VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Niagara Falls located in Ontario, Canada is the most famous waterfall in the world because of its beauty. But, Indonesia also has a waterfall destination that is as beautiful as Niagara waterfall. Even because of its resemblance, this place is nicknamed the "Niagara Mini" or "Little Niagara Waterfall". This destination is located in Kalianyar Village, Sempol District, Bondowoso, East Java. This Niagara Mini is one of three waterfalls that you can visit when heading to Ijen Crater tour through the Bondowoso City route. As the name suggests, the size of this waterfall is indeed small and its height is only about 6 meters. However, that is precisely the advantage, because you can see up close and it is safe if you want to play in the water. To enter here, you are only charged a parking fee of around Rp 2,000.

This waterfall is given the nickname Niagara because of its wide and terraced waterfall arrangement. Under the waterfall flows a clear and cool river, because it is located in a mountainous area. In addition, this waterfall is surrounded by green hills with blooming flowers. This place is a favorite spot for photographers or hunters for Instagram to take pictures because of its aesthetics, especially at sunrise or sunset; the orange tinge of the afternoon sky combines with green trees and swift waterfalls. How exotic is indeed! In addition, this waterfall is visually beautiful; the sound of water, and mountain insects shouting at each other also makes the heart calm. Because it is surrounded by forests and hills, automatically the air here is clean and cool.

There are many other things you can do there. If you are getting cold after playing in the waterfall, you can go straight to the hot springs available in the waterfall area. Because it is located next to an Arabica coffee processing factory managed by PTP Nusantara XII, the fragrant aroma of coffee is guaranteed to make you immediately brew the coffee. You can order a cup of warm coffee and enjoy it while chatting with loved ones. This refreshing cheap vacation also applies strict health protocols; you do not have to worry if you follow the rules well. Let’s go to the "Niagara Mini" or "Little Niagara Waterfall" in East Java province.

After the General Elections that re-established Bashar al Assad as President of Syria, the country is still an arena for the struggle for influence of Russia, the European Union and the United States.

As is known, in the elections held last Wednesday, Bashar Al Asaad won 95 percent of the vote and made him President of Syria for a fourth term. Syrian Parliament Speaker Hammouda Sabbagh told a news conference that 78 percent of voters had cast their ballots. With the implementation of the election, the Syrian government emphasized that the country was running normally even though there was an armed conflict that had lasted for 10 years, and was being hit by Covid 19.

The results of the general election that re-installed Bashar Al Assad have been criticized by European Union countries and the United States. Before the election was held, the European Union and the United States issued a joint statement that considered it a fabrication of Bashar Al Assad. The United Nations has called for elections in Syria to be held with international oversight. The United Nations hopes that the results of such election will be able to encourage the birth of a new law that becomes a way for conflict resolution.

Instead of criticizing the implementation and results of the election, Russia, which is an ally of Bashar Al Assad, welcomed the results of the election that re-established Bashar Al Assad as President of Syria. With his victory, Bashar Al Assad will rule for another 7 years and continue the reign of the Al Assad family which has lasted for half a century. Bashar's father, Hafez Al Assad, previously ruled Syria for 30 years until 2000. The bloody conflict in Syria began in 2011 during the reign of Bashar Al Assad. The demonstrations in line with the Arab Spring phenomenon eventually turned into civil war which later attracted countries supporting and opposing Bashar Al Assad. As a result, millions of people were displaced, thousands died and the Syrian people lived in poverty.

The election, which is widely considered to be full of fraud and controversy, can be expected to not be able to resolve the bloody conflict that has also damaged infrastructure and beautiful historical heritage. The absence of an internal solution as well as the influence and intervention of foreign countries will make the country that used to be called Sham and known to be prosperous will continue to be torn apart with the suffering of the people.

Indonesian Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that during the economic recovery trend from the Covid-19 pandemic, there are 2.61 million new jobs. She said the unemployment rate increased in August 2020 into 7.07 percent. However, it decreased into 6.26 percent in February 2021. This absorption is faster than the number of jobseekers that increased 1.59 million in the same period. That was stated by Minister Sri Mulyani in the House of Representatives' plenary session in Jakarta on Monday (31/05).

She further stated that new jobs and less unemployment are some of many indicators of improving people's welfare. She also said that previously, the people's welfare improvement and human resource quality increase were hampered, especially in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The people’s improving welfare indicators were also seen from Indonesian Human Development Index in 2020 that rose 71.92 in 2019 into 71.94. The Gini ratio also increased in 2020 into 0.385. Farmers and fishermen welfare also experienced similar changes.

Farmers Exchange Value that decreased into under 100 in May until June 2020 had climbed up again into above 103 until April 2021. Fishermen Exchange value also rose into 103.70 in April 2021.

Minister Sri Mulyani then hoped people's welfare could improve further in 2021 and 2022 through various policies in the Covid-19 handling programs. She also affirmed that the National Economic Recovery until now has succeeded in holding pandemic's negative impacts in 2020 and 2021. Therefore, this moment should be used to increase the household income, especially the underprivileged and vulnerable groups. The poverty is also hoped to return into a single digit.

The first Indonesian Festival in Scotts Head City, New South Wales, Australia on Sunday (30/5) attracted the local community. The Indonesian Embassy in Canberra explained on Monday (31/5) that the small city located on the north-central coast of Australia with a population about 5,000 people suddenly became crowded when a cultural event titled "ASYIK Indonesian Arts Festival was held. The Indonesian Festival event was opened by Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Australia, Mohammad Syarif Alatas. In his remark, he hopes that the festival would bring Indonesia closer to the people of Scotts Head City and promote the wealth of Indonesia's cultural diversity.

Furthermore, this festival can become an annual event to strengthen people-to-people contacts between Indonesia and Australia.  The main stage of the Indonesian Festival which was continuously held at Scotts Head Reserve Park on the beach from 10 am to 3 pm of the local time featured various performances supported by more than 120 performers consisting of Australian students and volunteers.

The performances of traditional cultural arts, such as the Saman - Aceh dance, plate dance, Jaipong, Leather Puppet, mask dance, as well as a demonstration of various Indonesian traditional clothes drew special attention   of all visitors. Moreover, the event also held variously popular Indonesian culinary delights, including meatballs, satay, chicken curry and other snacks.

The success of the festival, which was being held for the first time at Scotts Head City, is inseparable from the spirit of community cooperation, the Indonesian Diasporas who live in various cities in New South Wales, Queensland and the government and even local Australians who have considered Indonesia as their closest relative.