VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 The National Library and The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, at the SOAS Building, England. (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, London : To realize one international data on Indonesian manuscripts, the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas) has established partnerships with parties, both from within and outside the country.

This was done by signing a collaboration between the National Library and The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London, at the SOAS Building, England, on Friday (22/11/2024). The cooperation text was signed by Plt. Director of National Library E. Aminudin Aziz and Dean of Humanities SOAS Graeme Earl.

This collaboration is one of three National Library priority programs in 2024, namely mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts. "Nusantara manuscripts are widely spread throughout the world and require attention for their sustainability," explained Plt. Head of National Library.

He added that there were 82 Nusantara manuscripts at SOAS that had not been digitized. "We will discuss with our philologists to determine which manuscripts should be digitized first," he continued.

It was stated that this year, the National Library is focusing on three priority programs, namely increasing the love of reading, building reading habits and increasing literacy, mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts, and library standardization.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday November 25th 2024 in Jakarta, the National Library delegation to SOAS was led by Plt. The National Library was accompanied by Principal Secretary Joko Santoso, Head of Legal, Organization, Cooperation and Public Relations Bureau Sri Marganingsih, Head of General Affairs Chaerul Umam, and librarian Anastasia Linawati.

The group was welcomed by the Head of Department of the SOAS School of Languages, Culture and Linguistics, University of London Ilana Webster-Kogen, Head of SOAS Libraries Rookaya Bawa, as well as several SOAS librarians.

Meanwhile, Webster-Kogen expressed his delight at the collaboration that had been established. That way, saved manuscripts can be published widely. "We have to follow up on a more technical agreement, related to the process of digitizing manuscripts," he explained.

Collaboration between two agencies regarding the field of libraries and information management. The scope of cooperation includes increasing capacity in the field of philology and the study of Indonesian manuscripts; joint publications and research; and identification and cataloging of Indonesian manuscripts in England. Both parties agreed to continue collaborating in efforts to preserve manuscripts, especially Indonesian manuscripts//VOI

Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid (center) speaks during the 2024 International Digital Dialogue Conference (IDDC) in Berlin, Germany. ANTARA/HO-Kemkomdigi

VOInews, Berlin : Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid stressed the need for inclusivity in digital transformation in a speech at the 2024 International Digital Dialogue Conference (IDDC) held in Berlin, Germany, on November 21–22.

She said that inclusivity, empowerment, and trust should be the basic principles of digital transformation.

"Therefore, the Indonesian government prioritizes the availability of reliable and affordable internet access for all citizens," Hafid was quoted as saying in a statement on Sunday.

She said that affordable, reliable internet can help build a digital economy, empower the community, and boost digital literacy.

On the sidelines of the event, she signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the German Ministry of Digital and Transport on the continuation of the annual Indonesian-German Digital Dialogue forum.

The MoU listed six areas for strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Germany: digital policies, data policies, internet governance, digital technology, sustainable digital transformation, and digital inclusion.

Hafid also spoke of the development of digital economic infrastructure and access to the internet. She said that digitalization is swiftly developing in an across-border style and brings about many challenges that are too great to be tackled alone.

"Collaboration is key to ensuring that digitalization brings maximum benefits to the Indonesian people and reduces or even eliminates risks that may arise," she said//Antara-VOI

Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana (left) and UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi. ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Tourism 

VOInews, United Arab Emirates : Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has invited investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase investment in Indonesia's tourism sector.

During her meeting with UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri in Abu Dhabi, Wardhana said that she saw the great potential for UAE tourist visits to Indonesia.

"In 2023, UAE investments in Indonesia's tourism sector saw a substantial increase," she said in a statement on Sunday.

In that year, UAE investments in Indonesia's tourism sector increased sixfold compared to 2022. The top investment sectors were restaurants, travel agency activities, and star hotels.

So far this year, UAE investments have reached US$1.8 million. In the last three years, the figure has reached US$5.66 million.

"This provides further opportunities for UAE investors to expand their portfolios," Wardhana stated.

During her visit, she also promoted some tourist destinations in Indonesia. She invited UAE investors to invest more in Indonesia's tourism sector, which is becoming more promising.

"I am optimistic that this will further strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector between Indonesia and the UAE in the future," she said.

Wardhana said that tourism is a top sector of the Indonesian economy. It is also the main contributor to the 2023 national investment target.

She added that investors should not be hesitant to invest in Indonesia's five super-priority destinations and 10 tourism special economic zones (SEZs)//Antara-VOI

Voinews, Vatican : Pope Francis has met with World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Celeste Saulo for an audience in which they discussed urgency of concerted efforts to address climate change and to take climate action. 

“It’s very moving to be in front of such a great spiritual leader,” said Celeste Saulo after the audience at the Vatican. “It is clear that Pope Francis shares our concerns about climate change and its impacts at the intersection of climate change and inequalities”.  

Celeste Saulo has just returned from the UN Climate Change Conference, COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, where WMO announced that 2024 is on track to be the world’s hottest year on record and temporarily hit the 1.5°C above pre-industrial times.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Saturday November 23rd 2024 in Jakarta, Greenhouse gas levels, which drive climate change, are at record levels. Sea level rise is accelerating, threatening coastal populations. Glacier retreat is unprecedented damaging ecosystems and threatening long term water security for hundreds of millions of people.

Extreme weather events including devastating floods, persistent droughts, searing heatwaves and wildfires, have caused major loss of life and livelihoods around the world.  

“It’s about how we care together for those who are most vulnerable,” said Celeste Saulo after the audience.  

She told Vatican News that climate change “will have huge impacts on migration, children, women, indigenous peoples, the more vulnerable who are the ones suffering the most.”

The most affected regions, she explained, are Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, along with small island developing countries which are the frontline of rising sea levels. “We need to help them to avoid the consequences of climate change," she stressed.

WMO is one of the leaders of the UN Secretary-General’s Early Warnings For All initiative, which seeks to ensure that everyone on the planet is protected by life-saving early warnings by the end of 2027.

Although considerable progress is being made, much more needs to be done, Mr Guterres told government leaders at COP29.  

Celeste Saulo told the Vatican News that religions can give an important contribution to climate action and to building hope: “Action should be informed by science, but moved by faith”, she said.

She expressed her hope for a closer collaboration in the future with the Holy See: “We have a common agenda and can work together to protect people’s lives and livelihoods,”.

Pope Francis has repeatedly voiced his concern about climate change//VOI