Jamu Barokahs

Sabtu, 06 Juli 2019

Australian student expelled from North Korea for 'committing anti-DPRK incitement' - CNN

Sigley, 29, was freed from detention Thursday after being held for over a week, telling reporters at Beijing airport that he was doing "great."

The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has now stated that Sigley was deported for spying.

He was "caught red-handed committing anti-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) incitement through internet, by a relevant institution of the DPRK on June 25," the news agency reported.

Alek Sigley was deported from North Korea after "committing anti-DPRK incitement," according to the country's state-run media.

"Investigation revealed that at the instigation of the NK News and other anti-DPRK media he handed over several times the data and photos he collected and analyzed while combing Pyongyang by making use of the identity card of a foreign student [sic].

"He honestly admitted his spying acts of systemically collecting and offering data about the domestic situation of the DPRK and repeatedly asked for pardon, apologizing for encroachment upon the sovereignty of the DPRK."

The news agency added that the North Korean government deported Sigley on July 4 in an act of "humanitarian leniency."

Sigley had been studying at Kim Il Sung University and living in the North Korean capital Pyongyang. His family said in a statement that he first visited North Korea in 2012 and is fluent in Korean and Mandarin.

Sigley told reporters that he was doing "great" after arriving at Beijing airport.

Alongside his studies, Sigley has written about his experiences in North Korea for the news site NK News. He also founded Tongil Tours, a business specializing in educational visits to North Korea.

Sigley's parents raised the alarm about his whereabouts last week after he was not heard from for two days, saying that he previously had been in regular contact and such a break was "unusual for him."

"We're over the moon that he's safe and sound and I'm sure in the coming days and weeks there will be more information about what has transpired," Sigley's father said following his son's arrival in Beijing.

Scott Morrisson, Australia's prime minister, was the first to confirm Sigley's release while speaking to Parliament, stating, "I'm sure we all could not be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is, but we know he is safe."

Australian detained in North Korea has 'safely left the country,' PM says

He also thanked Swedish officials for their "invaluable assistance" in securing Sigley's release, saying it was an example of the effectiveness of inter-government cooperation and behind the scenes diplomacy.

"The Swedish have advised the Australian government that they met with senior officials from the DPRK yesterday and raised the issue of Alek's disappearance on Australia's behalf," Morrisson told the parliament.

Sweden is one of the few Western countries with an embassy in North Korea and often acts as an intermediary for foreign governments and Pyongyang.

Two years ago, American student Otto Warmbier was released after he was taken captive by the North Korean regime during a brief sightseeing tour.

Then 22, Warmbier returned home to Ohio in a vegetative state -- blind, deaf, and having sustained severe brain damage from his year in detention. He died on June 19, 2017, days after the Trump administration had secured his return.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/06/asia/alek-sigley-north-korea-australia-intl/index.html

2019-07-07 02:53:00Z
52780327067074

Australian student expelled from North Korea for 'committing anti-DPRK incitement' - CNN

Sigley, 29, was freed from detention Thursday after being held for over a week, telling reporters at Beijing airport that he was doing "great."

The North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has now stated that Sigley was deported for spying.

He was "caught red-handed committing anti-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) incitement through internet, by a relevant institution of the DPRK on June 25," the news agency reported.

The news agency added that the North Korean government deported Sigley on July 4 in an act of "humanitarian leniency."

Alongside his studies, Sigley has written about his experiences in North Korea for the news site NK News. He also founded Tongil Tours, a business specializing in educational visits to North Korea.

Sweden is one of the few Western countries with an embassy in North Korea and often acts as an intermediary for foreign governments and Pyongyang.

Two years ago, American student Otto Warmbier was released after he was taken captive by the North Korean regime during a brief sightseeing tour.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/06/asia/alek-sigley-north-korea-australia-intl/index.html

2019-07-06 12:07:00Z
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Armstrong to play basketball in Australia - 247Sports

"<b — **Terry Armstrong** (Photo: Jon Lopez/Nike, 247Sports)

On Friday, Terry Armstrong announced that he has decided to play basketball professionally for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia's NBL.

Armstrong verbally committed to Arizona on Oct. 24 and eventually signed with the Wildcats. A 6-foot-6 wing out of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Bella Vista Prep, informed the Arizona coaching staff of his decision in the middle of June.

Not a subscriber? Sign up now to get all the great information on the premium boards and all of the premium stories on WildcatAuthority.com! Click here to subscribe!

Opting out of college for professional options is growing trend among high school prospects. Armstrong is the fourth high school recruit in the 2020 recruit class to opt for the professional ranks in the last three weeks.

RJ Hampton signed a deal with the New Zealand Breakers, of the NBL, in late May. Then KJ Martin, the son of Kenyon Martin, opted out of a scholarship to Vanderbilt to pursue going pro a few days later. In addition, LaMelo Ball, who likely wouldn’t have been eligible for college basketball, announced he’s headed to the NBL as well.

Last summer Armstrong averaged 20.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 12 Nike EYBL games. Armstrong connected on 89 of 180 field goal attempts, including 21 of 60 from the three-point stripe, during the league.

Upon signing with Arizona, Arizona head coach Sean Miller spoke highly of Armstrong.

"Terry was kind of born and raised in the state of Michigan," Arizona head coach Sean Miller has previously said. "Terry brings a toughness to our program that I think all of love to have as coaches. He also has great size for a wing and a guard.

"It’s not that he does one thing well. It’s the versatility that jumps off the page when we watch him and I think the best is yet to come. He’s in a program right now that is playing against the best competition in America at the high school level and I am really excited for him, anxious for him to have a great senior year. He will be able to come in and impact our program right away."

There have been some questions as to whether or not Armstrong would qualify to go to Arizona. He reaffirmed his commitment in late May when it looked as if he would open up his recruitment.

The decision came soon after meeting with Sean Miller and a public tweet that said he was going to continue to be an Arizona Wildcat.

A little over a month later, Armstrong is going to Australia to play for a team that will be entering its first season in the NBL.

Armstrong is ranked No. 61 overall and as the No. 8 shooting guard in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

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https://247sports.com/college/arizona/Article/Terry-Armstrong-to-play-basketball-in-Australia-133447266/

2019-07-05 20:03:07Z
52780327170885

Jumat, 05 Juli 2019

Behind Summit Smiles, Australia Says U.S.-China Trade Tensions Still Fester - Wall Street Journal

Australia isn’t expecting the U.S.-China trade fight to end soon. Pictured, a storm passes by as an amateur photographer in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

James Glynn and

Rob Taylor

The Wall Street Journal

Biography
@WSJRobTaylor
rob.taylor@wsj.com

July 5, 2019 5:56 am ET

CANBERRA, Australia—There has been no sign of a speedy resolution to U.S.-China trade tensions in recent meetings with American officials, Australia’s top finance minister said, despite President Trump’s more-conciliatory tone at last weekend’s Group of 20 summit.

Mr. Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping managed to get trade talks back on track last weekend, bolstering hopes of a break in trade hostilities between the world’s two biggest economies.

Australia’s Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, however, said on Friday he had seen no sign during meetings with counterparts or recent separate talks with U.S. officials that a resolution was on the horizon. “These issues aren’t going away anytime soon,” Mr. Frydenberg said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

Australia’s Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, left, talks with specialist trader Paul Cosentino on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor, June 19. Photo: Richard Drew/Associated Press

The global nature of trade means the bilateral spat is dealing a blow to economic growth world-wide. In April, the International Monetary Fund reduced its global growth forecast for 2019 to 3.3%—growth was 3.6% last year—and said trade tensions could weigh on it further.

China’s demand has been the biggest driver of global expansion. The trade tensions risk exacerbating the Chinese economy’s slowdown, with the collateral damage likely to include Australian mining giants who would be hard-hit by any slip in China’s demand for Australian resources such as copper and iron ore.

Mr. Frydenberg met recently with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to gauge political resolve in Washington on a range of issues including trade and urge a de-escalation in global tensions. Australia is a supporter of trade liberalization. Last year, it joined 12 other members of the World Trade Organization in supporting proposed changes to the world trade umpire, which Mr. Trump has called “the worst organization ever created.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison used a recent trade-focused speech to indirectly criticize Mr. Trump’s negotiating style as a “a narrow, transactional approach” where longstanding alliance relationships were being wound back to “nothing more than the sum of our deals.”

While Canberra understands U.S. frustrations with the multilateral trading system, Mr. Frydenberg said the answer is in reforming rather than dismantling the dispute process or withdrawing altogether from the WTO. An appellate body at the WTO that handles trade disputes could become dysfunctional by the end of the year because the U.S. has blocked the appointment of new judges.

“While the World Trade Organization is not the flavor of the month, it can be re-equipped to deal with some of the issues,” said Mr. Frydenberg.

Australia’s resource-reliant economy is one of the world’s most China-dependent. Mr. Morrison’s conservative government has been anxiously watching for progress in trade talks amid concerns that any fallout could worsen already anemic growth and prematurely end a record 28-year growth streak.

As part of President Trump’s efforts to rebalance trade relationships, he has imposed tariffs on almost every country around the world. WSJ’s Josh Zumbrun explains where we stand with our largest trading partners. Photo composite: Laura Kammerman

The country’s independent central bank lowered its official cash rate to a record low of 1.0% from 1.25% on Tuesday, delivering the first back-to-back cut since 2012. Reserve Bank of Australia Gov. Philip Lowe has kept open the prospect of even further cuts should the economy fail to rebound.

The low level of interest rates has some economists discussing the potential for the central bank to adopt unorthodox monetary policy to revive an economy growing at its weakest pace since the global financial crisis. The central bank is leaning on Canberra to support its efforts with infrastructure spending and fiscal stimulus.

Mr. Frydenberg said while growth has slowed, the economy remains one of the fastest-growing in the developed world. A US$111 billion, decadelong package of tax cuts passed Thursday would help, he added.

“The fundamentals of the Australian economy remain sound, we have a triple-A sovereign credit rating, and a budget coming back into surplus for the first time in a decade,” he said.

Write to James Glynn at james.glynn@wsj.com and Rob Taylor at rob.taylor@wsj.com

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https://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-summit-smiles-australia-says-u-s-china-trade-tensions-still-fester-11562320574

2019-07-05 09:56:00Z
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Wayne State Picks Up Commitment from Australia's Jordan Fox for 2019-20 - SwimSwam

Fitter and Faster Swim Clinics is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

South African-born Australian resident Jordan Fox has announced her commitment to Wayne State University where she will swim and study towards an Accounting major beginning in the fall of 2019.

“I’m super excited to announce my commitment to Wayne State University! 💚💛 Thanks to everyone for all the support, and can’t wait to start this next chapter in my life 🤩 Go Warriors.”

Fox currently swims for Bayside Swimming Club, based in Victoria, Australia. She excels in backstroke and freestyle and favors the 200s. She was runner-up in the B final of the 200m back at the 2019 Australian Swimming Championships, going a PB of 2:15.63. At the same meet she finished 15th overall in the 100m back with 1:04.62, again notching a best time. She also went lifetime bests in the 50 back and 200 free at in Adelaide.

Fox has been a member of Swimming Victoria’s Performance Squad since 2017. She was part of the team that won the Victoria state grammar schools’ swimming championships for 5 consecutive years and captained the team in the 5th year. She was also the 2017-2018 captain of the Mentone Grammar School girls’ swim team and received the award for the “Best Team Member for Leadership, Determination and Service” in 2018.

Consistently ranked as a Top 10 swimmer in her age group in the state of Victoria for the past 4 seasons, her best LCM times include:

50 back – 30.82 (27.22 in SCY)
100 back – 1:04.62 (57.13 in SCY)
200 back – 2:15.63 (2:00.02 in SCY)
200 free – 2:08.81 (1:53.16 in SCY)

Fox will integrate Wayne State’s strong backstroke group led by rising senior Ashlen Michalski, who placed 13th in the 100 back and 10th in the 200 back at 2019 NCAA Division II Championships.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour

The Fitter & Faster Swim Tour produces swim clinics featuring elite stars of the sport and the most innovative teaching platforms. FFT Swim Clinics can be customized to meet age and skill level of every team and community. Call 786-837-6880 or visit http://www.fitterandfaster.com/ to learn more.

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2019-07-05 01:41:04Z
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Kamis, 04 Juli 2019

Alek Sigley: North Korea releases detained Australian student - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Australian Alek Sigley who went missing in North Korea last week has been "released and safe", Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.

It comes after a meeting between officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean government.

Australia does not have its own embassy in the North Korean capital.

Mr Sigley, 29, was pursuing a master's degree and running a tourism business in Pyongyang.

It is not known why the student, a fluent Korean speaker, had been detained.

The news of his release was first reported by specialist website NK News which said he was safely in China and would travel on to Japan.

"I'm ok, yeah, I'm good, I'm very good," Mr Sigley is seen saying on footage reportedly showing his arrival in Beijing, according to Australian media.

The 29-year-old's father later told local news outlets that their family was "over the moon that he is safe and sound".

"Last week has been very difficult... we're just happy that the situation has been resolved. He tried to ring me a few minutes ago, I will talk to him some time today," Gary Sigley told local outlets outside their family home in Perth.

News of Mr Sigley's release was announced by Mr Morrison to parliament on Thursday. He said it was the result of "discreet, behind the scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consular cases".

"We are pleased to announce that Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He is safe and well." Mr Morrison said.

He said Swedish authorities had met with senior officials from the DPRK on Wednesday and "raised the issue of Alek's disappearance on Australia's behalf".

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance."

Sweden is one of few Western countries that have an embassy in North Korea and often acts as an intermediary for countries that don't.

'Discreet diplomacy'

Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent

The relief felt by Alek Sigley's family, and many others across Australia, is obvious.

With no embassy in Pyongyang and no direct contact with North Korea, the Australian government was left to depend on the good-will of others to help find him. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was glowing in his praise for the way in which Swedish officials worked to secure his release.

Clearly there were concerns that publicly confronting North Korea would prove provocative and potentially harmful to Mr Sigley. Instead, careful and discreet diplomacy got the desired result.

Of course, we do not know what, if anything, was offered in return. But for now the focus is on celebrating that he is safe and well.

Who is Alek Sigley?

Mr Sigley was one of very few foreigners living in North Korea.

Originally from Perth, for the past year he had been pursuing a degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University.

He also ran a business providing tours for Western tourists visiting the totalitarian, communist state.

In March, he described himself as "the only Australian living in North Korea" in a piece published by The Guardian.

Last week, his family and friends lost contact with him, sparking fears he might have been detained.

Several foreigners have previously been detained in North Korea, sometimes for illegally entering the country or for what Pyongyang terms "hostile criminal acts against the state".

US student Otto Warmbier was jailed in North Korea in 2016 after being accused of stealing a propaganda sign during an organised tour.

He spent 17 months in detention, and later died days after he was returned to the US in a coma.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48864474

2019-07-04 10:14:05Z
CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hdXN0cmFsaWEtNDg4NjQ0NzTSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3MvYW1wL3dvcmxkLWF1c3RyYWxpYS00ODg2NDQ3NA

Alek Sigley: North Korea releases detained Australian student - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Australian Alek Sigley who went missing in North Korea last week has been "released and safe", Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said.

It comes after a meeting between officials from the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang and the North Korean government.

Australia does not have its own embassy in the North Korean capital.

Mr Sigley, 29, was pursuing a master's degree and running a tourism business in Pyongyang.

It is not known why the student, a fluent Korean speaker, had been detained.

The news of his release was first reported by specialist website NK News which said he was safely in China and would travel on to Japan.

"I'm ok, yeah, I'm good, I'm very good," Mr Sigley is seen saying on footage reportedly showing his arrival in Beijing, according to Australian media.

The 29-year-old's father later told local news outlets that their family was "over the moon that he is safe and sound".

"We are pleased to announce that Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He is safe and well." Mr Morrison said.

He said Swedish authorities had met with senior officials from the DPRK on Wednesday and "raised the issue of Alek's disappearance on Australia's behalf".

"I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance."

Sweden is one of few Western countries that have an embassy in North Korea and often acts as an intermediary for countries that don't.

'Discreet diplomacy'

Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent

The relief felt by Alek Sigley's family, and many others across Australia, is obvious.

Clearly there were concerns that publicly confronting North Korea would prove provocative and potentially harmful to Mr Sigley. Instead, careful and discreet diplomacy got the desired result.

Of course, we do not know what, if anything, was offered in return. But for now the focus is on celebrating that he is safe and well.

Who is Alek Sigley?

Mr Sigley was one of very few foreigners living in North Korea.

Originally from Perth, for the past year he had been pursuing a degree in Korean literature at Kim Il-sung University.

He also ran a business providing tours for Western tourists visiting the totalitarian, communist state.

In March, he described himself as "the only Australian living in North Korea" in a piece published by The Guardian.

Last week, his family and friends lost contact with him, sparking fears he might have been detained.

Several foreigners have previously been detained in North Korea, sometimes for illegally entering the country or for what Pyongyang terms "hostile criminal acts against the state".

US student Otto Warmbier was jailed in North Korea in 2016 after being accused of stealing a propaganda sign during an organised tour.

He spent 17 months in detention, and later died days after he was returned to the US in a coma.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48864474

2019-07-04 09:21:13Z
CBMiMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy93b3JsZC1hdXN0cmFsaWEtNDg4NjQ0NzTSATVodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3MvYW1wL3dvcmxkLWF1c3RyYWxpYS00ODg2NDQ3NA