VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

North Korea uses the nuclear issue to reopen dialogue with the United States. That tendency appears from its  rhetoric and concrete actions. On Monday, September 9, top North Korean officials said they were willing to reopen dialogue with the United States over the abolition of North Korea's nuclear program. But a few hours later the North Korean military fired two short-range projectiles which  is the tenth test since early May 2019. North Korea's nuclear test continues after no agreement reached between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un at a meeting in Hanoi last February. At that time, President Donald Trump had dispelled the hopes of Kim Jong-un who requested that Washington revokes sanctions imposed on North Korea. KIm Jong-un stated that US sanctions had weakened North Korea. North Korea's hopes, the United States will soften and change policies by lifting economic sanctions, have not yet materialized. The launch of the projectile carried out by North Korea can be seen as Kim Jong-un's strategy of pressuring Washington to reopen a dialogue that has stalled since last February. Regarding North Korea's statement to return to negotiations, Washington so far has not given any  serious response. From the White House reportedly, President Donald Trump only stated that it was a good thing to negotiate with North Korea. There has also been no reaction to North Korea's projectile test hours after the desire to return to the negotiating table was stated. Both parties, the United States and North Korea have to find ways to resolve their disputes.

At hinterland forest of South Kalimantan, besides various tropical flora and fauna, there are also beautiful waterfalls. One of them is Mandin Damar waterfall which is located at Gunung Raya village, Mentewe district, Tanahbumbu Regency, South Kalimantan. Mandin Damar waterfall has around 10 meters high and 15-18 meters wide. The waterfall is surrounded with forest and it is visited by fewer people. Its water is transparent and deep. Thus, the local people believe that the streaming water of Mandin Damar waterfall can be drunk without being boiled. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the waterfall from two sides, namely from bottom and top of the waterfall. If you love adrenalin, you can climb to the top of the waterfall. You can also jump from the top to swim at the river of the waterfall.  But you have to be careful if you want to jump from the top to avoid from injury. The easiest road to go to Mandin Damar waterfall is through Loksado district, South Hulu Sungai regency. To enter to this tourism object, you have to pay entrance ticket Rp 10,000. Because its location is at remote area, there are not many facilities provided at Mandin Damar waterfall’s complex.

Voice Of Indonesia in Jakarta presents Let’s Speak Bahasa Indonesia, a lesson in Bahasa  Indonesia or the Indonesian language on the radio, which introduces   some  Indonesian vocabulary and  guides  you to use them in a conversation. The segment of Let's Speak Bahasa Indonesia is a cooperation of Voice Of Indonesia, with the Language Development and Cultivation Agency, the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture.  Today’s topic is Selamat Ulang Tahun or in English, Happy Birthday. 

Next is a conversation about Selamat Ulang Tahun or in English Happy Birthday. Tony is celebrating his birthday at Joko’s house. Dina, Joko and Endah give something special and wish him ‘Happy Birthday’.

After the conversation, now I’ll introduce some vocabularies and idioms related to the topic today. I’ll say each word slowly, and twice and you can follow after me.

In the dialogue, Dinda wishes Tony a happy birthday by saying Selamat Ulang Tahun in English ‘Happy Birthday’.  If you want to wish a happy birthday to someone, you can say Selamat Ulang Tahun or Selamat Hari Lahir. But the expression, Selamat Hari Lahir is rarely used. If you want to wish someone a happy birthday with people who are 28 years, you can say Selamat ulang tahun yang kedua puluh delapan in English  ‘happy 28th birthday’.

In the Indonesian language, cardinal numbers are like satu

(one), dua (two), tiga (three) and etc. While ordinal numbers are like

- kesatu (pertama)     in English  first

- kedua                                            second

- ketiga                                            third

So, the Indonesian ordinal number is added with prefix  ke-

Please pay attention to some examples to the use of the two kinds of number in the next conversation.

Javanese Gamelan performance which was conducted at Indonesian embassy in Washington DC amazed US citizens who flocked presidential room on Friday (6/9). In addition, Javanese Gamelan also performed Javanese and Balinese dances such as Gambyong and Merak as well as puppet leather demonstration. In addition, the attractiveness of the Indonesian embassy’s building as one historical building in Washington, D.C., also became magnet for more than 100 visitors at the event which was packaged with the name “Evening at the Embassy of Indonesia”. The gamelan players and dancers at the evening were from Javanese Gamelan class of the Indonesian embassy in  Washington, D.C., led by Muryanto, the winner of Ambassador Award in Excellence in Arts and Culture 2019. While, the explanation on puppet leather was conducted by Marc Hoffman, a famous puppeteer.

Pendet dance from Bali which was danced by dancers of Indonesian embassy in Pretoria succeeded to amaze audiences in the event with the title "Celebrating 100 Years of Spring Fair" at "Pretoria High School for Girls" in South Africa. Balinese Gamelan and dynamic movement of Pendet dance had succeeded to amaze the visitors who attended the event. This was reported at a press release of the Indonesian embassy in Pretoria,  received in Jakarta on Sunday (8/9). There were some visitors who wanted to take picture along with the Balinese dancers.

The need of Indonesia’s energy which keeps increasing every year and Indonesia’s commitment to decrease emission 29% in 2030, encouraged Indonesian parliamentary to cooperate with parliamentary of Republic of Czech. The cooperation is in the form of development of renewable electrical energy, especially in encouraging development of electric car project which is currently under study by the Indonesian government. The Indonesian parliamentary arrival, which was led by Deputy Speaker of Indonesian House Representative, as Coordinator of Industry and Development Affairs, Agus Hermanto on Saturday (7/9), was received by Deputy Speaker of Czech parliamentary, Vojtech Filip. In addition to visiting Czech parliament, Indonesian delegation had visited a number of renewable energy industries and electric vehicle in Prague, the capital city of Czech.