VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

University Lecture and Research Tour entitled "Biodiversity and Oceanography" in Andalas University in Padang, West Sumtera (Photo : Kemenkomarves) - 

VOInews, Padang : Indonesia has been collaborating with OceanX since the end of 2022 to carry out a joint Indonesia-OceanX research expedition or Indonesia Mission 2024 to explore the hidden potential and beauty of Indonesia's oceans.

Not only research, Indonesia also collaborates with OceanX on educational aspects through a series of University Lecture Tours at several universities in Indonesia.

On Monday (24/6/2024), the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment together with Andalas University held a University Lecture and Research Tour entitled "Biodiversity and Oceanography".

Indonesia and OceanX will produce a documentary film resulting from a marine expedition in Indonesia.

Deputy Secretary for Maritime Resources Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Aniza Suspita, explained that 19 percent of Indonesia's waters have been mapped, but they are less explored, especially deep seas, such as the Java Trench with a depth of 7,180 meters, the Flores Sea 5,123 meters, the Sulawesi Sea 6,200 meters, the Buton Trench 4,180 meters, the Arafura Sea 3,680 meters, and the Banda Weber Trench 7,440 meters.

"There are still many Indonesian seas that are deeper than the tallest building in the world (830m) or the location where the Titanic sank (3800m). The deeper it gets, the more challenging it is to explore and understand. "Developing countries, like Indonesia, have limited funds and technology to explore the deep sea," said Secretary Aniza.

The research topics for this joint Indonesia-OceanX expedition include biodiversity, carbon potential, fish stock assessment, earthquake mapping and product innovation.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (24/06/24), the planned expedition route consists of five legs which will be carried out from May to August 2024. This joint expedition has anchored on Sambu Island, North Sumatra, then continued on to Banda Aceh, and Padang Bayur Harbor, and in the next few days will dock at Tanjung Priok Harbor , Benoa port, Labuan Bajo port, and ending the expedition at Bitung port, Manado.

Apart from carrying out joint expeditions and research, the Indonesian government through the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and OceanX held several University Lecture Tours, including those held at Syiah Kuala University and Andalas University in Padang.

Furthermore, it will be held at the University of Indonesia Jakarta, Bandung Institute of Technology, Udayana University, and Sam Ratulangi University until next August.

Apart from the University Lecture Tour, Indonesia and OceanX have another program, namely the Young Explorer Program (YEP) Indonesia 2024 consisting of 19 Indonesian citizens from various universities who will carry out expeditions in Jakarta-Bali and Labuan Bajo-Bitung.

These 19 Indonesian citizens are around 18-22 years old and come from the University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Brawijaya University, Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Hasanuddin University, Padjadjaran University, Diponegoro University, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Nanyang Technological University, Monash University, Athabasca University. This program will also include 11 students from the United States, Singapore and the Philippines.

From the results of the joint Indonesia-OceanX expedition, it is planned to produce two documentary films as an educational tool. As for the documentary film related to Earthquake: 20 years after the Aceh Tsunami and Indonesia Deep Sea Expedition,

"We will present scientific insights about the beauty of marine biodiversity, as well as megathrusts, volcanoes, earthquakes and various cultural aspects that will be an integral part of "Joint Indonesia-OceanX Expedition Mission," he explained.

Apart from that, Deputy Chancellor IV of Andalas University, Dr. Handmaidi said that through this program Indonesia and OceanX are committed to collaborating with experts, researchers and students to share knowledge, insights and innovative ideas,

"We are very excited to collaborate with OceanX which has breakthrough work in marine exploration and inspires and provide important information to many people around the world about the sea," he said.

For information, the University Lecture and Research Tour public lecture held at Andalas University in Padang on Monday (24/6/2024) presented OceanX Science Program Director Mattie Rodrigue, BRIN representative Dr. Ofri Johan and Taufan Wiguna, Indonesian Conservation Fisheries Scientist Dr. Elle Wibisono.

This event was also attended by the Chair of the LPPM Andalas University, Prof. Dr. Techn. Marzuki and Lantamal II Commander Marine Colonel (P) Mulyadi, as well as the entire community and students of Andalas University//VOI 

National Librarian Best Achievement Election 2024 held in Perpusnas building Jakarta (Photo : Perpusnas) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The National Library (Perpusnas) is once again holding the National Level Best Achievement Librarian Election in 2024. A total of 15 librarians from various regions and agencies were selected as finalists in this event.

National Library First Secretary Joko Santoso said this event was held as a form of appreciation to librarians for their high dedication, discipline, and awareness of their responsibilities as information service providers to the public. Librarians have an important role in dealing with various daily problems such as poverty, the environment, education, security and health.

"The selected librarians are expected to have the enthusiasm to contribute to addressing these issues through their role as public information servants," he said at the opening of the 2024 National Best Achievement Librarian Election on Monday (24/6/2024).

Joko Santoso underlined that in providing library services, it is important for librarians to always innovate and have creativity. Therefore, National Library hopes that the finalists can have a positive impact through creative and innovative programs.

"The orientation in this selection process is the real impact resulting from the innovation and creativity of the finalist librarians who helped encourage the growth of reading data and public literacy. Thank goodness it can be replicated by libraries, both at the central and regional levels," he added.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Monday (24/06/24), the 15 finalists for Outstanding Librarians this year have gone through a rigorous virtual and centralized screening and selection process for one month (20 April - 20 May 2024).

"From 531 applicants, 15 finalists were selected who will compete through the next process, namely interview assessments and presentations related to innovations in the library sector that have been carried out and their impact on society," said Plt. Head of the Librarian Development Center, Nurcahyono.

During the judging process until determining the results, National Library collaborated with practitioners and academics in the library sector as a Jury Team, including Labibah Zain from UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Titiek Kismiyati from the Librarian Professional Certification Institute (LSP), Ida Fajar Priyanto from Gadjah Mada University, Tulus Wulan Juni from the Makassar City Archives, Library and Data Processing Service, and Hanna Chaterina George representing the Association of Indonesian School Information Professionals//VOI

London Stock Market (Photo : BBC) - 

VOInews, London : The UK’s main stock market retook its crown as Europe’s most valuable for the first time in nearly two years, data shows.

The total value of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) hit $3.18tn on Monday, overtaking the $3.13tn total value of companies listed in Paris, according to Bloomberg data.

Both valuations have shifted since and remain close, but analysts describe it as a milestone.

They say the French market has slumped because of the uncertainty around its election, while the UK market is recovering after several years of underperformance.

The LSE had been Europe’s largest stock market for many years before November 2022 when it was overtaken.

Analysts at the time blamed LSE’s performance on the fallout from former Prime Minister Liz Truss’ mini-Budget, a weak pound, recession fears and Brexit.

The LSE was worth about $1.4 trillion more than its Parisian rival in 2016//BBC-VOI

Illustration—The United Nations Security Council convening a meeting. Countries are currently prioritizing the implementation of Resolution 2735 adopted by the Security Council to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian resistance force Hamas, a Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. (ANTARA/Xinhua) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated that a peacekeeping mission in the besieged Gaza Strip, Palestine, is only viable under a United Nations mandate. "So far, the UN has yet to touch upon the discourse on rolling out a peacekeeping operation in Gaza," the ministry's spokesperson, Rolliansyah Soemirat, informed via a short message received in Jakarta on Monday.

He said that countries are currently prioritizing the genuine implementation of Resolution 2735 adopted by the UN Security Council in a bid to put an end to hostilities between Israel and Palestinian resistance force Hamas.

"The number of UN peacekeeping personnel to be deployed and the expertise needed are and will always be adjusted to the real condition in the field," he added.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, affirmed Indonesia's readiness to field personnel for a prospective UN-authorized peacekeeping operation in Gaza.

"Indonesia is ready to send its peacekeeping forces under a UN mandate. I emphasize, under a UN mandate," Marsudi said after a meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) here on June 5, 2024.

The following day, General Subiyanto announced that his side would prepare four battalions for a Gaza peacekeeping mission if mandated by the UN.

"We will form a brigade consisting of a Support Battalion, an Engineer Battalion, a Health Battalion, and a Supply Battalion," he informed after attending a meeting with the legislative commission.

Both statements were made in response to similar remarks conveyed by Defense Minister Prabowo during the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 held in Singapore on June 1.

"We are ready to delegate peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor the prospective ceasefire as well as provide protection and security to all parties and all sides," he said.

On the occasion, he also emphasized the importance of pursuing inclusive dialogues and implementing the two-state solution to achieve peace.

"The two-state solution is the only feasible option for Israel and Palestine to achieve lasting peace and security," said Prabowo, who will succeed President Joko Widodo for the 2024–2029 presidential period//Antara - VOI