VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Dozens of demonstrators in Beirut, Lebanon, were injured after security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrations against the government on Saturday (18/01) night, local time. Clashes were inevitable when the demonstrators tried to approach Martyr’s Square, which has been the rallying point for demonstrators over the past few months.

The demonstrators came from various directions and cities in Lebanon and moved towards the heart of the capital city of Beirut. This protest was carried out to call for a change in the political and financial system in Lebanon.

Rami Khouri, a professor of the American University of Beirut, as quoted as saying by Al Jazeera on Sunday night (01/19), said that the demonstration was carried out as a form of dissatisfaction among the Lebanese people to the government.

“This new government of alleged technocrats was really just a smokescreen for the old ruling oligarchy elite, so protesters are really upset,” Mr Khouri said.

Rami Khouri said earlier there were also demonstrations at Alhamra, a famous business and shopping center in Beirut. At that time the demonstrators tried to damage the window of the bank and a number of ATMs. He added that at this time, people had difficulty even taking their own money. If they can, they can only take the money in a very limited amount.

The people were very angry and frustrated because many of them had lost their jobs, had difficulty paying children's school fees, or paid surgery costs at the hospital. Even though the people are still active in living their daily lives, tensions are rising in Lebanon at the moment. (AL JAZEERA)

Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries increases a seaweed production target in 2020 to 10.99 million tons, from 9.9 million tons in 2019, a director general said in a statement here, on Sunday.

The ministry has prepared initiatives and strategies for the next five years to raise seaweed production which covers 60.7 percent of the total fishery yield in the country, Director General of Aquaculture, Slamet Soebjakto stated in Jakarta, Sunday.

The strategy launched by the ministry aims to assure the quality and quantity of the seaweed yield this year, as the it has been part of the country's top export commodity.

"The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has committed to increase seaweed exports as an effort to support Indonesia's economy growth," Soebjakto remarked.

According to records of UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2019, Indonesia is the world's largest producer for Eucheuma or gusô (Eucheuma cottonii), a type of seaweed algae that commonly used as raw materials for carrageenan, an ingredient for cosmetics, food and drinks, as well as industrial manufacturing.

Indonesia also covers at least 80 percent of market share of seaweed trade in global market with China ranked first as top export destination for the product.

However, the ministry plans to increase added-value of Indonesia's seaweed by restricting export of raw seaweed this year, Soebjekto remarked.

He expounded the ministry will increase exports more semi-refined carrageenan and refined carrageenan by 50 percent this year, as for the past years the raw seaweed export to China had reached nearly 80 percent. (ANTARA)

Reporter: M Razi R/Genta Tenri Mawangi
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2020

“This mobile 'Gender Corner' aims to provide everything related to gender knowledge through communication, information, as well as education.”

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Local Agency of Women Empowerment and Children Protection (DPMPPA) of Yogyakarta City will soon operate its "Gender Corner," according to Edy Muhammad, the DPMPPA head.

"This mobile 'Gender Corner' aims to provide everything pertaining to gender knowledge through communication, information, as well as education," Muhammad remarked here, Monday.

A purple-colored van offering some supporting facilities will be operated and is expected to follow its village-to-village visit schedule, accessible to people across the Yogyakarta city region.

The offered facilities comprise a gender-related library and consultation session with a psychologist, including the facility to file a complaint on any domestic abuse case since "Gender Corner" is also ready to reach out to more victims on this matter.

DPMPPA of Yogyakarta City provides another service to handle domestic abuse, termed "SIKAP," the abbreviation for information system of complaint for violence against women and children that can be accessed through the Jogja Smart Service on mobile phones.

"Moreover, we have Satgas Sigrak (the 'task force' to handle such violence) across this local region," Muhammad noted.

According to data furnished by DPMPPA of the City of Yogyakarta, hundreds of domestic abuse cases occur every year, yet the figure has reduced, from 691 in 2013, sequentially dropping 642, 626, 544, 254, 193, and 156 through the years until the third quarter of 2019. (ANTARA) 

Reporter: Eka AR, Suwanti
Editor: Sri Haryati
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2020

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Executive Director of the BI Communication Department Onny Widjanarko reported that Indonesia's trade balance registered a US$0.03 billion deficit in December 2019, retreating significantly, from US$1.39 billion a month earlier.

"The improvement stemmed from a non-oil and gas trade surplus due to declining non-oil and gas imports across all commodity groups coupled with stronger non-oil and gas export performance," Widjanarko noted in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Meanwhile, the oil and gas trade deficit also narrowed during the reporting period as a result of increasing oil and gas exports coupled with stable oil and gas imports.

Hence, for the year, Indonesia's trade balance had recorded a deficit of US$3.20 billion in 2019, considerably lower than the US$8.70 billion deficit recorded the year earlier.
Such favorable developments were supported by the import substitution policy to control imports against a backdrop of sluggish export performance in line with global economic moderation and sliding international commodity prices.

The non-oil and gas trade balance booked a surplus of US$0.94 billion in December 2019, thereby reversing the US$0.30 billion deficit posted in November 2019.

The main contributors to the non-oil and gas trade surplus in December 2019 were declining non-oil and gas imports, such as vehicles and components.

Furthermore, the imports of raw materials and capital goods also declined in the form of electrical machinery and equipment as well as iron and steel.

The solid non-oil and gas trade balance was also supported by a surge in non-oil and gas exports, led by animal/vegetable fats and oils; metal ore, crust and dust; as well as clothing and accessories.

Hence, cumulatively, for the year, non-oil and gas trade balance in 2019 recorded a US$6.15 billion surplus, increasing from US$4 billion in the previous period.

In the meantime, the oil and gas trade deficit reduced in December 2019 to US$0.97 billion, from US$1.10 billion the month earlier.

The gains come amid a spike in oil and gas exports in the form of refined products, crude oil and gas.

On the other hand, stable oil and gas import performance was recorded as declining imports of refined products were offset by a surge of imported crude oil.
Cumulatively, in 2019, the oil and gas trade balance recorded a US$9.35 billion deficit, improving from US$12.70 billion in the previous year.

Bank Indonesia is confident that the trade balance developments recorded in December 2019 and throughout 2019 were positive in terms of strengthening the external resilience of Indonesia's national economy.

Moving forward, Bank Indonesia will continue to strengthen policy synergy with the Government and other relevant authorities in order to strengthen external resilience, including the trade balance outlook. (ANTARA) 

Reporter: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Sri Haryati
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA 2020