VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI, Jakartia - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy assured that athletes with a medal achievement at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, will get a bonus.

He made the announcement following the attainment of the medal target of 19 golds.

"I am very delighted that today the target we have set, namely 19 gold medals, has been achieved. Likewise, with the top 10 (target), we are now in 7th place," he told the press at Binjiang Gymnasium, China, on Thursday.

"Regarding bonus, of course (it will be provided). Later, we will discuss it with the CdM (Chef de Mission), the parties responsible, and we will also propose it to the President," he added.

Even though the target of 19 gold medals has been achieved, Effendy expressed the hope that the athletes who will compete until the last day of the Asian Para Games will continue to strive to make the nation proud.

"Thus, after the 19 gold medals, we only need to seek the addition. Hopefully, it could be above 25 gold medals because there are some sports with high potential for gold achievement, including para-badminton, which we are relying on," the minister said.

As of Thursday, the Indonesian contingent ranked 7th in the standings, with 19 gold, 17 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

On Thursday, Indonesia secured medals in athletics, cycling, badminton, and chess. The chess team boosted the medal tally of the Indonesian contingent with 7 gold medals.

The Indonesian contingent is aiming to finish in the top 10 at the games, with a target of 19 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze medals.

Indonesia is competing in 12 sports in Hangzhou: athletics, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, cycling, shooting, judo, boccia, chess, lawn bowls, archery, and table tennis.   (Antaranews)

VOI, Jakarta - The Indonesian and Singaporean governments have discussed six issues related to digital transformation as part of a series of information exchanges between the two countries.

Secretary general of the Ministry of Communication and Information Mira Tayyiba said that the issue of digital transformation was discussed at a recent bilateral meeting considering the rapid development of digitalization in both countries.

"The meeting discussed six issues, namely memorandum of understanding (MoU), digital road map, data protection, digital economy, digital infrastructure, and media," she noted in a statement released by the ministry on Thursday.

The bilateral meeting was held in Jakarta on October 25, 2023, as part of the 9th Information and Communication Joint Committee (ICJC) Indonesia-Singapore's agenda.

The two governments expressed the hope that the meeting would help generate inputs on regulating policies following the development of digitalization, which has continued to grow rapidly, Tayyiba informed.

One of the interesting discussions at the bilateral meeting was related to the preparation of an MoU on digital transformation between Indonesia and Singapore, she revealed.

She said she believes that the MoU has the potential to expand existing cooperation and help overcome existing challenges in the digital landscape for the two parties.

"The discussion regarding the upcoming important agenda will open up opportunities to gather new perspectives and ideas to overcome challenges and obstacles. It can also encourage collaboration for the mutual benefit of both countries," she added.

Meanwhile, head of the International Cooperation Center of the Secretariat General of the Ministry of Communication and Information, Ichwan Makmur Nasution, said that this year's ICJC was the first in-person meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic.

He deemed the meeting important for exchanging information to develop digitalization in both countries.

"Next year, we will conduct the 10th meeting in Singapore. We hope we can practice a deeper format, such as working group format," Nasution added. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - Russia and China on Wednesday vetoed a U.S. push for the United Nations Security Council to act on the Israel-Hamas conflict by calling for pauses in fighting to allow humanitarian aid access, the protection of civilians and a stop to arming Hamas and other militants in the Gaza Strip.

The United States put forward a draft resolution on Saturday as global outcry grew over a worsening humanitarian crisis and mounting civilian death toll in Gaza. It made the move just days after it vetoed a humanitarian focused draft from Brazil, arguing more time was needed for U.S.-led diplomacy.

The initial U.S. text shocked many diplomats with its bluntness in stating Israel has a right to defend itself and demanding Iran stop exporting arms to militant groups. It did not include a call for humanitarian pauses for aid access. But it largely toned down the final text that was put to the vote.

"We did listen to all of you," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the 15-member council after the double veto, which she described as disappointing. "Though today’s vote was a setback, we must not be deterred."

It was a rare move by the United States to suggest Security Council action. Washington has traditionally shielded its ally Israel at the world body.

Ten members voted for the U.S. text, while the United Arab Emirates voted no and Brazil and Mozambique abstained.

"The draft does not reflect the world's strongest calls for a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue," China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun told the council after the vote. "At this moment, ceasefire is not just a diplomatic term. It means the life and death of many civilians."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire.

'OBLIGATION TO ACT'

In the wake of the Security Council deadlock, the 193-member U.N. General Assembly will vote on Friday on a draft resolution put forward by Arab states that calls for a ceasefire. No country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas, which rules Gaza, in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,400 people. Israel has struck Gaza from the air, imposed a siege on the enclave of 2.3 million people and is preparing a ground invasion. Palestinian authorities say more than 6,500 have been killed.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accuses the U.S. of putting up a draft resolution that represented Security Council authorization of a ground offensive in Gaza by Israel "while thousands of Palestinian children will continue to die."

After the double veto, the Security Council then voted on a rival Russian-drafted text that called for a humanitarian ceasefire and withdrawal of Israel's order for civilians in Gaza to relocate south ahead of a ground assault.

Russia failed to the get minimum amount of support needed, winning only four votes. A resolution needs at least nine votes and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to be adopted.

It was Russia's second attempt at a resolution. Only five council members voted in favor of a Russian text on Oct. 16.

The elected 10 members of the Security Council now plan to work on a new draft resolution, Malta's U.N. Ambassador Vanessa Frazier said.

"This crisis is also gripped by a growing risk of a regional spill over. This demands our undivided attention," she said. "We have the duty and the obligation to act." (Reuters)

VOINews, Jakarta - Israeli ground forces operated within the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, attacking multiple Hamas targets before withdrawing, the military said in a statement on what Israel's Army Radio described as the biggest incursion of the current war.

Video of the overnight action issued by the military showed armoured vehicles proceeding through a sandy border zone. A bulldozer is seen levelling part of a raised bank, tanks fire shells, and explosions are seen near or amid a row of damaged buildings.

The military statement posted online said the incursion was carried out "in preparation for the next stages of combat", a possible reference to the large-scale invasion that Israeli leaders have threatened as part of the war to destroy Hamas.

"The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory," the military statement added.

Israel began localised ground incursions on Sunday as the war, triggered by an Oct 7 cross-border rampage by Hamas gunmen, entered its third week. Israel's Army Radio described Thursday's incursion as the biggest yet.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas in Gaza. (Reuters)