VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The ArtMoments Jakarta 2024 exhibition, which has an environmentally friendly concept throughout the event, is ready to be held from August 9-11 in Jakarta. The theme of this year's event is "Renewal," a concept related to human life, including personal growth, social transformation, cultural renewal, technological progress, and environmental sustainability. Co-Founder and Fair Director of this exhibition, Sendy Widjaja said, ArtMoments Jakarta presents a dynamic and immersive platform for art galleries and artists to explore the multidimensional theme of 'Renewal'.

ArtMoments Jakarta 2024 will feature leading national and international galleries with a variety of modern, contemporary, and new media art, complete with curated art tours and various other supporting events. This exhibition will also present a series of discussions from experts discussing interesting topics for creating job opportunities and networks. The event will open with a dance from Heri Dono, the first Indonesian artist to penetrate the global art scene in the early '90s. He will present a visual interpretation of poetry that is sharp criticism of the past New Order government. Apart from that, this activity will also present the American-Ivorian artist, Abdoulaye Diarrassouba, also known as Aboudia. The artist is renowned for his dynamic and expressive paintings that combine street art aesthetics with traditional African art influences.

Organizers are engaging in short-term strategies such as the use of low-emission materials and long-term plans for booth designs that support sustainability principles. Sendy also encourages participation throughout the arts community to use low-carbon materials and demonstrate significant environmental change by encouraging individuals to report emissions, set goals, form green teams, and adhere to commitments to achieve substantial environmental progress. They use recycled panels to reduce the use of wood which has an impact on deforestation.

This weekend edition of Miscellany presents another achievement of Indonesian youth on the world stage. The student choir of Sebelas Maret State University Solo (UNS), Voca Erudita, won five awards in the International Choir Competition at the Musica Orbis Prague Festival in Prague, Czech Republic on Saturday (29/6/2024), and the 58th Internationaler Chorwettbewerb in Spittal an der Drau, Austria, on Friday (5/7/2024), and Saturday (6/7/2024). Voca Erudita emerged as Champion Folklore Repertoire (Mixed Choir), Champion Sacred Repertoire (Mixed Choir), and Grand Champion at the Musica Orbis Prague Festival. Meanwhile, at the 58th International Chorwettbewerb competition in Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia state, Austria on 4 - 7 July 2024, Voca Erudita came out as Champion of Choral Works, Classic and Modern Category, and 2nd Prize Winner of Folksong Category.

Voca Erudita supervisor, Pringgo Widyo Laksono said, Musica Orbis Prague Festival is a festival-based competition held to appreciate art, especially in the field of choir and orchestra teams from all over the world. Along with 18 participants from 16 different countries, Voca Erudita had the opportunity to show her abilities at the Prague Conservatory Hall. She performed 3 songs, namely "Lancang Kuning" from Riau Province arranged by Mahardika Simbolon, "Gayatri" a Balinese regional song, arranged by Bagus S. Utomo, and "Yamko Rambe Yamko" a Papuan regional song arranged by Agustinus Bambang Jusana. As for the 58th Internationaler Chorwettbewerb in Spittal an der Drau, Voca Erudita sang classic songs entitled "O Rossignuol" by Monteverdi and "Give Us Peace" by Nana Forte. In the free song category, the UNS Student Choir performed "O Magnum Mysterium" arranged by Javier Busto, and "HAYA!" by Karin Rehnqvist. Meanwhile, in the Folklore Category, Voca Erudita presented Hela Rotane, Lancang Kuning, and Gayatri. These regional songs were performed with agile movements and props that supported the performance. The combination of attractive choreography and sound attracted admiration from the audience who continued to applaud after Voca Erudita's performance.

Facing these two competitions, the Erudita Voca Choir sent 37 singers who were students from Java, Sumatra, Nusa Tenggara, and Papua. Pringgo Widyo Laksono, as the supervisor of Voca Erudita UNS, expressed his pride and emotion over Voca Erudita's performance. In preparation for this European competition, preparations were carried out for approximately five months with the support of all parties, especially parents, donors, sponsors, and UNS.

Bali won the award as the 3rd Best Island to Visit Around the World. The award was part of Travel+Leisure Magazine's World's Best Awards 2024. For this annual award, Travel+Leisure asked readers about their travel experiences across the world, then shared their opinions about hotels & spas, cities, safari & tour operators, transportations, cruises, as well as islands and national parks. More than 186,000 respondents joined in the survey.

Maldives, Phu Quoc, and Bali stood at the top of the 25 Best Islands to Visit Around the World, based on criteria such as natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness, and value.

Bali has natural beaches with clear water, making the island the most ideal spot for relaxation and rejuvenation. This gets better with many interesting activities starting from surfing, snorkeling, to joining traditional festivals and tasting local dishes.

Travel+Leisure wrote that Bali is called the "Island of the Gods". Bali has a rich heritage that can be experienced through traditional ceremonies, old temples, and intricate dance performances. Travel+Leisure readers praised Balinese people and their value for money or quite affordable for foreign tourists.

Between the Maldives at the 1st rank and Bali at the 3rd rank, there was Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. The island off the western coast of Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand is a new destination. While several beaches in Southeast Asia are developed, Phu Quoc keeps its tranquility. It has fewer people, but tourists can enjoy the island's most indulgent hotel.

Indonesian Ambassador to Bulgaria, accredited to Albania and North Macedonia, Iwan Bogananta, on Thursday (18/7) facilitated a trade transaction of Indonesian palm oil derivative products for the Bulgarian market worth 10 million US dollars or around 162 billion rupiah.

In a press release from the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia, Jakarta, on Friday (19/7), Ambassador Iwan said that they had identified the company's needs for the palm oil derivative products in question. In the future, they are striving to encourage the two companies to develop joint businesses in the form of joint investment to build new product brands in Bulgaria.

He stated that the realization of this cooperation is a follow-up to efforts to develop palm oil products, especially vegetable fat, which has high demand in the Balkan region.

According to Iwan, in the initial stage, PT Wahana Citra Nabati Indonesia and the Bulgarian company PICCO will conduct trade for product development to meet the Bulgarian market needs.

Director of PT Wahana Citra Nabati Indonesia, Evann Tjokrosetio, mentioned that he had previously communicated and explored opportunities through Ambassador Iwan. In the initial stage, they will send one container of various types of palm oil derivative products to be tested first, followed by placing a year-long order.

Evann also highlighted that PICCO has an extensive network, sophisticated warehousing facilities, and storage logistics with the latest technology, including automated and robotic systems integrated with a very large area.

Meanwhile, Commercial Director of PICCO Bulgaria, Kiril Ivanov, said the need for vegetable fat and its derivatives is very large. He hopes that PICCO can establish long-term cooperation with Indonesia.