VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Up to 7 million North Koreans use cell phones daily, and WiFi networks have sharply expanded in recent years as the mobile devices increasingly became a key tool for market activity in the isolated country, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

Martyn Williams and Natalia Slavney of the Washington-based Stimson Center's 38 North programme say their latest study on digital communications in North Korea, which included an analysis of satellite imagery and a survey of about 40 defectors who fled the North between 2017 and 2021, shows a stable rise in cellular subscribers.

Since 3G network services began in 2008, the number of users has risen to 6.5 million to 7 million, more than a quarter of North Korea's 25 million population, the researchers said.

"More than 90% of the people who participated in the survey reported using the phone at least daily, and most of the calls were made to family members and traders," Slavney told a briefing.

They showed an estimated coverage map of North Korea's cellular network by identifying base stations, accompanying antennas and solar panels from satellite images, which Williams said suggested the service is available not only in cities but also "deep into the rural areas."

"The cellular coverage is still expanding, sometimes we're finding base stations where if you look at the same area two years ago, the antenna was not there," he said.

The country's antiquated 3G network and limits on foreign investment in upgrades because of sanctions over its weapons programmes has prompted the emergence of faster WiFi networks around the country, Williams said.

The WiFi networks do not offer any Internet access but provide connections to domestic services, especially scientific databases for the research community, he added.

Poor infrastructure means there are few landlines, the researchers said, so mobile phones fill gaps and serve as a critical tool for participating in a private market economy, which has become a key source of income for many.

The private sector has overtaken state-led agents to become North Korea's biggest economic actor in recent years, with its rationing system crumbling and leader Kim Jong Un allowing markets abhorred by his father.

"For the last five to 10 years, the rise of the private economy and private marketplaces was one of the biggest changes in the country," Williams said. "In a way, one of the pillars of the entire market economy is the wide availability of basic telephone and text messaging." (Reuters)

Australian health authorities have recommended against getting a fifth COVID-19 vaccine shot, even as they urged those eligible to sign up for their remaining booster doses as the country's latest COVID wave grows rapidly.

Average daily cases had been 47% higher last week than the week before, said Health Minister Mark Butler at a press conference on Tuesday, announcing new vaccination recommendations. But cases remain 85% below the previous peak, of late July.

Butler said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI) had recommended against a fifth dose, or third booster, after evidence from Singapore's recent wave showed that severe illness and death were rare among the vaccinated and that a fifth shot had minimal impact on virus transmission.

"ATAGI has considered international evidence as well as the local data around vaccination numbers, as well as case numbers in the pandemic and decided not to recommend a fifth dose," said Butler.

"They noted that severe disease and death during that wave in Singapore was very rare for people who had had at least two doses of vaccine for COVID."

New booster recommendations will be made early next year ahead of the southern-hemisphere winter.

Butler urged those yet to get the recommended number of shots to do so, with 5.5 million Australians, roughly a fifth of the population, yet to receive a third dose despite being eligible.

Butler also accepted ATAGI recommendations that Pfizer's (PFE.N) Omicron-specific vaccine be approved as a booster dose for adults; 4.7 million doses will arrive ahead of a rollout due to begin on Dec 12.

The company's vaccine for children aged six months to five years will also be approved for use on the severely immunocompromised.

Speaking alongside Butler, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the Singaporean experience suggested the current wave would peak soon and that cases would then drop quickly. (Reuters)

FIFA (International Football Federation) President Gianni Infantino attends the G20 Summit in Bali, Tuesday (15/11/2022). During the lunch, Infantino said all heads of state present would receive the official Qatar 2022 World Cup ball.

Gianni was asked by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to give a speech for the lunch. Besides Gianni, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach was also asked to give a speech.

"You will get this ball with their own name on each ball. So make sure you get it," said Gianni to the applause of the guests present.

Gianni even officially asked all G20 heads of state, to sign one official World Cup ball. According to him, this moment will be historic in the future.

As is known, the official ball for the 2022 World Cup is named Al Rihla. The ball is produced by the famous apparel from Germany, Adidas.

Adidas has entrusted PT Global Wei Indonesia, in Madiun, to be responsible for the manufacture of the ball. PT GWS was asked to produce 50 thousand balls with the best quality.

The ball design is inspired by the traditional Dhow boat panel design and features a solid pattern of blue, red and yellow. It represents the landscape (landscape/nature) in Doha, Qatar. (RRI)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that a paradigm and spirit of collaboration are needed to save the world. He conveyed this during a speech at Session I of the G20 Summit at The Apurva Kempinski Hotel, Bali, Tuesday (11/15/2022).

The President said, the world is experiencing extraordinary challenges due to various crises, starting from the Covid-19 pandemic, rivalries, to wars. These various crises have had an impact on food, energy and financial security which is felt by the world, especially developing countries.

"A paradigm of collaboration is urgently needed to save the world. We all have a responsibility, not only for our society, but also for everyone in the world," said the President.

President Jokowi emphasized that being responsible means consistently respecting international law and the principles of the UN Charter. Being responsible also means creating a win-win situation, not zero-sum.

"Being in charge here also means we have to end the war. If the war doesn't end, it will be difficult for the world to move forward," he said.

"If the war does not end, it will be difficult for us to take responsibility for the future of present and future generations," he said. "We should not divide the world into parts," he said.

Furthermore, the President said Indonesia has 17,000 islands, 1,300 ethnic groups, and more than 700 regional languages. Democracy in Indonesia runs from village head elections at the village level to presidential elections.

For this reason, the President encouraged the G20 to have the same spirit of dialogue to bridge differences. "As a democratic country, Indonesia is very aware of the importance of dialogue to reconcile differences, and the G20 must show the same spirit," he said. (RRI)