VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI News, Jakarta: Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov has said that bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Russia is further strengthened through a lot of  programs in the fields of green energy, social affairs and education.

 Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov in his official statement at the Russian Ambassador House in Jakarta on Friday (20/12)highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the nuclear energy sector as a green and economical energy source.

He also said that  Russia, through the atomic energy company Rosatom, showed its commitment by participating in green energy exhibitions and conferences in Indonesia. 

“Also, there was a special programme from the Russian State Company for Atomic Energy, Rosatom, in one exhibition and conference dedicated to the green economy and green energy. And we still believe that we can engage in cooperation with Indonesia in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, because it's also a kind of green and cheap energy,” he conveyed.

Furthermore, Ambassador Tolchenov further pointed out that the Russian Embassy showed social concern by helping two orphanages in Indonesia. 

According to Ambassador Tolchenov,  the proceeds from the embassy's participation in the charity bazaar were used to provide gifts, foodstuffs, and building renovation assistance to orphanages in Banten and North Jakarta.  

He further emphasized that in the field of education, relations between Indonesia and Russia continue to be strengthened through cooperation with the University of Indonesia. Ambassador Tolchenov hopes that this cooperation will continue to grow, covering historical, social, and cultural research. (Lip/Ranov-Mar/ AF-Rahmana)

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni visits the production of palm sugar at the Masarang Foundation, Tomohon, North Sulawesi, on Friday (December 13, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Forestry Ministry/rst)

VOI News, Jakarta:  The Forestry Ministry is preparing forest areas for bioethanol development in support of President Prabowo Subianto's goal to improve people's welfare and promote food and energy self-sufficiency.

"The president has promised to allocate two million hectares for bioethanol production as part of his efforts to achieve energy security. It is now our responsibility to prepare these forest areas, particularly for bioethanol derived from sugar palm trees (Arenga pinnata)," Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said in a statement from his office on Saturday.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Saturday (14/12/2024), speaking on Friday (13/12/2024) while reviewing the tapping of aren indigo and palm sugar production at the Masarang Foundation in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Antoni highlighted that this initiative supports President Prabowo’s goals of enhancing welfare and achieving food and energy self-sufficiency.

"One of the president’s top priorities is to bring prosperity to the people. The Forestry Ministry is currently identifying key commodities to help achieve this objective," he noted.

The president has set a target of two million hectares of sugar palm forest for energy self-sufficiency. Antoni assured that his ministry is fully committed to preparing these areas to meet that target.

This initiative is significant because sugar palm offers immense potential for the energy sector. The sap from sugar palm trees can be fermented into bioethanol, a renewable energy source.

Antoni also mentioned that the ministry is exploring the potential of sugar palm trees to serve as a food reserve forest through collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

"We aim to foster cooperation that will improve the welfare of farmers. I’ve also been in discussions with Dr. Willie Smits about transforming these sugar palm trees into larger plantations, which would contribute to food security through food reserve forests," the minister said.

Dr. Smits, a conservationist and microbiologist, is working alongside the ministry on this initiative.

Smits, who accompanied Antoni, expressed his satisfaction with the minister’s visit to meet the farmers directly.

"I hope this can inspire the development of two million hectares of sugar palm trees, as well as support the employment sector," he added.

Members of the Indonesian Navy, part of the TNI MTF Task Force Garuda Contingent XXVIII-P UNIFIL, participate in a farewell ceremony at Madura Pier, Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday (December 12, 2024). ANTARA/Indonesian Navy/rst

VOI News, Jakarta: The Indonesian warship KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367  departed from its base at the Indonesian Navy Fleet Command (Koarmada) II in Surabaya, East Java, and is heading to Jakarta in preparation for its voyage to Beirut, Lebanon.

As reported by Antara News Agency on Saturday (14/12/2024), the Indonesian naval vessel is currently part of the Maritime Task Force (MTF) of the TNI Garuda Contingent (Konga) XXVIII-P UNIFIL, scheduled to sail to Beirut in the third week of December 2024 for a peacekeeping mission with the United Nations.

The warship is projected to continue the duties of the TNI Konga XXVIII-O UNIFIL MTF Task Force currently serving in Lebanon.

Head of Information Service of the Koarmada II Indonesian Navy, Colonel Widyo Sasongko, stated on Friday (Dec 13) that the TNI Konga XXVIII-P UNIFIL MTF Task Force was released from the Madura Pier, East Java, on Thursday (December 12), by Chief of Staff of Koarmada II, Commodore Isswarto, representing the Commander of Koarmada II, Rear Admiral Ariantyo Condrowibowo.

"This ship will carry out a peace mission for 365 days as part of UNIFIL - a multinational mission responsible for maintaining security stability in the region," Sasongko remarked.

KRI SIM-367 will chart a strategic course from Jakarta, first stopping in Batam before navigating international waters. Its planned route includes port calls at Colombo in Sri Lanka, Salalah in Oman, and a critical passage through Egypt's Suez Canal at Port Said, ultimately concluding its journey in Beirut, Lebanon.

"You will interact with other countries' officers, UNIFIL elements, and local communities. Therefore, uphold the values of professionalism, tolerance, and international cooperation," Isswarto, representing Condrobirowo, told 120 soldiers of the Task Force members.

They are also reminded to be alert to all forms of threats, considering the escalation of armed conflict in Lebanon between the Israeli military and the armed militia Hezbollah.

The TNI Konga XXVIII-P UNIFIL MTF Task Force is scheduled to depart to Beirut, Lebanon, carrying 120 Navy personnel and an anti-submarine helicopter from the AS 565 MBe HS-1306 Panther Naval Air Station.

In Beirut, the TNI Konga XXVIII-P UNIFIL MTF Task Force will continue the peacekeeping mission of the TNI Konga XXVIII-O UNIFIL MTF Task Force, whose term of duty will end in early January 2025.

The Maritime Task Force is one of the units under the control of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Apart from MTF, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) also deployed other troops to join other UNIFIL units, including the Mechanized Battalion Task Force (INDOBATT), Force Headquarter Support Unit (FHQSU), Indo Force Protection Company (FPC) Task Force, Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) Task Force, Military Community Outreach Unit (MCOU) Task Force, and Level 2 Hospital Task Force.

Most TNI soldiers, who are members of UNIFIL, operate on land, while the MTF Task Force carries out its duties at sea.

Indonesia still sends the most soldiers to carry out peacekeeping missions with UNIFIL in Lebanon, with 1,230 soldiers.

Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, delivering a statement to the press in Kebayoran, Jakarta, on Friday (December 6, 2024). (ANTARA/Harianto)

VOI News, Jakarta: Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, has said that the rice assistance program will be continued in 2025 as it has been approved by President Prabowo Subianto.

"At a limited meeting with the President, he approved it to be given again in January and February," he confirmed during the distribution of rice assistance to beneficiaries in Kebayoran, Jakarta, on Friday as reported by Antara News Agency (6/12).

According to him, in 2024, the rice assistance program targeted 22 million beneficiary families.

However, in 2025, the number of beneficiary families will be reduced to 16 million, though the amount of rice will remain the same, namely 10 kilograms for each beneficiary family.

The number of beneficiaries for 2025 has been revised due to several factors, including the decline in the percentage of the poor population.

According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the number of poor in March 2024 stood at 25.22 million, reflecting a 0.68 million decrease compared to March 2023 and a decline of 1.14 million compared to September 2022.

In addition, to make the assistance program more accurate, decile 1 and decile 2 families that need the assistance the most will be the focus of the program.

Furthermore, there will be other programs that will have wide coverage in 2025, such as the Free Nutritious Meals program.

At the aid distribution event on Friday, he also conveyed his appreciation to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati for providing budget support despite the tight fiscal situation.

The Bapanas head expressed the hope that the rice assistance will ease the burden on the community, especially in meeting their basic needs.

Currently, the third phase distribution of rice assistance, namely for December 2024, is still on in several regions and is targeted to be completed before the end of the year.