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Associated Press
a day ago
- Climate
- Associated Press
Forest fire haze from Indonesia detected in Malaysia
PEKANBARU, Indonesia (AP) — Haze from forest and peatland fires in some parts of Indonesia's Sumatra island was detected in Malaysia on Sunday, officials said. Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strain relations with neighboring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. A number of areas in Indonesia's Riau province were still covered by thick haze, although choking smoke had not been registered in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru, said Riau deputy police chief Adrianto Jossy Kusumo. He said more than 140 forest and peatland fires were reported in the province. Rokan Hilir and Rokan Hulu districts were the worst hit areas by fires that burned about 46 hectares in the two districts, resulting in heavy haze pollution across the area that reduced visibility to as low as one kilometer (half a mile). The figure for fires was down from 294 hotspots on Saturday after authorities managed to extinguish the fire in several places, Kusumo said. He said haze has caused the air quality in Riau to worsen, 'but overall it has not disrupted people's lives in other areas of the province.' However, based on satellite imagery from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency in Pekanbaru, haze was detected moving northeastward and reaching Kemang Bay in Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan state, said a forecaster on duty, Gita Dewi. 'It showed the haze was moving by the wind to cross Malaysia,' Dewi said. She said hotspots were also detected in other parts of West Sumatra and North Sumatra provinces, but Riau recorded the highest number of hotspots on the island of Sumatra. Forest fires on Sumatra and Borneo islands often break out in the region during dry spells, smothering parts of nearby Singapore and Malaysia in haze. In 2023, Indonesia which often sends apologies to its neighbors over the haze, denied that its fires were causing blankets of haze in Malaysia. The Indonesian government usually blames plantation owners and traditional farmers for illegally setting the fires for land-clearing.
UAE Moments
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- UAE Moments
Indonesian Aura Farming Boat Boy Wins Hearts Online
An 12‑year‑old Indonesian boy, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, recently stole the spotlight with his charismatic "aura farming" dance performed atop a speeding Pacu Jalur racing boat. Balancing effortlessly at the bow, sunglasses perched and clad in traditional attire, his smooth moves not only energized the rowers but captivated millions on TikTok and Instagram. The term 'aura farming', borrowed from anime‑inspired internet slang, describes cultivating cool, confident vibes through calm, deliberate gestures. Rayyan's spontaneous performance, complete with hand rolls and subtle poses, embodied this trend, earning him the nickname "The Reaper" online. His now‑viral dance, often set to the rap track 'Young Black & Rich,' has sparked global imitations from high‑profile athletes and celebrities. Most notably, Travis Kelce, DJ Steve Aoki, MotoGP star Marc Márquez, and PSG players have recreated the moves, elevating the viral challenge across sports and entertainment circles. Back home in Riau province, Rayyan's fame earned him the title of cultural and tourism ambassador, along with a scholarship prize. He even performed for national dignitaries in Jakarta—a testament to how this traditional role of Tukang Tari (boat dancer) merged seamlessly with modern internet culture. The Pacu Jalur Festival, a centuries‑old canoe race on Sumatra's Kuantan river, traditionally features a dancer at the prow to inspire rowers. Rayyan first took on this role at the age of nine and choreographed this now-famous routine himself. Analysts see Rayyan's story as a powerful example of how local traditions can gain global resonance through viral authenticity. His cool, organic aura farming moves highlight the universal appeal of confidence and cultural pride—and show how even spontaneous performance can turn into a unifying, cross‑cultural phenomenon.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Who is 'Aura Farming' boat kid? Why celebrities are grooving to 11-year-old's dance
If you've been on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts lately, chances are you've come across the now-iconic video of an Indonesian boy dancing on the bow of a racing boat, exuding cool, calm confidence. That boy is Rayyan Arkan Dikha, and he's not just a viral star—he's now the face of a global trend known as 'Aura Farming.' The short clip (circulated on social media with a trending audio), which originated from the Pacu Jalur boat racing festival in Riau, Indonesia, shows 11-year-old Rayyan in traditional attire, swaying to the rhythm with simple, composed hand gestures, his gaze steady and expression unreadable. Pure vibe, as the internet would call it. Recommended For You But before we dig deeper, what is 'Aura Farming'? Aura Farming is a term born from gamer culture, where "farming" means collecting resources. In social media terms, it's about projecting a vibe so strong, it earns you admiration, likes, reposts, and 'aura points'. And if your vibe is opposite, you may lose your 'aura points.' Rayyan didn't invent aura farming. But his dance? It's the definitive example. Who is Rayyan Arkan Dikha? Rayyan hails from Riau Province, Indonesia, and was participating in the traditional Pacu Jalur boat racing festival, a centuries-old cultural celebration. His role was to perform a morale-boosting dance on the front of a narrow racing boat while rowers paddled in unison. This Indonesian Kid "Aura Farmer" went viral by dancing in front of a boat in a boat race ð¥ð #aura #boatrace #explore #aurafarming #dance #indonesia #fact #tiktok — ð ð ð ð ð ¨ ð ð ð ¡ð â¤ï¸â¨ (@im_saraahh) July 10, 2025 With effortless moves, a serious gaze, and striking composure, Rayyan's boat-top dance was captured in a now-viral video that has garnered millions of views across platforms, sparked thousands of recreations, and captivated the internet with one question: "Who is this kid, and how is he so cool?". Why celebrities and influencers are copying him Rayyan's dance has become a template for cool. Everyone from TikTokers to major stars has tried to recreate his slow, stylised hand movements and boat-top stance. NFL star and Taylor Swift's boyfriend Travis Kelce, rapper Wiz Khalifa, F1 driver Alex Albon, and the Paris Saint-Germain football team are among the big names who've jumped on the trend, in addition to global fashion and lifestyle influencers. Even luxury fashion creators are using his dance style in branded content. Watch videos from Travis, Wiz, Alex and the PSG team below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) Tradition meets TikTok What makes this moment even more powerful is that Rayyan was dancing as part of a sacred, local tradition, not a scripted content shoot. The Pacu Jalur race is a point of pride in Indonesian culture, and Rayyan's boat crew entrusted him with the role of 'Togak Luan', the symbolic dancer who channels energy and spirit into the race. His smooth moves were improvised, and Rayyan told BBC Indonesia that he came up with the dance moves himself. Now, he's not just viral, he's been appointed Tourism Ambassador of Riau, the province he comes from, and has already made appearances on national television. Husain Rizvi is a Senior Features Writer who covers entertainment and lifestyle stories and has a profound interest in tech (games) and sports. When he's not working, you can find him at the gym, or finishing a boss fight in a video game. husain@
Arab News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Indonesian boy's ‘aura farming' dance brings global spotlight to centuries-old tradition
JAKARTA: An Indonesian boy dancing on the front of a boat has become an Internet sensation in recent weeks, setting a global trend of 'aura farming' that has been recreated by famous athletes and thousands of others worldwide. 'Aura farming' is an Internet expression popularized in 2024, largely in reference to anime characters and celebrities. It refers to the act of consistently looking cool to build one's 'aura.' Dressed in a black traditional costume and wearing sunglasses, 11-year-old Rayyan Arkhan Dikha from Indonesia's Riau province has been dubbed 'the ultimate aura farmer' on social media for performing a series of repetitive movements calmly on the bow of a thin boat, videos of which have amassed millions of views globally. The Indonesian boy who goes by the name of Dika was participating in a local event known as 'pacu jalur,' which roughly translates to 'boat race.' A tradition that dates back to the early 17th century, the event is now held every August to commemorate the Indonesian Independence Day. 'Pacu jalur has been one of Indonesia's Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2015,' Indonesia's Culture Minister Fadli Zon said in a statement, after hosting Dika in his office in Jakarta on Wednesday. The water sport tradition originated in Riau's Kuantan Singingi regency at a time when boats were the main mode of transportation for the communities living along the local river. 'It has always been a part of life for people in (Kuantan Singingi), including to celebrate the most important Islamic holidays and also our independence day,' Fadli said. During the race, each of the long, canoe-like boats and its large crew has an 'anak coki,' a dancer who moves with rhythmic hand movements and body waves to provide inspiration for the rowers. While every anak coki brings their own charm to the race, Dika — who has participated in the races since he was 9 — has since become the face of the pacu jalur tradition. Though the original clip featuring Dika was posted to TikTok in January by a user named Lensa Rams and the event itself was held last August, the boy shot to global popularity over the past few weeks, as various creators on Instagram and TikTok have tried their own hand at Dika's dance. The list includes soccer team Paris Saint-Germain and Travis Kelce, American football star and boyfriend of pop singer Taylor Swift. When the US men's national soccer team won against Guatemala last week, American soccer player Diego Luna copied Dika's moves to celebrate a goal. The massive impact of the video garnered him special attention from the government in Riau, where the governor on Tuesday named Dika as a tourism ambassador for the province and awarded him a scholarship for 20 million rupiah (about $1,200) for his education. 'Today, almost everyone opened their eyes to the vibrant and thriving culture of Riau, especially pacu jalur. This is why I wanted to show my appreciation to Dika,' Governor Abdul Wahid said. In a statement, the local government confirmed that Dika will participate in the races next month. Speaking to reporters in Jakarta following his meeting with the culture minister, Dika said: 'I'm happy that I've gone viral globally.'
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What Is ‘Aura Farming'? This Tween Will Show You.
In the last few weeks, Rayyan Arkan Dikha, an 11-year-old boy who lives in Indonesia and, according to his local government, goes by Dika, has been hard to miss on social media, even if you've never heard his name. A video of him dancing on the front of a boat has become an internet sensation and is the reason 'aura farming' has become a popular phrase. The video has been overlaid with various songs, imitated by countless creators, commented on by celebrities and, most recently, led to Dika being named a tourism ambassador for Riau, the province in Indonesia where he lives. While many of the videos featuring Dika have amassed millions of views around the world, his popularity in the United States — and the explosion in use of the phrase 'aura farming' — has come despite relatively little information being available about him or the race he competes in. What is aura farming? According to the website Know Your Meme, the expression was popularized in 2024 largely in reference to anime characters and various celebrities. It generally refers to someone who does something repetitive to look cool and build, as Gen Alpha would say, aura. Dika, who seems preternaturally calm on the bow of a thin boat, dressed in black and wearing sunglasses, uses a series of repetitive movements in his dance, making him a perfect fit for the term. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
