VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Good relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States are being tested. The alleged death of journalist Jamal Kashogi involving the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul has triggered the test of bilateral relations between the two countries. The United States threatens to sanction its partner if it is proven that the alleged death of the Washington Post journalist was due to Saudi Arabia's actions. Jamal Kashogi is a Washington Post journalist, who is critical of the Saudi Arabian government. Although Saudi Arabia has denied the allegations, President Donald Trump has said he would give punishment if Riyadh was proven involved in the disappearance of Jamal Kashogi.The Trump threat has reduced good relations between the two countries which have been exacerbated by Saudi Arabian interference in Yemen. The threat has caused strong reactions in Riyadh. An unnamed government official for instance, responded to Washington's threat, saying he would do the same in return. As reported by the AFP news agency, Saudi Arabian government officials said they would retaliate if the United States gave economic sanctions. One form of retaliation is by transferring good relations to Iran. Iran is now a common enemy of Saudi Arabia and the United States. Al Arabiya television said further that the oil-rich Saudi Arabian government had 30 steps to repay the United States and Western countries if the sanctions were imposed. The rhetoric about the retaliatory action is being questioned.If Saudi Arabia had not been involved in the case of the disappearance of Jamal Kashogi in Istanbul Turkey since October 2, then Riyadh should not have reacted strongly to the threat of Trump. There are two steps that can be taken taken: First, through diplomatic channels. In the name of friendship and good relations, the government in Riyadh can actually convey its position and state that the alleged murder of Jamal Kashogi by the elements of his government is not true. The second step is to allow a transparent and open investigation into the alleged Jamal Kashogi murder. With this investigation it will be proven that Turkey's accusation that the Saudi Arabian government has fabricated the loss of Kahogi, killed and dismissed it is not true. Saudi Arabia should understand why then Donald Trump threatened Saudi Arabia. Domestically, Trump is politically pressured by a number of lawmakers in Capitol Hill.Will the relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia continue to deteriorate, of course is yet to be seen from the efforts of Saudi Arabia to follow up on the alleged Jamal Kashogi murder.

Indonesian embassy in Vienna along with University of Vienna and University of Music and Performing Art Vienna opens gamelan teaching class for students of ethnomusicology for the period of October until the end January 2019. The program was inaugurated by deputy head of Indonesian representative, Witjaksono Adji on October 9, 2018. To support the program, teachers of Gamelan specially come from Indonesia. Through the program on winter period, the relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Austria or among society of two countries are more increasing. Head of musicology department of University of Vienna, Prof. Christoph Reuter is very happy on the implementation of Gamelan class. Many students of the two universities are registered in Gamelan class. He expressed gratitude to the Indonesian embassy in Vienna and Indonesian Education Ministry on initiative and support of Gamelan instructors.

Minister of Trader, Enggartiasto Lukita affirmed that Indonesia and Switzerland agreed to solve Indonesia-European Free Trade Association Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IE-CEPA) before the end of 2018. EFTA consists of 4 European countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The affirmation was conveyed after doing bilateral meeting with Minister of Economy of Switzerland, Johann Schneider-Ammann on Friday (12/10) in Nusa Dua, Bali on the sidelines IMF-World Bank 2018 annual meeting. The bilateral meeting with Switzerland is aimed to continue the result of bilateral meeting which was conducted in Zurich, Switzerland some time ago. Indonesia is scheduled to be host in the final meeting of IE-CEPA negotiation on October 31, 2018. The negotiation team of four countries of the EFTA will go to Bali to conduct finalization of the agreement. Meanwhile, rumor of palm oil which becomes the main attention for Indonesia has showed positive result. Switzerland has conducted referendum related to the issue and result of the referendum declared that palm oil is needed for domestic industries in Switzerland and worry related to restriction of palm oil is without reason.

Indonesia and France agreed to strengthen cooperation in Gastronomy field. Recently, both countries have signed a statement which is aimed at promoting gastronomic tourism destinations and cultural heritage of regional culinary. The signature of the statement was conducted by Director of French Institute in Indonesia (IFI), Marc Piton with tourism ministry represented by Director of Promotion of Indonesian Tourism for European territory, Agustini Rahayu. The statement made special guidance in local language, giving recommendation of quality place, and also developing cultural program. Later, this will be promoted through various festivals and international events  either in France or in Indonesia. Gastronomy is the right gateway to invite tourists in order they visit other regions in the two countries.  30 percent of tourists who visit France is to explore its culinary. With 18 provinces in France and 34 provinces in Indonesia, the two countries have wealth of great culinary.

President, Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting in Nusa Dua Bali on Thursday (11/10). The meeting produced seven memoranda of understanding –MoU in various fields. Three agreements that were signed were witnessed directly by President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. First agreement is the cooperation on increasing and protecting investment between Indonesia and Singapore. President Joko Widodo at a press conference in Bali on Thursday said that this cooperation is expected to increase the confidence of Singaporean investors in investing in Indonesia. The second collaboration is in the field of financial technology (fintech). Indonesia and Singapore are committed to arranging details of the support provided to develop the fintech industry in both countries. Meanwhile, the third collaboration is in the field of cultural heritage for the period 2019-2021. In addition to the three collaborations, there are still four other cooperation agreements signed by representatives of the two countries' ministries. The four ones are the development and implementation of industry 4.0, cooperation in fintech programs for higher education, development of human resources for government employees and cooperation in shipping schools. President Joko Widodo added, Indonesia and Singapore are  also committed to continuously developing the Kendal Industrial Zone in Central Java and Nongsa Digital Park Batam, Riau Islands. Both regions are built on cooperation between the two countries. President Joko Widodo said that  in addition to economic cooperation, an increase in ASEAN cooperation was also discussed. According to President Joko Widodo, as the two founding countries of ASEAN, Indonesia and Singapore have a moral responsibility to keep strengthening ASEAN. Meanwhile, Singaporean Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong said that Singapore would continue to increase its investment in Indonesia. He emphasized that Singapore has also agreed on a MoU on industry 4.0 to face the industrial revolution ahead. He specifically conveyed Singapore's participation in the Kendal Industrial Area which will be able to attract 43 companies to invest their capital with the total investment of millions of US dollars. He said, the Kendal Industrial Area is able to employ more than 5,000 people.

The nature of Maluku is so beautiful. It can be seen from many natural tourism objects which are beautiful and can be visited from under sea tourism objects. Maluku has beautiful islands, beaches with amazing sceneries and many others. Kei Besar island is one of the islands in Maluku which has many natural tourism potentials. One of natural tourism destinations, is Hoko waterfalls at Hoko village, Kei Besar district, Southeast Maluku regency, Maluku province. Hoko waterfall has fresh and clear water, which flows down through giant stone to natural pool under it. The pool has clear and calm water with colorful gradation of sky blue and also turkish green. At the pool, tourists can swim while enjoying the beauty of Hoko waterfall. In addition, the tourists can slide from the giant stone to the pool which is under it. Because of its beauty, Hoko waterfall becomes one of destinations worth being visited when taking holidays in Maluku. Because of its natural tourism beauty, Kei islands get valuable appreciation of Indonesian Charming Award from Indonesian Ministry of Tourism in 2016, with the title ‘One of the most popular hidden paradises  in Indonesia.’  Although the waterfall becomes popular destination, its beauty and nature are still protected well. To access Hoko waterfall, the visitors can visit Kei islands by plane from Pattimura international airport of Ambon to Karel Sadsuitubun airport, Southeast Maluku regency. After arriving in the Southeast Maluku, the visitors must use speed boat from Watdek port to Elat village. After arriving at Elat village, the visitors can use motor taxi or usually called ‘Ojek’ to Hoko village.