VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Experts from the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened today (8/12) to exchange best practices on policies and to identify further opportunities for collaboration on COVID-19 vaccines.

As two leading regional organizations, the EU and ASEAN share a common interest in pursuing a multilateral approach to affordable, fair, and equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

The 23^rd ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting on 1 December confirmed this commitment and vowed to continue to support vaccine multilateralism and the provision of COVID-19 vaccines as global public goods. In line with its commitment to vaccine multilateralism, the EU contributed € 500 million in grants and guaranteed loans to support the COVAX Facility. COVAX aims to accelerate the development and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and free equitable access for every country in the world. As of today, 189 economies are part of the COVAX Facility.

The cooperation on vaccines builds upon extensive assistance to Southeast Asia provided by the EU, most notably the € 800 million “Team Europe” package to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in ASEAN. Last week, the EU announced a new € 20 million support programme on “South East Asia Health Pandemic Response and Preparedness”.

The online dialogue that took place today provided a platform for the EU’s and ASEAN’s leading policy practitioners and medical experts for debating strategies and practical aspects of vaccine authorization, production, and distribution in two separate panels.

“Working together in the prevention, detection, and response to the virus, the ASEAN and EU have coordinated and cooperated at various levels and through various stakeholders in responding effectively to this pandemic,” said His Excellency Kung Phoak, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. “This webinar dialogue on vaccine further deepens and facilitates innovations in health cooperation between ASEAN and EU, and further builds a robust relationship in the exchanges of policies towards affordable, fair and equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines,” His Excellency added.

“Safe and effective vaccines have a key role to play in emerging from the COVID-19 crisis,” said Professor Peter Piot, Special Advisor to the President of the European Commission on COVID-19 and the Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. “But no country is safe until every country is safe. EU-ASEAN collaboration and leadership are more important than ever in ensuring that everyone, everywhere can benefit from these vital tools,” he added.

Jakarta - Voice of Indonesia. Yogyakarta’s oldest city Kota Gede was named as one of the most beautiful towns in Asia by CNN International.

Kota Gede, known for its silverworks, was where the Mataram Kingdom lies back in the 15^th century. Mataram Sultanate was the last kingdom before the Dutch came to Java.

CNN International applauded the palatial homes, which were built in Kalang style-mix of Dutch and Javanese structural elements.

In Kota Gede, travelers can visit the Prambanan Temple, which is a UNESCO’s listed landmark, and the timeless Borobudur Temple.

There are also natural spectacles to see, including the Parangkusumo sand dunes, Jomblang cave, and beaches.

Other tourism sites not to miss are the 17th-century Kotagede Mosque and Imogiri Graveyard.

Travelers can also walk and shop along Jalan Kemasan. The street is filled with boutiques, galleries, and antique stores.

Achmad Charris Zubair, one of Kota Gede’s local figure and Cultural Reserve Activist said that one of the reasons why Kota Gede was named as picturesque, was because of the tri-period architecture.

In the 16^th century, the city was filled with Sutawijaya’s palace, mosque, and other Hindu style buildings. Then the 17^th and the 18^th when Sultan Agung changed Kota Gede from capital city and kingdom, but as a regular city. This causes the penetration of Java-style buildings.

“So there are Java-style houses built in 17^th up to the 18^th century,” he said, as reported by Tempo on Dec. 4, 2019.

The third period is the early 20^th century, where Kota Gede experience an economic boom. People are started to sell and trade diamonds, fabrics, silver, and other materials.

“This period birthed big and luxurious Indische-style houses. I think these are the factors why architecture is the biggest reason why Kota Gede become the most beautiful city,” Zubair said.

“Of course we appreciate the title. Even though we as locals did not realize the beauty, the city is one of the most comfortable among others,” Zubair said.

Dian Lakshmi Pratiwi, head of the cultural heritage maintenance and development at the Cultural Affairs Department in Yogyakarta, expressed her appreciation for the founders and the people of Kotagede.

"Congratulations to the people of Kotagede. Its current existence is able to position itself as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which is a testament to the ability and willingness of the people of Kotagede to preserve their heritage amid the dynamics of urban development and the times," Dian said.

CNN International’s list of 13 most beautiful cities in Asia also includes Hoi An, Vietnam; Yufuin, Japan; George Town, Malaysia; City of Vigan, Philippines; Luang Prabang, Laos; Kampot, Cambodia; Galle, Sri Lanka; Zhouzhang, China; Mawlynnong, India; Gandruk, Nepal; Sai Kung, Hong Kong; and Phuket Town, Thailand. (VOI)

The Head of the Maintenance and Development of the Cultural Heritage of the DIY Cultural Service, Dian Lakshmi Pratiwi, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the founders and the people of Kotagede, past and present. "Congratulations to the people of Kotagede. Its current existence is able to position itself as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, which is a testament to the ability and willingness of the people of Kotagede to preserve their heritage amid the dynamics of urban development and the times, "said Dian.

The Government of Singapore donated 800 thousand face masks to the Riau provincial government under its endeavors to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

"As part of the support to fight COVID-19, the Singapore government is pleased to provide this assistance and will continue to cooperate in addressing this problem," Batam-based Singapore Consul General Mark Low stated in his address at the handover of assistance held virtually on Tuesday.

Low highlighted the significance of mutual help to handle the COVID-19 pandemic that has battered the economies of various countries, including Singapore and Indonesia.

As close neighbors, Riau and Singapore must also extend mutual assistance to handle the pandemic, he affirmed.

The Government of Singapore donated face masks to Riau Province since wearing masks was the easiest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, pending the availability of effective vaccines, he pointed out

"Before the vaccine can really overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, the public must follow health protocols, including wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing.

Riau Vice Governor Edy Natar Nasution expressed gratitude to the Singapore government for its donation of face masks to Riau for the second time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nasution remarked that the masks will be distributed among district and city governments in Riau Province.

Riau has, so far, recorded 21,259 COVID-19 cases, with 18,969 people recovering and 482 individuals succumbing to the infection.  

Meanwhile, 877 people are receiving hospital treatment, and 931 people are conducting self-isolation. (Antaranews)

Farmers’ protests against new laws liberalising agricultural markets spread across India on Tuesday, as farm organisations called for a nationwide strike after inconclusive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

In eastern and western states, farmers blocked roads and squatted on railway tracks, delaying hordes of people getting to work, and preventing perishable produce from reaching markets.

Farmers from the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, neighbouring New Delhi, have been at the vanguard of the agitation since last month, and have set up protest camps in and around the capital.

“We will not allow the government to change the rules because they want to hurt farmers’ income by filling the pockets of big companies,” said Gurwinder Singh, a 66-year-old farmer from Punjab, a state known as the food bowl of India.

The reforms enacted in September loosened rules around the sale, pricing and storage of farm produce that have protected farmers from an unfettered free market for decades.

Assured of floor prices, most currently sell the bulk of their produce at government-controlled wholesale markets, known as mandis.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said the reforms would not hurt farmers’ incomes. More talks between the government and farmer organisations are due on Wednesday. 

Meantime, social media has fanned sympathy for the farmers’ cause among the Indian diaspora abroad. During recent days, thousands of people have protested in support of the farmers outside the Indian embassy in central London.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, protest sites around New Delhi have turned into camps, with entire families cooking and sleeping in the open and Sikh religious organisations were providing them with face masks, water and food.

At least 20 regional and national opposition parties backed the call for the strike.

“It’s going to be nightmare if there will be any serious unrest during the pandemic,” a senior home ministry bureaucrat overseeing security told Reuters on condition of anonymity, warning that police had been authorised to use water cannons or tear gas to disperse over-crowded protests. (Reuters)