VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

File photo—Executive committee member of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Arya Sinulingga, issuing a statement after attending a PSSI event in Jakarta on February 6, 2024. (ANTARA/Aloysius Lewokeda) 

VOI News, Jakarta: The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has stated that  it will send a letter of protest to FIFA against referee Ahmed Al Kaf's timekeeping call in the third-round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Indonesia went up against Bahrain in the match at the Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, on Thursday.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Saturday (12/10), during the match, Indonesia drew 2-2 against the host. The Garuda squad was leading 2-1 before a goal by Bahrain's Mohamed Marhoon equalized the score in the 99th minute.

Referee Ahmed gave six minutes of additional time, but the match was played until the 99th minute.

"Yes, we will send a letter of protest," PSSI executive committee member Arya Sinulingga said in a written statement released on Friday morning.

"We were very disappointed with the referee's leadership. Like adding the time until Bahrain scored a goal," he pointed out.

At first, Indonesia conceded when Marhoon's shot in the 15th minute failed to be anticipated by goalkeeper Marteen Paes. Marhoon's kick hit the crossbar first before crossing the goal line.

Still, Indonesia managed to even the score at the 45+3 minute mark, when Mees Hilgers' pass was utilized by Ragnar Oratmangoen to score a goal against the host.

Thus, the first half ended with a draw of 1-1.

The Garuda team took the lead around the 73rd minute in the second half. Starting with a quick attack, Rafael Struick finished the movement with a corner kick to Bahrain guarded by Ebrahim Lutfalla, taking the score to 2-1.

Just when Indonesia felt they could secure three points in the match, Bahrain equalized in the 99th minute.

Marhoon continued a corner kick, scoring the goal that saved the host but it broke the hearts of Indonesians.

With this result, Indonesia is in 5th place in the Group C standings with three points, one point behind Bahrain.

Indonesia will next compete against China on Tuesday, while Bahrain will take on Saudi Arabia on the same day. (Antara)

List of the ASEAN, Japan and UNDP winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), (Photo : UNDP) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : ASEAN, Japan and UNDP officially announced the winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), an initiative that aims to advance sustainable blue economy solutions in ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Launched in April 2024, ABIC is part of the ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation project supported by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and implemented by UNDP, with funding support from the Government of Japan.

This initiative identifies and supports innovative solutions from ten ASEAN member countries and Timor-Leste that address pressing challenges in marine and freshwater ecosystems. The initiative received 1,341 proposals, of which 60 winners were selected by a Joint Selection Committee consisting of Satvinder Singh, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community; Kiya Masahiko, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN; and Norimasa Shimomura, Chief Representative of UNDP Indonesia.

These 60 winners represent a diverse range of innovators, and their solutions aim to improve sustainability in aquaculture, fisheries and tourism while addressing broader environmental challenges such as climate change, plastic waste and water resource management. Through technological innovation, community engagement and new financing models, this innovation project has the potential to generate positive environmental and social impacts across the region.

One other important piece of information is gender inclusion. Of the 60 winners, 27 of them (45%) were led by women, with a total of 125 female team members, exceeding the number of male members which amounted to 116 people.

Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN said, “This project marks an important milestone in our journey towards sustainable blue economy development. By empowering local innovators and encouraging regional collaboration, we not only address pressing environmental challenges but also open new economic opportunities for ASEAN. I congratulate the 60 winners whose solutions have the potential to improve the future of our marine and freshwater ecosystems. I am confident that the partnerships formed through this initiative will drive long-term positive change across the region.”

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Thursday October 10th 2024 in Jakarta, four focus areas covering sustainable fisheries, marine plastic pollution, sustainable tourism and climate issues, the winners emphasized the use of the latest technological advances in the blue sector to increase efficiency and environmentally friendly approaches.

In precision aquaculture, for example, award recipients from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic are using artificial intelligence (AI) and water filtration technology to optimize fish farming and increase local production. To demonstrate circularity in fisheries, award recipients from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines transformed fish and shrimp waste and seaweed into valuable products such as fertilizer, microalgae and food supplements, promoting resource sustainability and community resilience. In biotechnology, solutions such as phage therapy (a medical treatment that uses viruses that infect and kill bacteria to treat bacterial infections) and the use of Bacillus probiotics to improve health or prevent disease in aquaculture ─ aim to improve fish health, while grass-based filters Oceans tackle microplastic pollution.

Award recipients from Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam focus on plastic solutions, developing alternatives to agricultural waste, converting plastic waste into valuable products such as furniture and industrial materials, and facilitating the issuance of plastic credits in collaboration with local SMEs. In ecotourism, award recipients from Thailand and Timor-Leste are creating sustainable tourism models that involve local communities in conservation and waste management, driving environmental and social impacts.

This announcement also marks the start of a six-month incubation program for 60 winners. The program is designed to support the development of their proposed solutions at various stages of business implementation, from testing and proof of concept to scale-up and commercialization, equipping them with the tools to turn their ideas into impactful, scalable solutions. The winners are also entitled to funding of up to 40,000 US Dollars for 60 innovators//VOI

The Manuscript of the Song of Bwanā Winaṣā as a National Collective Memory (IKON) for 2024. (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Bali : The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) designated the Manuscript of the Song of Bwanā Winaṣā as a National Collective Memory (IKON) for 2024.

The text of Kidung Bwanā Winaṣā by Ida Pedanda Ngurah is written in the form of traditional macapat poetry and records important events such as the Badung puputan in 1906.

Deputy for the Development of Library Materials and Information Services at the National Library, Mariana Ginting, handed over the certificate of IKON designation to the representative of Gria Gede Belayu as the author's descendant, the representative of Giriya Mandhara Pemaron as the custodian of the manuscript, and to the Badung Regency Library and Archives Service as the proposer of IKON, in Badung, Bali, on Friday (11/10/2024).

The Deputy explained that with its broad historical coverage, the Song of Bwanā Winaṣā deserves to be recognized as an ICON that represents cultural riches and important events in world history.

"The Song of Bwanā Winaṣā was assessed by the IKON Expert Council as having national significance, namely that it records the story of the Balinese people's struggle against Dutch colonialism through the Puputan war which is an important legacy for Indonesian history," he said.

The Deputy emphasized that this award is not just a celebration, but also has benefits for the community.

"Accessibility and utilization of the Kidung Bwanā Winaṣā text as widely as possible must continue to be mainstreamed for the sake of knowledge and progress of the nation," he added.

Apart from that, the Deputy expressed his highest appreciation and appreciation to various parties who had collaborated with the National Library in selecting the manuscript of the Song of Bwanā Winaṣā to become an IKON.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday October 11th 2024 in Jakarta, assistant for Government and People's Welfare Badung Regency Regional Secretariat I Nyoman Sujendra representing Plt. The Regent of Badung Regency, I Ketut Suiasa, conveyed a number of efforts to preserve ancient manuscripts in Badung Regency.

"Efforts have been made to preserve ancient manuscripts in Badung Regency, especially lontar, in collaboration with Balinese language instructors in Bali Province," he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of maintaining, caring for and preserving ancient manuscripts through activities to mainstream Indonesian manuscripts.

"Nusantara Manuscripts as a National Collective Association is expected to provide knowledge and insight that teaches the preservation of the Indonesian nation's documentary heritage and saving national document assets from extinction," he explained.

He expressed his appreciation and appreciation to the National Library for holding this activity.

The representative of Giriya Mandhara Pemaron, Ida Pedanda Gede Mandhara Putra Kekeran as the custodian of the manuscript, expressed his gratitude and pride for the selection of the manuscript of Kidung Bwanā Winaṣā as the Bali Province IKON.

“Because it is history that is not just fanciful history, it is real history. Apart from that, it is an educational means to be able to think in search of unity and contains the concept of seeking peace. "If you have absorbed the contents of the palm leaf, a feeling of independence emerges, being firm in your opinion to achieve common prosperity," he said.

Likewise, the representative of Gria Gede Belayu, Ida Pedanda Gede Putra Gelgel, as a descendant of the scriptwriter, expressed his gratitude for the selection of the Kidung Bwanā Winaṣā script to become IKON in 2024.

“My family and I are very grateful for this IKON. Because perhaps the emergence of his current works can stimulate future leaders. "There are notes of a wise leader," he concluded.

In 2024, the National Library will designate seven Indonesian manuscripts as IKONs. Apart from the Song of Bwanā Winaṣā, the manuscripts designated as IKON are Bo' Sangaji Kai (Bima Sultanate), Pustaha Laklak Tambar ni Hulit (North Sumatra), Simbur Cahaya Constitution Manuscript (South Sumatra), Lontar Sri Tanjung (Banyuwangi Regency, East Java ), Lontar Attoriolong Bone (South Sulawesi), and Lontar Primbon of the Tengger Tribe (East Java)//VOI