VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

FILE PHOTO: A logo of Deutsche Bank AG is seen in Tokyo July 16, 2014. REUTERS/Toru Hanai - 

Deutsche Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Societe Generale SA are changing to a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the New Year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which is aligning its working week with most global markets.

The German bank will from Jan. 3 operate Monday-Friday in the Sunni Muslim-ruled country, instead of the current Sunday-Thursday as is common around the Middle East, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Wall Street-based JPMorgan is also adapting the same week in UAE https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-announces-move-saturday-sunday-weekend-state-news-agency-2021-12-07, along with flexible practices such as a break for Muslim prayers on Fridays, the bank said in a statement.

France-based Societe Generale's spokesperson said it is implementing Saturday-Sunday weekend from Jan. 2 in its Dubai and Abu Dhabi entities, according to an emailed statement.

Bloomberg News was the first to report https://bloom.bg/3GXvwrq on Sunday that JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America Corp and Societe Generale will switch to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in the UAE.

Representatives of Bank of America did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The banks' move comes after the UAE said on Dec. 7 that it would shift to a four-and-a-half day week with a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the start of next year.

Private companies are, however, free to choose their own working week in the oil-producing Gulf state which is the region's commercial, trade and tourism hub.

Over the past year, the UAE has taken measures to make its economy more attractive to foreign investment and talent at a time of growing economic rivalry with Saudi Arabia//CNA

Despite rainy weather and COVID-19 rules for retailers, Dusseldorf's city centre is well frequented shortly before Christmas on Dec 18, 2021. (File photo: AP/Malte Krudewig, dpa) - 

Germany is tightening travel restrictions for people coming from Britain in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant there.

The country’s national disease control centre, the Robert Koch Institute, added Britain to its list of “virus variant areas” late on Saturday (Dec 18). This means that anyone travelling from the United Kingdom to Germany must enter a mandatory quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.

The new restrictions, which will go into effect at midnight on Sunday, come as the UK reports a record high number of new coronavirus infections. On Saturday, the country saw 90,418 new cases.

The UK joins eight African countries, including South Africa, on Germany’s list of “virus variant areas”.

The Robert Koch Institute’s announcement comes in the wake of tightened restrictions for other countries across Europe as the continent faces a fourth wave of infections.

Starting on Sunday, France and Denmark are considered “high-risk areas,” meaning that those who are not vaccinated or recovered from the virus must quarantine for 10 days. Dozens of countries, including nearly all of Germany’s direct neighbours, have now been added to this category//CNA

The aid ceremony for artists in Bali - 

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, handed over assistance to 47 art studios in Bali as an effort to encourage the recovery of the tourism sector and the creative economy.

In the handover which was held at Wedja Restaurant, Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Saturday, (12/18/2021), Sandiaga said this activity was the result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and Entrepreneurs who Care for Artists. Where, the provision of this assistance is expected to be a form of program that is right on target, has the right benefits, and is timely in an effort to restore the economy and create job opportunities.

"This is one of the GEBER (Joint Movement) programs by providing assistance to care for entrepreneurs for affected artists in Bali," said Sandiaga.

Sandiaga said the 47 studios are spread over six regions. These include Puri Ubud, Puri Sanur, Puri Peliatan, Puri Gede, Carangsari, and Mengwi.

The 47 studios received assistance with a total of around Rp. 400 million. "Hopefully this assistance can be useful for artists in these six areas," he said.

In addition, Sandiaga also gave a certificate of appreciation for Beda'kan (Nusantara Culinary Packaging Design Surgery) which was attended by 25 brands from Carangsari Tourism Village and Tenganan Tourism Village. "This program is an effort made by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector and the creative economy," said Sandiaga.

According to release received by Voice of Indonesia on Sunday (19/12/21), Sandiaga also briefly discussed efforts to restore the Island of the Gods' economy with a number of media crews who were present at the event. In the discussion, he hoped that the media would become a mouthpiece of information for the various efforts to restore Bali's economy carried out by the Government.

Moreover, the media crew in Bali have high enthusiasm in reporting the efforts to restore the nation's economy.

"I myself several times
visiting and working in Bali for a working visit and Work From Bali, feeling the enthusiasm of fellow journalists to continue working, covering, and looking for news in the midst of a pandemic situation. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy expects collaboration from media partners and journalists to continue to play an active role as a mouthpiece for information on the recovery effort," said Sandiaga//VOI-NK

Illustration : UK-Indonesia Tech Hub - 

UK-Indonesia Tech Hub, Thisable Enterprise and Jasa Raharja will be launching “Tech to Empower Summit 2021” to support people with disabilities for career and business development

More than 1000 participants from across Indonesia will be participating in all of the training programmes aimed to support people with disabilities to become digitally-ready and confident entrepreneurs

The virtual launch will be attended by Head of Economic and Digital of British Embassy Jakarta Ginny Ferson, Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Dr. Dra. Hj. Ida Fauziyah M.Si, Special Staff to Presiden Joko Widodo Ibu Angkie Yudistia and Rivan A. Purwantono as President Director of Jasa Raharja Rivan A. Purwantono dan COO of Thisable Foundation Nicky Clara. 

“Tech to Empower Summit 2021” is set to launch on 20 December 2021 by the UK-Indonesia Tech Hub and ThisAble Enterprise supported by Jasa Raharja. This will mark the first of many summits which will deliver a variety of events for people with disabilities such as Job Fair Expo as the main highlight, MSME (UMKM) Expo to support the growing entrepreneurs with disabilities along with various webinar sessions for career and business development. The summit was formed as the culmination of all the training programmes which supports people with disabilities to become digitally-ready and confident entrepreneurs, which will also involve more than 1000 participants with disabilities from across Indonesia.

This event essentially symbolises the progress Indonesia is making to open up wider employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, as well as supporting the government in providing equal employment opportunities. The launch of the summit also marks the completion of Tech to Empower: Digitally Ready Entrepreneurs 2021, a programme which has empowered 350 people with disabilities throughout Indonesia. Tech to Empower Summit 2021 will be held for three days, starting from 20 December to 22 December 2021. All activities and information can be accessed via https://summit.thisable.org/

According to a release recevied by Voice of Indonesia on Sunday (19/12/21), The opening ceremony of the Tech to Empower Summit 2021 will feature Head of Economic and Digital of British Embassy Jakarta Ginny Ferson, Dr. Dra. Hj. Ida Fauziyah M.Si as Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia, Angkie Yudistia as Special Staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia for Social Affairs, Rivan A. Purwantono as President Director of Jasa Raharja, Nicky Clara as COO of Thisable Foundation.

“The UK government is fully committed to supporting the rights of disabled persons. Our Equality Act 2010 ensures protection from discrimination for disabled persons in all areas, including employment, education and access to services and facilities. This commitment is also reflected in our programme overseas and Tech to Empower is one of them. Digital technology has the potential to empower and change our lives, including for those with disabilities. Businesses and industries should acknowledge the benefits of having a diverse workforce including people with disabilities. We look forward to working with the Indonesian government and other stakeholders in ensuring that the employment system at all levels is inclusive and geared towards supporting disabled people so that they can achieve their full potential and participate equally in society”, ahead of the launch British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins said. 

Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of Thisable, Nicky Claraentia Pratiwi said that This Tech to Empower Summit program includes a job fair, as well as an MSME exhibition whose participants are all 1000+ persons with disabilities who are beneficiaries in the training program that has been provided by Thisable and its partners during 2021. This is certainly a concrete step that were taking together in empowering friends with disabilities, as well as building an inclusive work environment by embracing  all sectors to make it happen together//VOI-NK