VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A South Korean building complex is seen in the background as North Korean soldiers guard the truce village at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which separates the two Koreas in Panmunjom, North Korea on Jun 20, 2018. (Photo: AP/Dita Alangkara) - 

SEOUL: International troops stationed on the South Korean side of the truce village of Panmunjom on the border with North Korea who had been unarmed can resume carrying guns, the United Nations Command (UNC) said on Tuesday (Dec 19).

The US-led UNC is a multinational military force and oversees affairs in the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war.

Panmunjom, which has been a popular tourist destination, is known formally as the Joint Security Area (JSA) - a cluster of buildings that has hosted inter-Korean talks and where troops from both sides stand almost face to face.

The decision this month to allow UNC troops to carry guns came after North Korean soldiers of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) had resumed "an armed security posture" in the area, said Colonel Isaac Taylor, the spokesperson for the UNC.

Taylor said the move was aimed at protecting both civilian and military personnel in the border area.

"This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution, but UNC has also informed the ROK (South Korea) government and KPA of its position that a disarmed JSA is safer and more peaceful for the Korean Peninsula," Taylor said.

The two Koreas had agreed not to arm their troops on the JSA under a 2018 inter-Korean military pact, but North Korean troops have been reported to be carrying guns since November after a partial unravelling of the agreement.

Last month, South Korea suspended part of the pact aimed at de-escalating border tensions in a protest over Pyongyang's launch of a spy satellite.

North Korea responded by scrapping the accord and pledging to deploy stronger armed forces and new weapons on the border.

Taking a tour to the DMZ has been a popular activity for tourists looking to get a glimpse of the reclusive authoritarian state, but the trips to the JSA were suspended after a US soldier dashed across the border in July.

South Korea said some JSA tours restarted last month, though media reports said they had been suspended again due to increased tensions with the North//CNA-VOI

Tourism and Creative economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno during the Press briefing - 

Voinews, Jakarta - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno appreciated the launch of the Exclusive Catalog "Portraits of Featured Health Service Facilities" as an effort to support the special interest tourism ecosystem, especially health tourism in the country.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga, during "The Weekly Brief With Sandi Uno" at the Sapta Pesona Building, Central Jakarta, Monday (18/12/2023) explained that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy together with the Indonesian Health Tourism Medical Association (PERKEDWI) are collaborating in health tourism development activities.

"We appreciate the compilation of this exclusive catalog as a reference for finding out the superior services provided by the best hospitals in Indonesia," he said.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga explained that health tourism is a form of special interest tourism which is divided into four subsectors. First, medical tourism to get medical services, where many Indonesians actually go abroad to enjoy them. Second, fitness tourism, namely to get overall fitness, both body, mind and soul.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday, the third is sports tourism or sports-based tourism. And the fourth is MICE tourism (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) which is specific to medical science.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy gave the example of MICE tourism which includes special interest health tourism such as international symposiums on cancer, pediatricians, or international dentist symposiums.

"So in total for health tourism, around 2 million Indonesians have gone abroad and spent a total of IDR 160 trillion per year. So we are aiming to reduce this leakage by working on health tourism segments," he said.

On the same occasion, the General Chairperson of PP Perkedwi, dr. Mukti Eka Rahadian explained that PERKEDWI's concrete form of contributing to the development of the tourism sector is through preparing a catalog which is expected to be able to support a tourism ecosystem that is centered on superior health and medical services.

"We hope that in the future this book will become a reference and model in building medical tourism destinations together with tourism partners. "Next year we are ready to collaborate to create health tourism destinations that are of interest to tourists in the country," he said.

Present to accompany the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy at WBSU both offline and online were echelon I and II officials within the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Baparekraf//VOI

Deputy for Library Resources Development at the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas RI), Adin Bondar at an interview  -

Voinews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo is committed to realizing an advanced and competitive Indonesian society through the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN), and the issue of literacy was specifically mentioned.

Deputy for Library Resources Development at the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas RI), Adin Bondar, said that we should be grateful if the government's commitment has provided a very strong legacy in improving human resources (HR). It can be seen that the 2020-2024 RPJMN is a national priority.

"In the concept of strengthening literacy culture, a knowledgeable, innovative, creative and characterful society will be created. If you look closely at the RPJMN, this is achieved through developing a love of reading culture, strengthening literacy book content and increasing access," said the deputy in a talk show with the theme Libraries, Literacy, and Inclusion at the Antara news agency, Tuesday (19/12/2023).

Adin explained that the love of reading in educational units has developed through schools and universities. Then in the community there is the Social Inclusion Based Library Transformation (TPBIS) program, where the library becomes an open space for the community. It has been carried out in 3,262 villages that have been transformed and involving 3 million marginalized residents. "So the concept of libraries reaching the community has been maximized, if you look at the loci that we have built," he said.

"As of December, 2,494 villages had been replicated through TPBIS. "Many residents were initially unemployed, but once this program was introduced, they gained new knowledge accompanied by the facilitators we trained," continued Adin.

Adin stated that there are several parameters of change, namely from an economic perspective. Marginal communities gain new abilities. Like initially selling food, but not knowing how to market the product well. Through the Social Inclusion Based Library Transformation (TPBIS) program, it has been upgraded and developed into a catering business. In terms of other aspects, social relations increase, because we both meet in the library.

Adin said the idea for creating TPBIS started from the principle of inclusive development. Because, all over the world it relies on strengthening human resources. Where everyone has the right to create, access and utilize sources of information and knowledge. “The dual impact of a literate person on a person and the welfare of the country. So, the higher the public literacy index, the more advanced and prosperous the country will be."

“It is very different from countries where literacy is low. "This also has an impact on high poverty, poor health and large unemployment," stressed Adin.

Therefore, in line with Law (UU) Number 43 of 2007 concerning Libraries, efforts to foster a reading culture have three pillars, namely family, educational unit and community,

"For the first pillar, it is clear that the family is the initial foundation for improving literacy culture in the digital era. Because, the family is the first madrasah for children. Then for educational units where the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology has developed books that support literacy skills. "There are 15 million books that have been distributed to schools. Then the third pillar is about community participation in taking part in the TPBIS program," explained Adin.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday, this family-based digital literacy begins when we look at the weaknesses of students in achieving PISA scores carried out by Unesco, through the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology, which are not optimal. There is an increase of five points but in other literacies it is not yet profitable.

National Library sees this as not having properly prepared literacy in the family aspect. Thus developing expanded access to information and knowledge to build the three pillars of the family.

“The first is the pre-marriage group. Education will be provided to have good awareness, how to build harmonious family relationships, understand reproduction and so on. So that they become a happy family after marriage."

“Second are families who will have children. There needs to be education through accessible literacy content. And the third is the child stage at the golden age of 0-6 years. "Through the stimulation of various activities carried out by the family," he said.

The government through the National Library, continued Adin, will send chain messages via the WhatsApp application to the devices of all of Indonesia's young generation. The chain message contains access to reading channels. “For example, there is pre-marital literacy for those who want to get married. "Just click, so you can easily get reading materials. So you don't need to come to the library," he explained.

To support this, National Library has developed digital channels such as Bintang Pusnas Edu which is accessed via gadgets. 1.5 million copies of digital books have been prepared. Then there is i Pusnas which is a mobile digital platform that the public can enjoy with 1.2 million digital books.

"In the future, we will develop the Reading Point application, and will include reading books as needed. "Including collaborating with the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology, which produces quality books in order to improve literacy skills," he said.

The National Library's successes in the 2020-2024 RPJMN include developing the TPBIS program. Then expand library access through mobile library services.

Then develop digital reading corners in public spaces. With the concept of conventional and digital libraries. As well as coaching and development of literacy activists.

“We have 2,045 community reading park forum partners throughout Indonesia. Then there is a mobile library that reaches 3,000 points so that people have access to reading. For literacy activists in the community. "Everyone moves and becomes a social model to be close to the community," explained Adin.

Until December 2023, National Library has confirmed 535 literacy mothers in various regions. Starting from the provincial, district/city to sub-district level. “The National Library cannot move alone to develop a literacy culture. "The presence of these literate mothers is a kind of role model for how important literacy is to change lives for the better," said Adin//VOI

FILE PHOTO: The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. Houthi Military Media/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo - 

DUBAI: Mounting attacks by the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthi militant group on ships in the Red Sea are disrupting maritime trade as leading global freight firms reroute around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal.

Multiple "projectiles" were fired from Houthi-controlled territory on Monday (Dec 18) at a vessel in the southern Red Sea, US officials said. The Houthi movement has launched a series of missile and drone attacks on ships in the area, which it says are a response to Israel's assault on the Gaza Strip.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest attack. Several major freight companies - including MSC and Maersk - have begun to sail around Africa, adding costs and delays which are expected to be compounded over the coming weeks, according to industry analysts. About 15 per cent of world shipping traffic transits via the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

Combined, the companies that have diverted vessels "control around half of the global container shipping market", ABN Amro analyst Albert Jan Swart told Reuters.

"Avoiding the Red Sea will lead to higher costs due to longer travel time."

British energy giant BP on Monday said it had joined other companies in suspending transits through the Red Sea.

"In light of the deteriorating security situation for shipping in the Red Sea, BP has decided to temporarily pause all transits," a statement said.

"We will keep this precautionary pause under ongoing review, subject to circumstances as they evolve in the region," it added.

BP said "safety and security" of staff was "priority".

The war between Israel and Hamas, which began on Oct 7, has sent shockwaves through the region and drawn in the United States and its allies on one side and Iran-backed paramilitary groups in the Middle East on the other, threatening to cause a broader conflict.

The shipping attacks have prompted the United States and its allies to discuss a task force that would protect Red Sea routes, a move that US and Israeli arch-foe Tehran has warned would be a mistake.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday arrived for talks in the region. Rico Luman, an analyst at ING, said the diversions were adding at least a week of sailing time for container liners. Typically, shipping goods from Shanghai to Rotterdam takes around 27 days via the Suez Canal.

"This will at least lead to delays in late December, with knock-on effects in January and probably February as the next round will also be delayed," Luman said.

While freight rates will likely increase on these longer voyages too, carriers at the moment are seeking ways to utilize excess capacity, said Zvi Schreiber, CEO of global freight platform Freightos.

"It is unlikely that rates will spike to levels experienced during the pandemic," said Schreiber, referring to the economic effects of COVID-19 from 2020.

Shipping stocks rose across European exchanges in morning trading on Monday after a jump on Friday on bets the shift away from the Suez Canal could boost rates. Maersk rose 3.5 per cent in early trade in Copenhagen, before paring some of those gains.

The Suez Canal is an important source of foreign currency for Egypt. About 90 per cent of world trade is transported by sea.

The International Chamber of Shipping said on Friday that the Houthi assault on shipping lanes, which began last month, was an "extremely serious threat to international trade" and urged naval forces in the area to do all they can to stop the attacks//CNA-VOI