VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs declared Tuesday (12/3/2024) as day one of Ramadan 1445 Hijri and the first day of fasting in Indonesia. That is following the isbat (confirmation) meeting in Jakarta. As the first day of Ramadan has been determined, Indonesian Muslims can start performing their evening tarawih prayers on Monday (11/3/2024).

VOInews, Jakarta: Timor-Leste government targets that in 2025 the country can fully accede to ASEAN, Timor-Leste Minister of Trade and Industry Filipus Nino Pereira said in an interview with RRI Voice of Indonesia on Sunday (10/3). Pereira said that with this target, all ministries that have a connection with ASEAN are working and coordinating to achieve the target. 

Social Democratic (PSD) and Democratic Alliance (AD) leader Luis Montenegro gestures at the crowd during a rally on the last day of the campaign ahead of the snap elections in Lisbon, Portugal, Mar 8, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Pedro Nunes) - 

VOInews, Lisbon : Portuguese voters will elect a new parliament on Sunday (Mar 10), facing a choice between switching to a centre-right government or keeping the centre-left in power, although neither appears to have a clear path to a full majority as the far-right's clout grows.

The issues dominating the campaign in Western Europe's poorest country include the housing crisis unleashed by soaring rents, low wages, sagging healthcare and corruption, seen by many as endemic to the mainstream parties.

The early election, four months after Prime Minister Antonio Costa's sudden resignation amid a graft investigation, again pits against each other the two centrist parties that have alternated in power since the end of a dictatorship five decades ago.

The ruling Socialist Party (PS) could attempt a replay of their old alliances with the Left Bloc and the Communists that allowed them to govern between 2015 and 2019, if the combined left gets more than 115 seats in the 230-seat parliament.

The Democratic Alliance (AD) of right-leaning parties, helmed by Luis Montenegro, leads in most opinion polls, but it could struggle to govern without the votes of far-right Chega. Montenegro has so far ruled out any deals with the radical populists, who want a government role.

Surveys suggest support for Chega's anti-establishment message, its vows to sweep away corruption and hostility to what it sees as "excessive" immigration, has roughly doubled since the last election in 2022, though it remains in third place.

On Friday, conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told Expresso newspaper he would do everything he can to prevent Chega from gaining power, drawing criticism as the head of state is mandated to remain neutral.

Political scientist Antonio Costa Pinto of Lisbon University said Portugal "has entered the dynamic of many European democracies", in which the centre-right is challenged by having a radical party to its right consolidated in third place.

A potential AD minority government, even supported by the smaller centre-right Liberal Initiative, would likely need votes from Chega to pass legislation, making it relatively fragile as Chega could topple it at any point.

However, "a PS victory with an absolute right-wing majority in parliament would be the most complex, most unstable scenario", Costa Pinto added.

Polls open at 8am (0800 GMT) and close at 7pm in the mainland and an hour later on the Azores archipelago. More than 10 million citizens are eligible to vote//CNA-VOI

Max Verstappen leads his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to victory in Jeddah. (Photo: AFP/Giuseppe Cacace) - 

VOInews, Jeddah : Max Verstappen won Saturday's (Mar 9) Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from Sergio Perez to maintain Red Bull's perfect start to the season.

Charles Leclerc's Ferrari was third with British teen Oliver Bearman a remarkable seventh on his debut for Ferrari as a late stand-in for the ill Carlos Sainz.

"He's done an incredible job, seventh in your first race in F1 is hugely impressive," said Leclerc of 18 year old Bearman, only called up before third practice on Friday with Sainz hit by appendicitis.

While Bearman was voted driver of the day Verstappen once again demonstrated his ability to overcome all the distractions off track from the continuing fallout from the inquiry into team principal Christian Horner.

After a season opening win in Bahrain last Saturday, the defending three time world champion notched up a ninth consecutive victory and a 100th career podium finish.

Oscar Piastri of McLaren finished fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.

George Russell (Mercedes), Bearman, Lando Norris (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10//CNA-VOI