VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

FILE PHOTO: Indigenous people from the Mura tribe show a deforested area in unmarked indigenous lands inside the Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil August 20, 2019. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino/File Photo - 

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest fell 15 per cent in March from a year earlier, preliminary government data showed on Friday (Apr 8), but even with that dip it was enough to drive the most destruction during the first quarter in at least six years.

From January to March, deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon rose 64per cent from a year ago to 941 square kilometers (363 square miles), data from national space research agency Inpe showed. That area, larger than New York City, is the most forest cover lost in the period since the data series began in 2015/2016.

Destruction of the world's largest rainforest has surged since President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019 and weakened environmental protections, arguing that they hinder economic development that could reduce poverty in the Amazon region.

The president's office and the Environment Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A UN climate panel report on Monday warned that governments are not doing enough to rein in greenhouse gas emissions in order to avert the worst effects of global warming.While fossil fuel use is mostly to blame, deforestation accounts for about 10 per cent of global emissions, according to the report.

"Brazil is an example of what the UN climate report is saying when referring to governments not taking the necessary actions," said Cristiane Mazzetti, a forest campaigner in Brazil for environmental advocacy group Greenpeace.

"We have a government that goes deliberately against the necessary steps to limit climate change."

Some scientists predict deforestation will continue to rise ahead of Brazil's October presidential election, as it has ahead of the last three elections.

Environmental enforcement typically weakens in election years and criminals may rush to deforest ahead of a new government taking office, according to Carlos Souza Jr, a researcher at the institute Imazon.

A poll on Thursday showed that left-wing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose administration drastically reduced deforestation in the 2000s, would get 45 per cent of the vote over 31 per cent for Bolsonaro in the first round of the election//CNA

FILE PHOTO: A vial labelled "Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine" is seen in this illustration taken January 16, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo - 

Moderna said on Friday (Apr 8) it was recalling 764,900 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine made by its contract manufacturer Rovi after a vial was found contaminated by a foreign body.

No safety issues have been identified, Moderna said about the lots that were distributed in Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden in January.

The drugmaker said the contamination was found in just one vial, and it was recalling the whole lot out of "an abundance of caution". It did not disclose what was found in the vial.

Japanese authorities last year suspended the use of some doses of the vaccine, which Moderna later recalled, after an investigation found stainless steel contaminants in some vials.

Over 900 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have been administered worldwide to date.

Moderna said on Friday it did not believe the contamination posed a risk to other vials in the lot//CNA

Bank Indonesia Logo - 

The Bank Indonesia (BI) Representative Office in Papua has encouraged vendors at five traditional markets in Papua to conduct digital financial transactions through the use of the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS).

QRIS is the national QR code standard for facilitating payments using QR codes in Indonesia.

"In 2022, five markets have become the target for QRIS utilization, specifically three traditional markets in Jayapura City -- Inpres, Hamadi, and Youtefa -- as well as one (traditional market) in Biak and the Sentani traditional market in Jayapura District," Deputy Head of the BI Representative Office in Papua Dedy Irianto stated after opening a focus group discussion (FGD) for the implementation of electronification of local government transactions here on Friday.

Irianto noted that contactless digital transactions are essential in the midst of rapid technological advances that continue to open doors for new opportunities in business.

He admitted that the QR code payment method had become more popular in Indonesia since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country.

"QRIS is a digital-based non-cash transaction breakthrough from Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI)," he stated.

According to Irianto, the main purpose of using QRIS is to create a payment system that is easier for the public and enables regulators to conduct one-door monitoring.

"This is aimed at creating a payment system that is efficient and effective and refers to the main principles of the policy of payment system that is fast, easy, cheap, safe, and reliable," he pointed out.

He remarked that the other pros of using QRIS are expediting transactions as well as making transactions easier, more affordable, reliable, and guaranteed safe, as they can be checked regularly by business players.

According to data, the Bank Indonesia (BI) Representative Office in Papua is targeting 105 thousand transactions by using QRIS, and 70 thousand merchants utilize QRIS across Papua Province//ANT

The Ministry of Communication and Informatics' Secretary General, Mira Tayyiba, in the virtual Jakarta Digital Outlook 2021 event. (ANTARA/HO/Ministry of Communication and Informatics/KT) - 

The Indonesian government is striving to implement digital transformation that is inclusive, empowering, and sustainable, Communication and Informatics Ministry's Secretary General Mira Tayyiba stated during the 8th Information and Communications Joint Committee (ICJC).

"Although digitalization is able to empower the poor and build resilience, the pandemic also reminds everyone of the importance of digital transformation that is inclusive, empowering, and sustainable," Tayyiba remarked in a statement on Friday.

According to the ministry's secretary general, the Indonesian government seeks to nurture a digital future through four approaches encompassing connectivity, data protection, digital literacy, and a fair level of playing field.

"To take care of Indonesia's digital future, the Ministry of Communication and Informatics focuses on a human-centric approach," she affirmed.

The humanistic approach is applied by providing equal and accessible connectivity, ensuring data security and protection, equipping society with the skills required in the era of digital transformation, and creating a fair level of playing field for all players in the digital ecosystem, she expounded.

Through the 8th ICJC, Tayyiba is optimistic of her side sharing perspectives and best practices in the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). According to Tayyiba, it will support the advancement of ICT between Indonesia and Singapore.

In addition, she expected the 8th ICJC meeting to serve as a platform for commencing new cooperation and other initiatives that can benefit both nations.

"Through strong, concrete, and sustainable cooperation, I am confident that the progress we have made since the MoU signing in information and communication in 2007 will thrive and develop," she stated.

ICJC is a regular bilateral meeting held between the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics and the Singaporean Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI), which was established in 2010 to discuss cooperation regarding ICT based on the 2007 memorandum of understanding (MoU)//ANT