VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

After being delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, finally several World Film Events can be held in 2021. It’s the same as the Academy Award or Oscar in the USA, which also faced the challenges of the global crisis due to the pandemic, finally was able to take place last April. The event was held in a very limited manner, only attended by the nominees, presenters and special guests.

Last year, the Cannes Film Festival in France was postponed. From the scheduled May 2020, finally it could be held this year, from July 6 to 17. This, of course, attracted the attention of the world because the two world Film Festivals were held amid the Covid-19 pandemic when filmmakers were required to style new order life.

Based on the AFP News Agency reports, at this world film event, the participants are required to do a Covid-19 test every 48 hours and wear masks. The audience is allowed to sit next to each other but masks cannot be removed.

For all visitors, even though many have received vaccines, the committee continues to adhere to health protocols. One of them, those who come from outside the European Union, must provide test results which are carried out every 48 hours, before entering the event location. Moments when the stars walking on the red carpet were held as usual. They were also allowed to take off their masks temporarily so that photographers could capture the famous faces.

Jodie Foster, one of the Famous Actresses who at this event received an award for her achievements in the world of film, admitted that she was happy to be appearing on the red carpet. She declared this Cannes event as a new chapter in the world of cinema because it is relatively non-glamorous and tends to be calm.

A total of 24 films are vying for the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, the Palme d'Or. The announcement will take place tomorrow 17 July, 2021.

Indonesian Investment Minister / Investment Coordinating Board Head (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia made a working visit to the US last week in a bid to strengthen economic relations between Indonesia and the US. During the visit, Minister Bahlil met American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) in New York. He affirmed Indonesian government's commitment to keep improving the country to be friendlier for investors. One of which is through ease of licensing and investment monitoring.

Minister Bahlil further stated that the US is the most important investor for Indonesia. The two countries' relations need to keep being strengthened and improved. So, the US cooperation and investment potential in Indonesia also keep growing.

Furthermore, Minister Bahlil also explained the Risk-Based Online Single Submission System (OSS). With a digitalized and centralized investment permit application process in the OSS, American business people can apply without coming to Indonesia. He also pointed out the Job Creation Law. Besides providing facilities for investors, the law also opens the opportunities for micro small and medium businesses in Indonesia to grow.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC), Wayne Forrest appreciated the improvement in investment climate done by Indonesia. He said that the Covid-19 pandemic made the US companies unable to be as aggressive as during normal times. However, some companies are still interested to invest in Indonesia, namely in the energy and electricity sector. Forrest also affirmed that his side will keep pushing the US companies to invest in Indonesia.

Indonesian Consul General in New York, Arifi Salman also gave appreciation for the Investment Minister who visited in the difficult time. He said the visit showed the earnestness of Indonesian government in increasing the two countries' economic cooperation.

The Investment Ministry / Investment Coordinating Board recorded the total investment realization from the US in 2016 - March 2021 reached US$6.6 billion dollars and was the 8th biggest. The dominant investment sectors during the period were mining, power, gas, water, hotel and restaurant, chemical industries, and pharmaceuticals. Location-wise, 85 percent of the investment realization is located outside Java with most of it in Papua.

The Indonesian government is immediately about to carry out a third dose of vaccination or booster vaccine aimed at health workers.

Indonesian Health Ministry on its official website ensured the third shot or booster for health workers. It also said there is a study that ensured the third shots will be safe.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Health, the reason to carry out additional vaccination in stages and setting priorities is to look at the situation and condition of the Indonesian state where it is urgent for a booster vaccine to be carried out as soon as possible to protect the health workers as one of the front- lines.Earlier, President Joko Widodo affirmed that the health workers are highly exposed to Covid-19 infection despite being already vaccinated. Facing the infected patients as well as the virus require the health worker to get a booster shot.

Certainly, we support Indonesian government's effort. But, WHO's recommendation about unequal vaccination for all people because of vaccine shortage also needs to be a concern. WHO believed until now, there are countries with vaccination less than 1 percent of their population. The Health Ministry's Vaccination Spokesperson dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi explained that the WHO recommendation is prioritizing the public.

The third shot or booster for health workers aims to increase their immunity as the frontline in handling higher Covid-19 cases. Yet more importantly, the public must realize how important vaccination is without being picky about the vaccine variants. It is considering that all imported vaccines used by Indonesian government have passed the Drugs and Monitoring Agency clinical tests and are registered at the WHO. Therefore, the quality and safety can be guaranteed.

Indonesian Maritime and Fishery Ministry with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed to the extension of cooperation in conservation and sustainable use of freshwater fishery (I-Fish) until 2023. That was announced by the ministry's secretary general Antam Novambar in a press release in Jakarta on Sunday (11/07).

I-Fish is a cooperation between Indonesian Maritime and Fishery Ministry and FAO under the framework of Global Environment Facility (GEF) signed by the Ministry's Secretary General and FAO Representative for Indonesia and Timor-Leste in 2017. Initially the cooperation is valid from 2017-2021. However, at the end of June 2021, it was extended until 2023.

Antam Novambar said the 6.1 million USD cooperation will be in effect for the next two years. It aims to strengthen the management framework for sustainable use of Indonesain freshwater biodiversity.

Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation Head of the ministry Agung Tri Prasetyo said the I-Fish strategy is an integration of freshwater biodiversity mainstreaming into the policy through demonstrations.

The conservation and sustainable use will be implemented mainly for critical habitats at five locations in Kalimantan, Java, and Sumatra. The I-Fish main activities include the demonstration sites for belida fish (Chitala lopis) in Kampar, Riau; eels in Sukabumi and Cilacap, West Java; arowana and "beje" fishery in Kapuas and South Barito, South Kalimantan.

Agung Tri Prasetyo explained that the I-Fish is the greatest freshwater fishery management cooperation in Indonesia between the Maritime and Fishery Ministry and FAO. It is expected to contribute directly to the freshwater fishery village development. Agung also said that freshwater fishery is usually small-scale, namely in communities across the riverbank. He therefore affirmed the importance of freshwater fishery in fulfilling people's welfare and food security.

Agung also said in the future, the best I-Fish study and practices will become a reference in making the policy for freshwater fishery management across Indonesia. Some better policies and management will be a catalyst for freshwater management in other various land habitats.