VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian students from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya, East Java province have made another achievement. The ITS student team succeeded in innovating used aluminum into a renewable energy source. Through the Exact Research Student Creativity Program (PKM-RE), the ITS team conducted research to see the effect of pre-treatment on aluminum metal on the amount of electrical power produced. According to the Head of the ITS research team, M Rizki Akbar, his research was motivated by concerns regarding used cans and aluminum foil around campus laboratories. Based on this concern, the students from the ITS Engineering Physics Department conducted research entitled The Effect of Pre-Treating Aluminum Waste Using HCl/Na2MoO4 Solution on Increasing the Rate of Hydrolysis in Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cell Applications to overcome the problem of waste cans and the like which are highly polluting the environment. This research, carried out at the ITS Advanced Functional Materials Laboratory, examined the effect of pre-treatment of aluminum using hydrochloric acid and sodium molybdate on the rate of hydrogen production. In the process, the hydrolysis reaction that occurs in aluminum produces hydrogen gas. Then, the gas is broken down into electrical energy using a device called Proton-exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. This pre-treatment stage has proven useful in producing aluminum metal that is clean from dirt. With pre-treatment for 60 seconds, it is known that 0.5 grams of aluminum cans can produce 233.93 milliwatts of electrical power. This electrical power is much greater than aluminum cans without going through the pre-treatment stage, which only produces 29.78 milliwatts. Accompanied by a supervisor from the ITS Engineering Physics Department, Dr Ing Doty Dewi Risanti ST MT, the ITS research team succeeded in lighting a small lamp for 40 minutes using a 4 gram aluminum can. The research team from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology concluded that their discovery has the potential to become a renewable energy source in the future. This is, of course, with better processing and free from dangerous chemicals. Thanks to the studies carried out, the research team from ITS succeeded in winning the 36th National Student Science Week (Pimnas) which was held in November 2023. They managed to bring home two medals at once, namely a silver medal for the poster category and a bronze medal for the presentation category. This success is a matter of pride for the team, because it succeeded in making the name of the alma mater proud on the national stage. This research carried out by the ITS research team is an example of innovation that can be used to reduce waste. In addition, this innovation has also succeeded in developing new and renewable energy sources. It is hoped that this breakthrough can be a solution to overcome environmental and energy problems in Indonesia.

The culinary texture of Gresik's typical Nasi Romo is quite unique and different   from other typical Indonesian foods. The orange porridge layer appears to cover the top. So, it doesn't show the shape of the rice. Powder as a complement is added and chili sauce and crackers can make the culinary increasingly tempting. That's the description of Nasi Romo or Sego Romo, which is a culinary dish from Gresik district, East Java.Nasi Romo or lontong Rumo contains rice or lontong which is placed in a pincuk, which is a food dish made from banana leaves, then topped with boiled vegetables and crushed crackers. Afterwards, it is  coated with rumo porridge, which is a smooth orange colored one that is spiced with jangkep spices, namely shallots, garlic, large chilies, galangal and turmeric, coriander, galangal and cumin. Afterwards, it is given chili sauce and a sprinkling of koya made from grated fried coconut, so that when we eat Romo's rice, our tongues will taste the savory and slightly sweet porridge, plus steamed or boiled savory leaves, for example spinach or vegetables made from cassava leaves. This way of eating Rumo rice uses a spoon made from banana leaves called ‘Suru’. Time after time, now many people enjoy Romo's food, and Nasi Rumo is usually a breakfast menu for Gresik people.Nasi Rumo, whose name is taken from its origin, namely Roomo village, Manyar, Gresik, East Java, is usually sold at pocket-friendly prices. Now, although this food paired with crackers is starting to become hard to find, it can still be found in certain places, for example  in several traditional markets.

Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi has conveyed that  Indonesia and Tunisia have attractive trade market potential to be developed in the future.  Based on the statement from  the   Indonesian Embassy Tunis received in Jakarta on Wednesday (24/1),  according  to  Ambassador Zuhairi in his  statement, on one hand, Tunisia has a strategic location as a hub with European,  Arab,  and African countries and has free trade agreements with these countries.  On the other hand,  Indonesia is an important country in ASEAN and has good relations with ASEAN countries and other Asian countries. Therefore, economic diplomacy of both countries can be a bridge for market expansion.Moreover, Ambassador Zuhairi  has also said  if this can be materialized, it will provide benefits for both countries.  He also explained that  Indonesia-Tunisia economic diplomacy continues to improve. Thereby, it further reinforces bilateral relations between the two countries.Ambassador Zuhairi also stated that  bilateral relations between Indonesia and Tunisia have been built on a mutual desire to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation and respect for both parties. Trade cooperation is a top priority so that it can open up employment opportunities for both parties.Furthermore, Ambassador Zuhairi also emphasized  that the legal umbrella for a Preferential Trade Agreement agreement as a path to a Free Trade Agreement is needed amidst a steady increase in the volume of trade cooperation above US$200 million or around Rp3.1 trillion. Preferential Trade Agreement negotiations starting in 2018 must be immediately signed  so that the trading volume can reach a minimum of US$500 million US or around Rp7.8 trillion.In addition, the Indonesian Embassy in Tunis also reported,  Ambassador Zuhairi  attended a dialogue program on Tunisna TV in Tunisia last Wednesday.  The dialogue was held in order to deepen the follow-up to the bilateral visits of the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi to Tunisia at the end of December 2023. In the dialogue,  Ambassador Zuhairi explained not only Indonesia-Tunisia economic diplomacy, but also the importance of increasing cooperation in the fields of tourism and education between the two countries.

Indonesia has a lot of great destinations with international recognition. One of them, Lake Toba in North Sumatera, is now recommended by the New York Times in the 52nd Places To Go in 2024. Issued in early January, the list has many tourism destinations of the world, curated by the experts. The curation considers sustainable travel and cultural events. Toba was number 24 on the list. The lake surrounded by eight regencies of North Sumatra is a super-priority destination of the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry. The amazing Lake Toba's caldera became UNESCO's world tourism site in 2020. According to a research, Lake Toba's caldera resulted from three eruptions that began around 800.000 - 900.000 years ago. The final eruption 74,000 years ago formed the current caldera. In Lake Toba, tourists can enjoy both nature and the culture. Around Lake Toba, there are some traditional villages with people still carrying out the customs. Besides Lake Toba, there were also so many places recommended by the New York Times for this year. Adventurers might like the undersea world Hurghada, Egypt, but those who prefer serenity can go to Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world.