from two Telugu-speaking southern states of India, said on Twitter that the song “fixed its place in history”. “This may be the finest hour of Indian cinema, and achieving it in Telugu is even more special,” he wrote.
The film’s official Twitter account called the win a “true moment” and dedicated it “to all our amazing fans worldwide.”
We’re blessed that #RRRMovie is the first feature film to bring INDIA's first ever #Oscar in the Best Song Category with #NaatuNaatu! 💪🏻
No words can describe this surreal moment. 🙏🏻
Dedicating this to all our amazing fans across the world. THANK YOU!! ❤️❤️❤️
Sports icon Mike Tyson praised former two-part UFC champion Conor McGregor for his boxing performance against Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Nate Diaz decided to respond.
Diaz and “Notorious” fought twice in 2016 when McGregor became the world featherweight champion. Both fights were fought at 170lbs, and Diaz prevailed in their first meeting at UFC 196, rocking the Irishman by a choke. The two met again a few months later at UFC 202, and after a five-round back-fight, McGregor won by majority decision.
The contest fell through before McGregor became the UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champion by winning the 155-pound crown. And that tackle also came before McGregor made his professional boxing debut against the Mayweather legend.
Even though Mayweather entered the ring with a 49-0 record and several championships, McGregor pressed “Money” for 10 rounds before succumbing to TKO. And Tyson praised McGregor for the effort.
“[McGregor] has never had a boxing match, has he?” Tyson said on an episode of his podcast, Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson. “He played 10 rounds with the greatest boxer of the last 100 years.
“He went 10 rounds and scored punches against the greatest fighter of the last 20 years – 100 years. Look, people don’t see it. People just want to say, “black beats white.” You just want to see him. But look what he has to fight. And look what he did do when he fought her.
Well, Diaz had something to say in response to Tyson’s comments. “I got it right earlier in about 8 minutes,” Diaz wrote on social media. “What does that mean to you? Done, die. Check out Diaz’s tweet with the video featuring “Iron Mike” below:
