VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Reuters visuals journalist Issam Abdallah takes a selfie in Maras, Turkey, on Feb 11, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Issam Abdallah) - 

VOInews, BEIRUT/THE HAGUE : An Israeli tank crew killed a Reuters reporter in Lebanon in October by firing two shells at a clearly identified group of journalists and then "likely" opened fire on them with a heavy machine gun in an attack that lasted 1 minute and 45 seconds, according to a report into the incident published on Thursday (Mar 7).

The report by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) - which was contracted by Reuters to analyse evidence from the Oct 13 attack that killed visuals journalist Issam Abdallah - found that a tank 1.34 km away in Israel fired two 120 mm rounds at the reporters.

The first shell killed Abdallah, 37, and severely wounded Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Christina Assi, 28.

A Reuters investigation in December covered TNO's preliminary finding that a tank in Israel had fired at the journalists.

In its final report on Thursday, the institute revealed that audio picked up by an Al Jazeera video camera at the scene showed the reporters also came under fire from 0.50 calibre rounds of the type used by the Browning machine guns that can be mounted on Israel's Merkava tanks.

"It is considered a likely scenario that a Merkava tank, after firing two tank rounds, also used its machine gun against the location of the journalists," TNO's report said. "The latter cannot be concluded with certainty as the direction and exact distance of (the machine gun) fire could not be established."

Reuters could not independently determine if the Israeli tank crew knew it was firing on journalists, nor whether it also shot at them with a machine gun and, if so, why.

Neither of the two surviving Reuters reporters or another AFP journalist at the scene remembered the machine gun fire. All said they were in shock at the time.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not respond to requests for comment about any aspect of the attack on journalists. Asked to comment on TNO's preliminary findings in December, the IDF said: "We don't target journalists."

A day after the Reuters investigation was published, it said the incident took place in an active combat zone.

International humanitarian law bars attacks on journalists as those in the news media have the full scope of protection granted to civilians and cannot be considered military targets.

"We condemn, in the strongest terms, the attack on a clearly identifiable group of journalists, working in the open. The attack killed our colleague Issam Abdallah and injured several others. We reiterate our calls on Israel to explain how this could have happened and to hold those responsible to account," Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said.

AFP Global News Director Phil Chetwynd reiterated his call for a thorough and transparent investigation by the Israeli military.

"If reports of sustained machine gun fire are confirmed, this would add more weight to the theory this was a targeted and deliberate attack," he said.

Ihtisham Hibatullah, Al Jazeera's manager of international communications, urged the Israeli government to disclose the findings of its own investigation.

"This incident strongly indicates intentional targeting, as confirmed by investigations, including by TNO," he said.

Lebanon's Minister of Information did not respond to a request for comment//CNA-VOI

President Joko Widodo addresses the plenary session of the Special ASEAN-Australia High Level Conference (KTT) at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, March 6 2024. Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev - 

VOInews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo emphasized the importance of cooperation between ASEAN and Australia in commemorating 50 years of partnership relations when addressing the plenary session of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, March 6 2024.

President Jokowi said that ASEAN and Australia share a common responsibility to maintain stability, peace and prosperity in the region.

"As the oldest dialogue partner, strategic comprehensive partner and liaison partner with the Pacific Region, ASEAN and Australia share a region where stability, peace and prosperity are our common goals and responsibilities," said the President.

According to a Presidential Secretariate office release on Wednesday (06/03/24), President Jokowi stated that ASEAN is predicted to become a global economic power and rank fourth in the world by 2040. With a population of more than 650 million people, most of whom are young workers with high technological literacy, President Jokowi emphasized the importance of Australia's support to maximize this potential.

Therefore, President Jokowi is encouraging strengthening economic cooperation by strengthening economic integration, one of which is through Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy 2040 to encourage Australian investment in Southeast Asia. The President hopes that Australia can open up investment opportunities from ASEAN to Australia more widely.

"We also need to optimize several collaborations such as the RCEP ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA and AOIP (ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific). "I appreciate PM Albanese's presence at last year's AOIP in Jakarta and I hope that Australia's commitment to AIPF worth USD 28.1 billion can be realized soon," said the President.

Apart from that, the President also highlighted the importance of Australia's investment and support in ASEAN in dealing with climate change as well as cooperation in the digital economy. According to the President, Australia's support is very much needed, especially in the form of investment, easy access to innovative financing, and technology transfer.

"I also encourage Australian business people to support the development of the ASEAN EV ecosystem, such as the Australian nickel company Nickel Industries which has invested in Morowali, Sulawesi. "Indonesia opposes black and discriminatory campaigns that use environmental pretexts that are not based on scientific evidence," said the President.

Regarding digital transformation cooperation, the President appreciated the start of negotiations on the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement last year. President Jokowi also hopes that Australia can provide support through developing capabilities and knowledge, as well as strong public and private partnerships.

In concluding his speech, Jokowi reminded that ASEAN and Australia share the same future and must be the driving force for creating a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. "ASEAN and Australia are great partners for now and the future," he stressed.

Also accompanying the President in the plenary session of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono//(BPMI-VOI)

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faishal Abdullah el-Amudi accompanied by Chairman of Baznas, Noor Ahmad releasing humanitarian aid to West Java (Photo : Daniel-VOI) - 

VOInews, Jakarta - Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faishal Abdullah el-Amudi, released food package assistance for Indonesia on Tuesday (5/3). The program was initiated by the King Salman Center for Social and Humanitarian Assistance - KSrelief in collaboration with the National Zakat Agency - Baznas.

The assistance consisted of 7,965 packages of food necessities worth Rp1 million for each package and was distributed in Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and Central Java.

"The assistance distributed by KSrelief for this humanitarian action is part of the direction of King Salman's government, Servant of the Two Holy Mosques, especially to help people in need ahead of the blessed month of Ramadan", Ambassador el-Amudi said. 

On the same occasion, Chairman of Baznas, Noor Ahmad stated that the program was the third aid done in collaboration with Baznas and the KSrelief. Apart from food aid packages, KSrelief also donated 200 kg of dates and 400 copies of the Islamic holy book Al-Quran with Braille alphabet//(VOI/Daniel)

Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese receive Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the ASEAN-AUSTRALIA Summit 2024 in Melbourne, Australia (Photo : Setpres) -

VOInews, Australia - Indonesian President, Joko Widodo met Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday (5/3). At the meeting, he emphasized the commitment of Indonesia and Australia to strengthen strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

President Joko Widodo also invited Prime Minister Albanese to strengthen cooperation to improve diplomatic relations, which have lasted for 75 years.

“Prime Minister Albanese, I am pleased to be able to visit Australia again. Australia is a strategic partner of Indonesia and ASEAN in the Indo-Pacific region, a region where we share the future and joint responsibility for maintaining stability. And in our 75th year of diplomatic relations/let us strengthen cooperation and collaboration.”

President Joko Widodo conveyed four main points to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Australia, including the importance of cooperation in the financial services sector and announcing plans to open a State Bank of Indonesia - BNI representative office in Sydney.

President Joko Widodo also highlighted the importance of expanding market access to create a more balanced trade//VOI