VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Muhadjir Effendy, appealed to civil servants to postpone their return to the Jakarta-Bogor-Tangerang-Depok-Bekasi (Greater Jakarta) area to avoid heavy traffic.

At a press conference in Karawang district, West Java province, on Monday, Minister Muhadjir Effendy noted that the postponement of return travel would help the government tackle vehicular congestion over the next two day.

Source : Tempo.co

VOI, Jakarta: Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said that the handling of the Eid al-Fitr homecoming exodus in 2024 has been better compared to 2023.

According to Minister Muhadjir Effendyduring a review at the Cikampek Main Toll Gate on Monday, based on a coordination meeting with relevant parties, the Eid exodus and return flow until D+4 of Eid has run well.

Effendy emphasized that the safety of homecoming travelers is the most important thing during the Eid exodus and return flow.

Source : ANTARA

VOI, Jakarta: Indonesian President Joko Widodo will hold a limited meeting to discuss what steps the Indonesian government will take after Iran’s attack on Israel.

This was said by  the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto as reported by Tempo.co (16/4).

The current geopolitical climate is heating up, Airlangga said, highlighting the escalation of conflict between Iran and Israel.

Therefore, Airlangga claimed that Indonesia needs political solidity, including between political parties.

Source : tempo.co

VOInews, US: Pacific leaders have hailed the signing of a new economic and security deal with the United States, after a five-month delay that had raised questions about Washington's influence in the region.

As reported by AFP on Monday (11/3), U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Compact of Free Association agreements with the leaders of Pacific nations Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia in Washington over the weekend.

The 20-year deal provides the three Pacific nations with a total of $7.1 billion in funding and was approved by the US Senate as part of a spending package worth $460 billion.

Marshall Islands President, Hilda Heine said the agreement "represents a very big step in mutual and enduring efforts to strengthen and improve the Compact."

Meanwhile, Micronesia President, Wesley Simina described the signing as "an important milestone" which "opens a new chapter in our enduring partnership with the United States". 

VOInews, Jakarta: Grand Imam of the Istiqlal Mosque, Nasaruddin Umar, conveyed the readiness of the Istiqlal Mosque to welcome worshipers during the month of Ramadan.

Nasaruddin told reporters on Sunday (10/3) that his party had prepared various facilities such as free drinking water and friendly facilities for pilgrims with disabilities.

"We facilitate drinking water. We have a factory for free drinking water, so if you go to Istiqlal you don't need to bring drinking water because we have a drinking water factory. And it's free for the whole community. Istiqlal is very friendly to disabled people, we facilitate it, and we facilitate the blind. Even in the first row, there is a separate ablution, lift, and wheelchair," said the grand imam.

Nasaruddin also said that not only does Istiqlal Mosque provide facilities for people with disabilities, but it also provides a complete children's play area to support parents who bring children to feel comfortable in worship.

Apart from that, during Ramadan, the mosque will hold various events such as featuring international Quran reciters and muezzins with their melodious voices to give the call to prayer from the mosque.

The mosque has 160 CCTVs to detect identity from a person's face. Istiqlal Mosque is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and one of the largest in the world, with a maximum capacity of about 200,000. (VOI/Ranov/RAMA/AHM/)

VOI, Jakarta: Minister of Trade and Industry of Timor-Leste, Filipus Nino Pereira attended a business meeting in Jakarta on Sunday, held by the Timor-Leste Embassy in Jakarta. In front of Indonesian entrepreneurs, Pereira invited Indonesian entrepreneurs to invest capital in the country.

Pereira said that Timor-Leste has a strong amount of capital to be an investment option considering that Timor-Leste is already a member of the World Trade Organization - WTO and is in the process of becoming a full member of ASEAN.

"Now we need real cooperation and opportunities that already exist in Timor-Leste in tourism, trade, industry, fisheries, animal husbandry, and plantations. These are enormous potentials that currently have not been exploited optimally. Through this business meeting, we want to invite Indonesian entrepreneurs to see business potential in Timor-Leste," said the minister.

Nino Pereira further explained that the Timor-Leste government has two big agendas to attract foreign investment: creating an industrial park dedicated to industrial development and a free trade zone.

According to him, the government is still analyzing these agendas, subject to Timor Leste's readiness and opportunities to grow trade activities in the country's surrounding region. (VOI/Andy/Rama/AHM)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Saiful Rachmat Dasuki welcomed the Iftar and Date Prize Program initiated by the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud through the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.

At the program's launch in Jakarta on Sunday (10/3), Dasuki said the program as "a form of concern from the Honorable King, King Salman of Saudi Arabia for all Muslims worldwide, including Indonesia; as a form of social bond towards all Muslims in the world"

Dasuki explained Saudi Arabia has sent Al-Qur'an, dates, and education packages to the National Zakat Agency - Baznas for distribution.

Meanwhile, Head of Religious Attache of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta, Syech Ahmed Al-Hazmi explained that in this program, King Salman gave 20 tons of dates, 50,000 copies of Al-Qur'an, and about 150,000 boxes of food for breaking the fast.

He explained that the program would be started during Ramadan by distributing the package in Jakarta, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and other regions in Indonesia. (VOI/Ranov/Rama/AHM).

VOInews, Jakarta : US President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week.

As reported by Arabnews.com (27/2) asked when he thought a ceasefire could begin, Biden said that he hopes by the beginning of the weekend.

Negotiations are underway for a week long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to allow for the release of hostages being held in Gaza by the militant group in return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposed six-week pause in fighting would also include allowing hundreds of trucks to deliver desperately needed aid into Gaza every day. (Arabnews.com)

VOInews, Jakarta: Newly installed Malaysian king Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar warned opposition lawmakers against disrupting political stability on Monday (Feb 26), in a maiden parliamentary speech that will likely bolster the position of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his unity government.

At the opening of the third session of the 15th parliament, Sultan Ibrahim also expressed support for Mr Anwar’s economic reforms and raised concerns about the country’s debt, urging the government to improve its fiscal position. Both points attracted thumps of support from the House, packed with Members of Parliament (MPs) dressed in white ceremonial garb.

The loudest cheers came when the king declared he would not entertain any moves to derail political stability, a veiled reference to earlier speculation that the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) was trying to overthrow the unity government using backdoor manoeuvres. (Channelnewsasia.com)

VOInews, Jakarta: Sweden has cleared its final obstacle to joining Nato after Hungary's parliament voted to ratify the bid. The Nordic nation applied to join the defence alliance after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

As reported by BBC.com (27/2), last week Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban that all Nato members are expected to help an ally which comes under attack.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said it was a "historic day" and a "big step" for Sweden to abandon 200 years of neutrality. (BBC.com)