VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - As one of the efforts to increase the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia, the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra in collaboration with the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) organized a cultural promotion activity with the theme "Betawi: The Melting Pot of Culture" at the Indonesian Ambassador House in Canberra, Australia, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. This event is part of the regular activities of the Indonesian Circle (IC), which is a forum within the Women's International Club (WIC) Canberra organization that aims to further introduce Indonesia's rich and diverse culture through cultural diplomacy, gastro diplomacy, and fashion diplomacy.

The event, which was held to commemorate Jakarta's 496th birthday on June 22, was attended by members of international women's organizations as well as the wives of ambassadors and diplomats from various countries in Canberra. In the event, Lina Mauludina Rosalind managed to attract the attention of invited guests who attended through her interesting explanation of Betawi history and culture.

Dr. Marsia Gustiananda Pramono, DWP Chairperson of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra, who is also the IC Leader, stated "Through Indonesian Circle activities, DWP of the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra introduces the distinctiveness of each province in Indonesia. The Betawi theme was chosen because of its unique blend of cultures and is not widely known to Australians," said Marsia.

In addition to the presentation of Betawi history and culture, the introduction of Betawi culture was also carried out through a kebaya and batik fashion show typical of Betawi, the performance of the song Kicir - Kicir and Keroncong Kemayoran collaboration between the WIC ukulele group and DWP, which was closed festively with the Ondel-Ondel dance performance which invited the invited guests to dance together.

After the performance, participants were invited to sample Betawi specialties. "After the dance and song performances, of course, it is not complete without the introduction of Betawi culinary specialties such as Kerak Telor, Soto Betawi, Ketoprak, Nasi Uduk, Kue Dongkal and Kue Pancong," said Marsia, who was greeted with enthusiasm by all the guests present.

WIC President, Dr. Maya Kayali expressed her high appreciation for the event. "I always find new things from Indonesia's diverse traditions, thank you for inviting us and providing complete and clear information about Betawi culture to IC-WIC members," Maya said. (VOI)

At a glance on a clear summer's afternoon, the U.S.-made Avenger air defence system is barely visible in the shadow of trees at the end of a dirt track outside Kyiv.

The short-range unit is an important part of a three-layered air defence network that Ukraine is trying to develop with a range of highly sophisticated Western systems to thwart Russian air attacks.

Russia has unleashed regular long-distance missile and drone attacks since October, but it seriously increased strikes in May as Ukraine prepared for a counteroffensive this month.

The strikes, which regularly kill civilians, look at least in part aimed at depleting air defence stocks so that fewer systems can be used to protect troops trying to advance under Russian air superiority, Kyiv officials say.

"The most difficult is an attack by various types of aerial targets," said the Avenger unit's commander who goes by the call sign "Architect", his pre-war profession.

"When they arrive in one night, both (drones) and cruise missiles fly by, that's the most difficult."

He leads a six-man team that took up positions two weeks ago after being trained by U.S. military instructors in Europe. They are yet to shoot down any missiles or drones.

They join an unfolding air battle that has played out over several weeks during which Ukraine has reported an extraordinary rate of downed drones and missiles, including hypersonic ones.

On Friday, Ukraine said it shot down all six cruise missiles and six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles fired at targets in and around the capital.

But strikes still regularly slip past defences. Last Wednesday, three civilians were killed in a missile attack in Odesa. The day before 11 were killed in a strike on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's hometown.

'RACE AGAINST TIME'

Though it has dropped out of headlines as Kyiv has pressed for F-16 fighter jets from the West, Ukraine is still regularly asking for - and receiving - air defence missiles to replenish stocks, said Yuriy Sak, adviser to Ukraine's defence minister.

"Russia's tactic is using cheap drones in order to exhaust our air defences. It's almost like a race against time. Who's going to run out first? The Russians with their missiles or the ones we get from our allies?" he said.

Washington has supplied at least 12 Avenger systems to Ukraine. The Avenger is a rotating turret with eight missiles mounted on the back of a Humvee, which makes it highly mobile.

"One of our top priorities, when it comes to transforming our armed forces and building up our air defence capability is creating a three-layered air defence system," said Sak.

The Avenger, like hand-held Stinger missiles, are at the short-range end of the three layers. U.S.-made Patriot systems are at the long-range end. Avengers have a range of up to 5 km. Patriots have a 3 km minimum range and a maximum of 80 km.

There is greater mobility at the short end to counter targets and it is also much cheaper than firing expensive salvos of Patriot missiles, Sak said.

The Avenger is effective near the battefield, but there are too few of the systems to go around, he added.

In a bid to build up short-end capabilities, Ukraine is pressing Australia to supply four-wheel-drive Hawkei vehicles that can be mounted with air defences and used in the same way as Avengers, Sak said.

In the month of May alone, the Air Force reported shooting down 149 cruise missiles, 399 drones, seven hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, three ballistic missiles as well as 11 Iskander missiles of two different types.

By contrast in April, the Air Force said it had shot down 73 drones and 21 cruise missiles.

The unit commander near Kyiv said he was constantly aware of his responsibility to do his best to protect the roughly 3.5 million people living in Kyiv, and that they were on duty round the clock ready to respond. (Reuters)

Singapore for the first time became the most expensive city for goods and services for wealthy people, overtaking Hong Kong, London and New York, according to a report on Tuesday.

Cars and essential health insurance in Singapore are 133% and 109% more expensive than the global average, among 12 consumer goods and eight services that reflect the spending patterns of high-net-worth individuals, according to Julius Baer's Global Wealth and Lifestyle report this year.

The politically stable and tax-friendly city-state was one of the first Asian cities to significantly ease pandemic restrictions, and has started to see an influx of wealth.

Demand for accommodation is high, school places are at a premium, and the general cost of living for everyone is high in Singapore, the report added.

Shanghai, in first place last year, fell to second. Possible factors include longer pandemic restrictions than in other cities, the report said. Hong Kong was ranked third.

Johannesburg was at the bottom of the list, which covered 25 cities across the world. (Reuters)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the United States this week for a visit billed as a turning point for bilateral relations, with deeper cooperation in defence industry and sharing high technology in sharp focus.

The visit is expected to give India access to critical American technologies Washington rarely shares with non-allies, strengthening a new bond that is underpinned by not just global politics but also business and economics.

Washington and New Delhi, whose relationship was marked by mutual suspicion during the Cold War, have been moving closer for over two decades now with successive U.S. presidents displaying bipartisan support for stronger ties with the emerging Asian economy and regional power.

President Joe Biden has built on that legacy and expanded cooperation as the United States sees India as a vital partner in its efforts to push back against China's expanding influence worldwide and strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific.

Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. New Delhi continues to do business with Moscow and has increased its purchases of cheap Russian oil in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, much to the frustration of the West.

India too has overcome its "hesitations of history" - as Modi put it in a 2016 address to U.S. Congress - and looked West amid its own military tensions and fraying ties with China.

Though Modi has made several previous visits to the United States, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader.

"It’s a milestone in our relationship...It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday.

A key achievement expected to be showcased is in the area of defence cooperation, especially between military industries of the two countries, Kwatra said, as India seeks to produce more weapons and equipment at home for itself and also for export.

JET ENGINES, DRONES, SEMICONDUCTORS

Major announcements expected during Modi's visit are U.S. approval to General Electric (GE.N) to manufacture engines in India for its domestically produced fighter jets, India's purchase of 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics worth $3 billion, and removal of U.S. obstacles that prevent smoother trade in defence and high technology.

"People will be looking back on this visit by Prime Minister Modi as a real springboard for the U.S.-India relationship, as it relates to defence ... issues in particular," Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs, said at a June 8 event.

A stronger India that can defend its own interests and can contribute to regional security is good for the United States, he said, adding that there is an aspiration to see India as an exporter of security in the region.

Cooperation in semiconductors, cyberspace, aerospace, strategic infrastructure and communication, commercial space projects, quantum computing and the use of artificial intelligence in industrial and defence fields, will also be discussed, a senior Indian official said.

During the three-day visit that begins in New York on June 21, Modi will be hosted by President Biden for a state dinner and a private family dinner, attend lunch with Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and address a joint session of Congress for the second time in nine years.

Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.

"This is not a routine visit, this is a fundamental turning point between India and the U.S.," C. Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi.

"This is not a question of containing China or anti-China. This is about producing a new balance of power in Asia, which is a multipolar Asia, where there is no single power dominating it," he said. (Reuters)