VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

FILE PHOTO: U.S. dollar and Euro notes are seen in this November 7, 2016 picture illustration. Picture taken November 7. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

VOInews, Tokyo : The euro plunged to a two-year low on Friday after data showed a tumble in euro zone business activity, and caused markets to up bets on ECB rate cuts, while bitcoin hit a record high just shy of $100,000.

The common currency dipped over 1 per cent at one point to its lowest level since November 2022, and was last down 0.6 per cent on the day at $1.0412 after the data, which showed the bloc's dominant services industry contracted and manufacturing had sunk deeper into recession.

Markets also raised their expectations of European Central Bank rate cuts, and see a more than 50 per cent chance of a larger-than-usual 50 bp rate cut in December.

Francesco Pesole, currency strategist at ING, said in advance of the release that the PMI figures were "arguably the most important data input for the European Central Bank and the euro".

"The release has risen from being almost disregarded to a de-facto critical input for policy decision, given the Governing Council’s greater focus on forward-looking indicators of growth."

The euro also fell 0.44 per cent against the Swiss franc. It weakened against the pound but then pared declines after soft British PMI data.

The euro has been weakening against the dollar since Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election. Recent escalations in fighting between Russia and Ukraine and political uncertainty in Germany, the bloc's biggest economy, have further weighed on the currency in recent weeks.

Britain's pound was also under pressure, down 0.5 per cent at $1.257, after British retail sales fell by much more than expected in October, and PMI data showed British business output had shrunk for the first time in more than a year.

Further signs of slowing economic growth could cause the Bank of England to soften its monetary stance. The index that tracks the dollar against six main peers was up 0.43 per cent at 107.5, its highest since November 2022.

The index has appreciated sharply this month on expectations that President-elect Donald Trump's policies could reignite inflation and limit the Fed's ability to cut rates, keeping other currencies under pressure.

Trump floated the idea of appointing Kevin Warsh as Treasury Secretary on the understanding that he could later be Federal Reserve chairman, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter//CNA-VOI

Director of National Library E. Aminudin Aziz and Director General of Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Achim Bonte at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin after signing an MOU to restore the Nusantara Manuscript. (Photo: Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Berlin : This collaboration in the library sector is a follow-up to the implementation of one of National Library's National Priority programs for 2024, namely mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts. This is to create one archipelago manuscript data that is spread throughout the world.

The signing of the cooperation document was carried out by Plt. Director of National Library E. Aminudin Aziz and Director General of Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Achim Bonte at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin Building, Germany, on Wednesday (20/11/2024).

Plt. The Director of the National Library was accompanied by Principal Secretary Joko Santoso, Head of Legal, Organization, Cooperation and Public Relations Bureau Sri Marganingsih, Head of General Affairs Chaerul Umam, and Librarian Anastasia Linawati.

"Currently the National Library is focusing on three National Priority programs. The first is increasing the love of reading, building reading habits and increasing literacy, the second is about mainstreaming Indonesian manuscripts, and the third is library standardization," explained Aminudin.

He added that there are many Indonesian manuscripts spread throughout the world and He hopes to be able to connect with related parties. This is the reason for signing the collaboration with the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin.

"We believe that many manuscripts from Indonesia exist abroad and we are trying to connect with partners so that the manuscripts can be used for research and understanding the past," he continued.

Meanwhile, Bonte hopes that this collaboration can be followed up in several activities.

"We can jointly build cooperative partnerships in terms of exchanging experts and research, so this is where we signed this collaboration," he explained.

In addition, both parties can exchange information and hold joint exhibitions.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday November 22nd 2024 in Jakarta, the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin stores around 750 Indonesian manuscripts. These manuscripts consist of various media such as European paper, lontar, and others which contain various knowledge. One of the physical Nusantara manuscripts is the Panji Story which is included in UNESCO's Memory of the World (MoW) and is stored at the Staatsbibliothek in Berlin.

With this collaboration, researchers or information users will be given ease in accessing Indonesian manuscripts at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin.
Both parties hope for maximum utilization of information seekers.

Law Number 43 of 2007 concerning Libraries article 42 regarding cooperation states that the National Library is the center of the library network, so the National Library establishes partnerships with domestic and foreign parties//VOI

Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon at the Ngopi Pagi event when giving his remarks. (Photo : detik.com) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, said that the establishment of the Ministry of Culture in President Prabowo Subianto's administration is a big step. This is because the field of culture was previously always integrated with other fields, but in President Prabowo's Red-and -hite Cabinet, this field is made a separate ministry.

During the Minister of Culture's Ngopi Pagi event with the Cultural Community at the Ministry of Culture Office, Thursday, Minister Fadli Zon quoted Article 32 of the 1945 Constitution, which mandates the Indonesian state to promote national culture.

“The state promotes Indonesian national culture in the midst of world civilisation by guaranteeing its people to maintain and develop their respective cultures. So, this has actually been since 79 years ago. There has been a constitutional order to promote culture. It already exists, and it is very strong.” Minister Fadli Zon said. 

Minister Fadli Zon added that the formation of a ministry of culture is part of President Prabowo's commitment to culture. He said that since he and Deputy Minister of Culture, Giring Ganesha, were inaugurated, he and Giring have travelled around Indonesia to meet cultural communities to absorb their aspirations.

According to Minister Fadli, Indonesia's national cultural wealth, which he called too diverse, is a wealth that should be appreciated and valued, and even used as a national strength//VOI

The Director of Public Diplomacy, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati remarks at the International Seminar ‘Navigating the Future of the Indo-Pacific’. (Photo: AF-VOI) 

VOInews, Jakarta : The development of Indonesia's human resources through the values, culture and aspirations of the nation globally can enhance Indonesia's positive image in the eyes of the international community.

This was said by the Director of Public Diplomacy, Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ani Nigeriawati in her remarks at the International Seminar ‘Navigating the Future of the Indo-Pacific’ held by The Habibie Center in Jakarta, Thursday (21/11) According to Ani, the Indonesian government also continues to increase efforts for innovative strategies to promote growth, inclusiveness and resilience to be responsive to regional and global challenges.

“Indonesia's commitment to strengthening its domestic potential is further reflected in its international approach to soft power diplomacy which serves as a foundation of our foreign policy. By projecting the nation's values, culture, and aspirations globally, it enhances Indonesia's image as a pluralistic, democratic, and inclusive country. This approach is also built on rich cultural diversity, multi-religious, multi-faith heritage, and historical experiences enabling narratives that resonate regionally and globally. And the success of these efforts is driven by collaboration with multi-stakeholders with civil society, with academics, think-tanks, youths, and women religious leaders to ensure that these efforts are inclusive and aligned with its national interests.”

Ani Nigeriawati further said that Indonesia also contributes to global development through initiatives such as ‘Indonesian Aid for Development Cooperation’ which supports capacity building and sustainable growth in partner countries.

According to Ani, these efforts reaffirm Indonesia's role as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. In parallel, various positive narratives about Indonesia's contributions, such as through ‘Indonesian Aid, have helped connect Indonesia's foreign policy with global narratives and project a positive image of Indonesia internationally//VOI