VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 "Now and Later Literacy Talk" held in Jakarta - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Achievements of government performance indicators in library matters have increased, as shown by the growth of the community's reading culture.

The results of a study in 2023 conducted by the National Library showed that the Community Literacy Development Index (IPLM) was at 69.42, while the study of the Indonesian Community's Reading Love Level (TGM) was 66.77 or in moderate condition.

This was stated by the Deputy for Library Resource Development at the National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) Adin Bondar in an activity entitled "Now and Later Literacy Talk" which was held in Jakarta.

It is stated that the average reading frequency of Indonesian people is five times a week. Meanwhile, the duration of reading for Indonesians is 10 hours 19 minutes per week.

"Even though it is in the medium category, it shows improvements such as people's reading duration is currently at 10 hours 19 minutes per week," he said on Monday (11/12/2023).

According to him, this achievement is the result of collaboration between various parties in a joint effort to realize the development of a community literacy index which is expected to improve in the future.

He said that in accordance with the mandate of Law number 43 of 2007 concerning Libraries, National Library will continue to strive to prepare library service infrastructure, from collections to librarians and library staff as literacy companions for the community.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday, General Chair of the Central Management of the Indonesian Librarians Association (IPI) Syamsul Bahri said that librarians must be able to transform in carrying out their role to increase public literacy.

"Talking about libraries and librarians in the present and future is closely related to information technology. "Currently, IPI is trying to make librarians more aware that there is a tough competitor for them, namely information technology," he explained.

According to Syamsul, as parties who are on the front line and deal directly with the public, librarians must be able to understand the public's need for information such as that offered by digital technology.

On the other hand, General Chairperson of the Central Board of the Reading Interest Cultivation Movement (GPMB) Herlina Mustikasari explained that literacy is inclusive, covers various aspects of life and is not only limited to reading and writing.

According to him, various literacy concepts that are currently increasingly developing, many of which include human empowerment.

"Actually, literacy is a person's ability to access information, sort, process and use the information they receive," he explained.

Like the concept of developing a literacy ecosystem that starts with the family. According to Herlina, the literacy concept of the family, which is the smallest unit in society, is the first step in forming people with character and morals who will be the forerunner to the ideal life of Indonesian society.

Meanwhile, Maman Suherman sees literacy as a life skill and skill, not just focused on reading and writing.

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi attended a special meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday, December 10, 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the situation in Gaza.

During the meeting, Retno Marsudi emphasized the importance of accelerating health assistance for Gaza.

"During the meeting, I also conveyed three important things that must be done. First, the importance of accelerating health assistance for Gaza," Retno Marsudi said in her official statement on Monday (11/12/2023).

Retno also said that Indonesia urged Israel to respect the right to health and the access of Gazans to health facilities.

"Indonesia has sent 4 sorties of humanitarian aid. Indonesia will also send a hospital ship to Gaza to help the wounded and sick," she said.

Retno Marsudi also highlighted the importance of protecting all medical workers and facilities. As well as Israel respecting and enforcing international humanitarian law.

"Indonesia urges accountability and justice for all attacks on medical workers and facilities in Gaza," said Retno Marsudi.

Retno Marsudi also highlighted the importance of protecting all workers and medical facilities. As well as Israel respecting and upholding international humanitarian law.

"Indonesia urges accountability and justice for all attacks on medical workers and facilities in Gaza," said Retno Marsudi.

She also conveyed the importance of increasing mobilization of support for WHO.

"This support is needed for the operation of WHO and UNRWA programs in Gaza. Indonesia also supports WHO to hold a donors conference to finance and rebuild the Palestinian health system," she explained.

VOInews, Jakarta: A total of 288 Indonesian Scouts participated in the 5th Brunei Darussalam Scout National Jamboree on December 2-7, 2023 at the Royal Grand Stand, Community Hall, Bukit Bendera, Tutong, Brunei Darussalam.

Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Ahmad Ubaedillah said the involvement of the Indonesian Scout contingent in the event could promote a positive image of Indonesia.

"The presence of a contingent of 288 Indonesian Scouts in this year's Brunei Jamboree shows that the Indonesian Scouts are also active in promoting Indonesia's positive image, as part of Indonesia's soft diplomacy efforts abroad," Ambassador Ubaedillah said in a statement received on Monday (11/12/2023) in Jakarta.

The 5th Brunei National Jamboree was attended by more than 800 participants from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. The Indonesian Scout contingent was the largest participant, after the host Brunei Scouts, and was led by Contingent Chairman Mohammad Laiyin Nento, the National Trustee or Secretary of the Foreign Cooperation Commission of the Indonesian National Scout Movement.

The Indonesian Scout contingent came from, among others, the Regional Quarters of Jakarta, West Java, Lampung, South Sumatra, East Java, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan.

The organization of the 5th Jamboree coincided with the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam Pengakap (Scouts) in 1933 in Tutong. As agreed, the next Jamboree will be held in Malaysia (6th), which will then be continued in Singapore (7th) and in Indonesia (8th).

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called Italy's joining of the Chinese Belt and Road initiative a ''mistake". (Photo: AFP/Kenzo Tribouillard) - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Italy has formally withdrawn from China’s global Belt and Road initiative that seeks to deepen relations with foreign countries through infrastructure investments, Italian media reported on Wednesday (Dec 6).

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni had previously signalled Italy's intention to withdraw from the agreement, which was up for renewal. The Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that a letter with the formal notice had been delivered to Beijing in recent days. Meloni’s office declined to comment on the report.

Italy became the first G7 country to sign on to the initiative in 2019, when the populist, anti-establishment Five Star Movement party-led government promoted it as a way of increasing trade with China while getting investments in major infrastructure projects.

Neither appeared. In the intervening years, Italy’s trade deficit with China has ballooned from €20 billion to €48 billion. Investments in Italian ports that were trumpeted in newspaper headlines were never achieved.

Meloni, in opposition at the time, was against the deal from the start. Her foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, said this summer that Italy had not “obtained great results” from the pact.

Analysts said Italy had little incentive to continue in the pact, and that China can fall back on the face-saving narrative that Italy dropped out under US pressure.

The initiative involves Chinese companies building transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas funded by Chinese development bank loans.

It has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and deepened China’s relations with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast. It is a major part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s push for China to play a larger role in global affairs.

More than 150 countries have signed Belt and Road agreements with China//CNA-VOI