VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

London Stock Market (Photo : BBC) - 

VOInews, London : The UK’s main stock market retook its crown as Europe’s most valuable for the first time in nearly two years, data shows.

The total value of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) hit $3.18tn on Monday, overtaking the $3.13tn total value of companies listed in Paris, according to Bloomberg data.

Both valuations have shifted since and remain close, but analysts describe it as a milestone.

They say the French market has slumped because of the uncertainty around its election, while the UK market is recovering after several years of underperformance.

The LSE had been Europe’s largest stock market for many years before November 2022 when it was overtaken.

Analysts at the time blamed LSE’s performance on the fallout from former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ mini-Budget, a weak pound, recession fears and Brexit.

The LSE was worth about $1.4 trillion more than its Parisian rival in 2016//BBC-VOI

Illustration—The United Nations Security Council convening a meeting. Countries are currently prioritizing the implementation of Resolution 2735 adopted by the Security Council to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian resistance force Hamas, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. (ANTARA/Xinhua) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that a peacekeeping mission in the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestine, is only viable under a United Nations mandate. "So far, the UN has yet to touch upon the discourse on rolling out a peacekeeping operation in Gaza," the ministry's spokesperson, Rolliansyah Soemirat, informed via a short message received in Jakarta on Monday.

He said that countries are currently prioritizing the genuine implementation of Resolution 2735 adopted by the UN Security Council in a bid to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian resistance force Hamas.

"The number of UN peacekeeping personnel to be deployed and the expertise needed are and will always be adjusted to the real condition in the field," he added.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, affirmed Indonesia's readiness to field personnel for a prospective UN-authorized peacekeeping operation in Gaza.

"Indonesia is ready to send its peacekeeping forces under a UN mandate. I emphasize, under a UN mandate," Marsudi said after a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on June 5, 2024.

The following day, General Subiyanto announced that his side would prepare four battalions for a Gaza peacekeeping mission if mandated by the UN.

"We will form a brigade consisting of a Support Battalion, an Engineer Battalion, a Health Battalion, and a Supply Battalion," he informed after attending a meeting with the legislative commission.

Both statements were made in response to similar remarks conveyed by Defense Minister Prabowo during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 held in Singapore on June 1.

"We are ready to delegate peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor the prospective ceasefire as well as provide protection and security to all parties and all sides," he said.

On the occasion, he also emphasized the importance of pursuing inclusive dialogues and implementing the two-state solution to achieve peace.

"The two-state solution is the only feasible option for Israel and Palestine to achieve lasting peace and security," said Prabowo, who will succeed President Joko Widodo for the 2024–2029 presidential period//Antara - VOI 

Illustration : Green earth for the future (Photo : WMO) - 

VOInews, Geneva : The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council has approved a detailed road map to speed up and scale up efforts to ensure that life-saving early warnings cover everyone on the planet.

The seventy-eighth session of the Executive Council (EC78) took place in Geneva from 10 to 14 June 2024. In addition to an Early Warnings for All (EW4All) road map, it adopted an implementation plan for a Global Greenhouse Gas Watch and scaled up action on the cryosphere (ice and snow) in the face of dramatic changes.

The council agreed to a raft of other resolutions to strengthen Earth system observations, predictions and information systems. It adopted resolutions on climate monitoring and climate services, and research and innovation.

It also set the scene for more intense collaboration with the United Nations system, and to support humanitarian action through initiatives such as the WMO Coordination Mechanism (WCM) supported by the  Weather 4 UN project.

One of the highlights of this Executive Council was the adoption of a Road Map for the Early Warnings for All initiative which outlines the vision and actions to enhance the delivery and use of multi-hazard early warning systems.

It covers the period from 2024-2027 with detailed dates, deliverables and defined responsibilities. This is in line with the target date set by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres.

“Strong early warning systems require stronger political and policy support from the international community and governments, in addition to significant investment in infrastructure, technology, and training. We must all champion the EW4All Initiative globally, advocating for increased investment and political will”, said Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the WMO.

“People’s lives and people’s safety are our top priority. Every single forecast that is issued has a human dimension. Every life we save has a human face, a family, a future”, said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

“It makes economic sense. Early warning systems provide a ninefold return on investment. They are the low-hanging fruit of climate adaptation. If we don’t invest, the cost of inaction will be much higher than the cost of action,” she said.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (17/06/24), early warning systems have helped decrease the number of deaths and have reduced losses and damages resulting from hazardous weather, water, or climate events. They provide a nearly tenfold return on investment.

But major gaps still exist, especially in small island developing states and least developed countries. Some 70% of all deaths from climate-related disasters have occurred in the 46 poorest countries over the past 50 years.

The road map seeks to leverage the entire WMO network and enhance the capabilities of its NMHSs to protect lives and livelihoods. WMO Members have already endorsed the structure underpinning the priority activities, with defined roles and responsibilities//VOI

Members of Darussalam Mosque's Eid al-Adha Celebration Committee carry a sacrificial cow donated by President Joko Widodo in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan, on Monday (June 17, 2024). (ANTARA/HO-Biro SDM dan Humas OIKN) - 

VOInews, Samarinda : The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) handed over a 900-kilogram sacrificial cow provided by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to Darussalam Mosque, located within the development site of the new capital city Nusantara.

"This Limousine cow was earlier handed over by the Presidential Palace to the OIKN on Saturday (June 15) before being delivered to Darussalam Mosque," OIKN Director of Basic Services, Suwito, noted in the authority's statement as cited in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Monday.

He said that the meat of President Jokowi's Qurbani cow will then be distributed to the residents of Tengin Baru Village in Sepaku Sub-district, North Penajam Paser District, where the Darussalam Mosque is located.

The official remarked that the president donated the cow in an effort to support religious activities in Nusantara and to foster a sense of togetherness on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

"In addition to serving religious purposes, this activity can be seen as a momentum to solidify bonds between the government and people. Hopefully, this sense of togetherness will last and become our foundation in developing Nusantara," he said.

According to Suwito, the central government will provide a higher number of Qurbani animals to those residing in Nusantara in years to come.

"God willing, the residents of Nusantara will receive more cattle from the Indonesian president in the following years. A higher number of Qurbani cattle provided will increase the number of people receiving meat," he said.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of Darussalam Mosque's Eid al-Adha Celebration Committee, Imron, praised President Jokowi for donating a sacrificial cow to the region.

He expressed hope that the government would provide more Qurbani animals and continue to support religious activities in Nusantara to foster harmonious relations with locals and encourage a broader population to donate animals during Eid al-Adha//Antara - VOI