VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

World Cup host Qatar has scrapped a requirement for visitors to obtain a negative COVID-19 test before departing for the Gulf Arab state, its health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Previously, Qatar had told fans attending the World Cup they must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status, before departing by air or at the border crossing.

Qatar is expecting an unprecedented 1.2 million visitors during the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.

Qatar residents are no longer to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of returning to the country from abroad.

The health ministry also dropped a requirement that adults show their COVID-19 status on a government-run contact tracing smartphone application called Ehteraz before entering stadiums or other establishments like shops and restaurants.

Visitors and residents must still show the application before entering a healthcare facility, the statement said.

Qatar is easing restrictions because "the number of COVID-19 cases (is) continuing to drop around the world and in Qatar, and the ongoing roll-out of Qatar's National COVID-19 Vaccination Program," the statement said.

Last week, Qatar eased its mask rules and now only requires masks for people visiting healthcare facilities.

Qatar, which has a population of nearly 3 million, has recorded more than 440,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths from the virus, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health. (Reuters)

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Wednesday that he was "relatively optimistic" that a U.N.-brokered deal that allowed a resumption of Ukraine Black Sea grain exports would be extended beyond mid-November.

Griffiths traveled to Moscow with senior U.N. trade official Rebeca Grynspan earlier this month for discussions with Russian officials on the deal, which also aims to facilitate exports of Russian grain and fertilizer to global markets.

Under the July 22 agreement, Ukraine was able to restart its Black Sea grain and fertilizer exports, which had stalled when Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24. The Ukraine export deal was initially agreed for 120 days.

"We are keen to see that renewed promptly, now. It's important for the market. It's important for just continuity. And I'm still relatively optimistic that we're going to get that. We're working hard," Griffiths told reporters.

The United Nations is working to extend the deal for up to a year and smooth the joint inspections of ships by U.N., Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials. The United Nations recently warned was a backlog of more than 150 ships.

"I think we should have another look at some of those (procedures) to see if they may be simplified in some way," Griffiths said.

A U.N. official has also suggested that Ukraine could seek to expand the export deal to include another port: Mykolaiv.

Russia has criticized the deal, complaining that its own exports were still hindered and not enough Ukraine grain was reaching countries in need. Moscow could object to extending the pact on Ukraine's exports beyond late November.

"This agreement was signed by all people on basis that it's a commercial enterprise," Griffiths said.

"We would not have the volume if it hadn't been a private sector-driven enterprise. Everybody knows this - Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and us knew that that's the basis of the operation," he said. "It was not intended at the time to be an operation which was all humanitarian."

He said the deal had brought down prices, boosted export quantities and improved confidence, adding that the deal was "doing what we negotiated, and I don't think anybody need have any doubt about that." (Reuters)

The blue economy will pose a new challenge in the future, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar said while opening the agenda for the 2022 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Meeting Summit here on Wednesday.

"First, I am very happy to be with you all in the maintenance of the 2022 coast in Tangerang District, which discusses many important agendas. The blue economy will be a challenge in the future," she remarked.

The marine economy or blue economy concept can encourage economic growth since the maintenance of marine ecosystems is fundamental to the survival of coastal communities, she noted.

"The concept of a blue economy is something that encourages economic growth, strengthening marine ecosystems. The foundation of the blue economy is inclusive ocean resilience, clean seas, and healthy marine ecosystems," she added.

Given the dynamics of the response to the issue of carbon emissions, she said that businesses and societies have high hopes of contributing to emission reduction efforts.

However, she said obstacles in the blue economy, including habitat destruction, such as illegal and unregulated fishing that threaten the ecosystem, must be addressed immediately.

"This is exacerbated by the supply of advertisements. Indonesia is also prone to the threat of natural disasters, such as tsunamis, that threaten human life," she noted.

However, she said she hopes that the PEMSEA PNLG agenda in Tangerang district will encourage efforts to improve the potential of coastal and aquatic ecosystems.

“So, basically, there must be a change in the integrated management in coastal areas, such as mangroves, structuring or coastal areas, including plastic waste that goes into the sea," Bakar added. (Antaranews)

The three-day International Conference of Speakers of the Consultative Assembly ended in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Wednesday, with delegates from 15 countries adopting the seven-point Bandung Declaration.

Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo read out the Bandung Declaration document during the conclusion of the conference.

The seven points of the Bandung Declaration are elucidated herewith.

First, delegates of the conference agreed on MPR RI's proposal for the establishment of the Forum for the World Consultative Assembly, Shura Council, Syuyukh Council or Other Similar Parliamentary Institution as part of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Member States (PIUC), with the aim of creating world order based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice.

Second, the Palestine question will remain a central issue of the forum and Muslims until the achievement of independence and self-determination rights for the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the international law.

Third, to achieve the goals as referred to in points 1 and 2, the conference agreed on the establishment of the Forum for World Consultative Assembly, Shura Council, Syuyukh Council or Other Similar Parliamentary Institutions within PIUC in accordance with their respective authority, especially in relation to consultations and cooperation to address global challenges that become a common concern, such as humanity, natural resources, environment, justice, women's role, and the younger generation.

Fourth, observing the dynamics of global developments that may lead to complex multidimensional problems in each country, active participation and support from all sides are needed, including those from the Forum for the World Consultative Assembly, Shura Council, Syuyukh Council or Other Similar Parliamentary Institutions in accordance with the commitment to Dasasila Bandung (Bandung Ten Principles), and the United Nations Charter.

Fifth, the conference agreed to set up a working committee comprising the founders of the forum by coordinating with the MPR RI leadership and the PUIC Secretariat General to formulate the vision, mission, code of conduct, working program, and qualifications for the forum's membership. The working committee will later deliver a report of its jobs to the next meeting of the forum.

Sixth, the conference commended and expressed gratitude to MPR RI for its initiative to set up the Forum for World Consultative Assembly, Shura Council, Syuyukh Council or Other Similar Parliamentary Institution as a forum among other PIUC forums. The next meeting of this forum will be held along with other activities of PUIC.

Seventh, delegates of the conference congratulated the Republic of Indonesia on its G20 presidency this year and expressed optimism that it would be successful in performing the duty. (antaranews)