VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

French President Emmanuel Macron, seen during a hospital visit in the city of Reims on April 14, 2021, has called for 'clear red lines' against unacceptable behavior by Moscow AFP/CHRISTIAN HARTMANN - 

French President Emmanuel Macron said the international community has to "define clear red lines with Russia", in an interview extract released on Saturday (Apr 17), adding that countries must be ready to impose sanctions in case of "unacceptable behaviour".

His remarks, made during an interview with the US network CBS, came amid high tensions over a major military buildup by Russian forces along the border with Ukraine.

"Indeed, we have to sanction. This is what we did after (Russia annexed Crimea in 2014) or after a series of crises which happen. And I think we have to define clear red lines with Russia. This is the only way to be credible."

He added: "I think that sanctions are not sufficient in itself, in themselves, but sanctions are part of the package. I do prefer constructive dialogue, but to have a constructive and efficient dialogue, you need credibility."

Russia is believed to have deployed tens of thousands of soldiers near its border with Ukraine and in Crimea. Clashes along the border, which had nearly ceased after a cease-fire reached last summer, have recently resumed.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden announced financial sanctions against Moscow and the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats over a massive series of cyberattacks against US targets, as well as over Russian interference in American elections.

In addition, eight people linked to the "occupation" of Crimea were sanctioned.

On Friday, Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared their support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and called on Russia to rapidly withdraw its troops from the border region.

CBS said it will air the full interview with Macron on Sunday//CNA

China, U.S. agree on need for stronger climate commitments - 

China and the United States agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The statement came after a meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his U.S. counterpart, John Kerry, in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday, China's environment ministry said.

"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis," their joint statement said. The two countries will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach."Kerry arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night under tight COVID-19 protocols and was transferred to a secluded hotel not open to the public. He subsequently traveled to Seoul.

His stop in Shanghai was the first high-level visit to China by a Biden administration official since the new president took office, and followed a contentious exchange between officials from the two countries in March in Alaska.

The talks also mark a resumption of climate dialogue between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Bilateral discussions ground to a halt during the administration of Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Paris agreement after claiming it unfairly punished U.S. businesses.

The United States is expected soon to deliver a new pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to win back trust from foreign allies. Biden brought the United States back into the Paris climate accord.

Li Shuo, senior climate adviser for the environmental group Greenpeace, said China could soon respond to a new U.S. pledge with one of its own, building on the "momentum" of the Shanghai talks.

"The statement in my view is as positive as the politics would allow: It sends a very unequivocal message that on this particular issue (China and the United States) will cooperate. Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume," Li said.

Biden will hold a virtual summit for dozens of world leaders this week to discuss climate change, to be livestreamed for public viewing. Global climate talks are scheduled Nov. 1-12 in Glasgow.

The statement said the two countries also agreed to discuss specific emission reduction actions including energy storage, carbon capture and hydrogen. They said they would take action to maximise financing for developing countries to switch to low-carbon energy sources.The Paris agreement encourages countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges if they are able to do so. China has already promised enhanced actions as it tries to meet its goal to become "carbon neutral" by 2060//Reuters

Japan's Fukushima plans - 

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency.

Kerry arrived in Seoul on Saturday to discuss international efforts to tackle global warming on a trip that included a stop in China ahead of President Joe Biden's virtual summit with world leaders on climate change on April 22-23.

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sought to rally support behind the country's protest against the Fukushima plan at a dinner meeting with Kerry, the ministry said. Under the plan, more than 1 million tonnes of water will be discharged from the plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the nearby sea off Japan's east coast.

Seoul strongly rebuked the decision, with the foreign ministry summoning the Japanese ambassador and President Moon Jae-in ordering officials to explore petitioning an international court. 

"Minister Chung conveyed our government and people's serious concerns about Japan's decision, and asked the U.S. side to take interest and cooperate so that Japan will provide information in a more transparent and speedy manner," the ministry said in a statement.

But Kerry, at a media roundtable on Sunday, said Tokyo had made the decision in a transparent manner and will continue following due procedures.

"The United States is confident that the government of Japan is in very full consultations with the IAEA," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The IAEA has set up a very rigorous process and I know that Japan has weighed all the options and the effects and they've been very transparent about the decision and the process."

The former U.S. secretary of state added that Washington would closely monitor Japan's implementation "like every country, to make certain there is no public health threat."

The South Korean foreign ministry said Chung and Kerry also agreed to work together to boost international cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal pledged by South Korea, Europe and others.

Kerry told the roundtable that Biden aims to urge countries to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, including China, such as by revamping their power initiatives or speeding up transitions to renewable energy.

The United States is expected to announce its own new emissions target for 2030 this week//Reuters

Lake Toba Sunset View - 

President Joko Widodo is focusing on the development of tourism and creative economy in five super-priority integrated destinations across the archipelago, most of which are well-known for their beautiful landscapes and natural beauty.

Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Likupang in North Sulawesi, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara — few people would be unfamiliar with these five destinations targeted by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and their immense cultural and historic value.

The five tourism destinations are famous for the uniqueness of their landscapes that attract domestic and international tourists alike.

Among these destinations, the ministry has selected North Sumatra’s Lake Toba as a new icon for Indonesian tourism based on its natural beauty.The selection of the Toba Lake area as one of the super-priority tourism destinations has come as no surprise for many, considering the beauty of the spot that stretches over seven districts, including Simalungun, Toba Samosir, North Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Dairi, Karo, and Samosir.

Its beauty even proved a draw for King Willem Alexander and Queen Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti of The Netherlands, Europe, who, during their visit, also took time to observe the culture of the Batak tribe.For this reason, tourism facilities in Lake Toba have seen continued development, including work on the extension of the Tano Ponggol path from 25 meters to 80 meters, construction of the 450-meter Tano Ponggol Bridge connecting the Sumatra mainland with Samosir Island, as well as the refurbishment of the lakeside area. Work has also been done to open up access for larger leisure ships so they can go around the Lake Toba area.

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has continued to carry out infrastructure works in the National Strategic Tourism Area of Lake Toba to develop it as a superior tourism destination.The ministry has so far extended support for projects including the Samosir ring road, Tano Ponggol Bridge, the revitalization of Lake Toba, water management and sanitation facilities, and the refurbishment of the lakeside.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said that in 2020 his Ministry allocated a budget of Rp1.33 trillion for infrastructure development in Lake Toba//ANT