VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin has sent a message of condolence to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) for the earthquake and tsunami that hit certain parts of Central Sulawesi Province on Friday.

"Russia shares sadness with the Indonesian people," Putin stated in a release sent by the Russian Embassy in Jakarta to ANTARA in Jakarta on Sunday.

President Putin expressed his sympathy and support for the families and relatives of the victims, and hoped that the catastrophic situation can be well recovered as soon as possible.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake with a center at a depth of 10 kilometers at 27 kilometers northeast of Donggala, Central Sulawesi, occurred on Friday (Sept 28) at 05.02 p.m. local time.

This earthquake triggered a tsunami with 0.5 to six meters high on the west coast of Central Sulawesi Province.

These disasters resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, and severe damage in Palu, the provonce`s capital city, and Donggala District.

Until Sunday afternoon, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded that the death toll had reached 832, while the number of injured victims reached 540 people.

The earthquake and tsunami also caused thousands of people to take refuge to safe locations, and tens of thousands of houses got damaged.

Besides Russia, expressions of condolences had also been conveyed by the South African government in a written statement received by Antara.

"Our prayers for the people of Indonesia who are facing this difficult situation, especially for families who have lost their loved ones," the South African Embassy stated. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Minister of Industry  Airlangga Hartarto pushes the US industry’s players to newly expand and invest in Indonesia. So far, the investment from the USA has been in extractive industry sector. One of efforts to be pushed is expansion and investment in digital economic sector. After becoming a key  speaker at US-Indonesia Investment Summit to Media in Jakarta recently, Minister Airlangga said that the US has Google, Apple and many based-digital companies or Silicon Valley, a based company that dominates the world economy in industry revolution era 4.0. Therefore, his side will keep trying to create ecosystem in order the companies can invest in Indonesia.

“The USA has mostly invested at extractive industry. Of course, secondly the USA will encourage its investment  for 4.0 economy, digital economy. Therefore, we must be able to create ecosystem so that the digital economy can enter to Indonesia. In the past time, the US second revolution company was Ford as the champion. But current economy champions are Google, Apple, and Silicon Valley as based companies,” said Airlangga.

Minister Airlangga is optimistic that the formation of digital economy can be solution to grow start-ups business up to small-and-medium industry sector in Indonesia. He said  that one of the examples is that Apple has materialized its commitment to invest by building Apple Developer Academy in Tangerang City as innovation center in Indonesia. (Rezha/ Trans by AF)

The era of social media brings about other challenges to the world of media, such as the emergence of hoaxes or false news that uses the hidden space for freedom and democracy. This was stated by President Joko Widodo when officially opening the 24th Congress of the Indonesian Journalists Association -PWI in Solo, Central Java on Friday (28/9). This condition, according to President Joko Widodo, is experienced not only by Indonesia, but also by many friendly countries whose leaders complain about similar issue.

“Another challenge in the midst of the rise of social media is the emergence of hoaxes or false news, which uses the freedom and democracy available. This occurs not only in our country, but also in other countries. I went to Singapore complaining about the same thing; PM Lee; Malaysian former Prime Minister also complained about the same thing. To the Middle East, some Shyekhs and Emirs also complained about the same things that had never happened before. The dissemination of hoaxes is done through informal media that is unregistered; it is unclear who accounts for, and where the address is unclear. Hoaxes are circulated through social media to influence perception,” said Presiden Joko Widodo.

 Furthermore, President Joko Widodo explained that there are certain interests, especially the very strong political interests behind the spread of hoaxes. He views that this is done to influence public perceptions so that they are in line with the purpose of these interests. Thus, the President remarked that it’s important for PWI and the media to provide correct information. President Joko Widodo added that the emergence of hoaxes is an opportunity for PWI and the main media to show their major role in a bid to provide correct information that is in accordance with the principles of journalism and comes from credible and quality information. (Rezha/Trans by R)

On the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (UN) in New York, the United States, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi had the opportunity to hold a number of bilateral meetings. One of them was a meeting with Minister of Burundi’s External Relations and International Cooperation, Ezechiel Nibigira. At the meeting, both ministers discussed Burundi's desire to educate its diplomats in Indonesia. In a press statement received by Voice of Indonesia on Friday, September 28, 2018, Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that Burundi's wish could be realized because Indonesia had done the same thing with some countries.

"Just now with Burundi in the context, of course, we associate with our priorities for Africa and Burundi hopes that Indonesia can educate its  diplomats and I think this is something we can do. Because Indonesia has collaborated to educate foreign diplomats in Indonesia. Indeed, we have an international diplomat education program by inviting foreign diplomats to be educated in Indonesia,” said Retno Marsudi.

In addition, Minister Retno Marsudi also expressed that Burundi wants Indonesian investors to invest in Burundi. Burundi expects Indonesian investors to come and invest their capital in infrastructure development in the country. Because Indonesia has successfully carried out economic activities, including investment in other African countries. On the same occasion, Minister Retno Marsudi also promoted the Indonesia-Africa Infrastructure Dialogue which will be held next year. He hopes Burundi will attend and participate in the dialogue. (Rezha/Trans by R)