VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Some prospective passengers wait at the Bakauheni Port in Lampung, to cross to the Merak Port, Banten, on April 14, 2024. ANTARA/Aloysius Lewokeda - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the return flow on the third day after Eid al-Fitr 1445 Hijri from Sumatra Island to Java Island had not shown a significant increase in passengers or vehicles.

"With the relaxation carried out yesterday, today (the return flow) is relatively flat," he told reporters at the Bakauheni Port here on Sunday.

Minister Sumadi on Sunday visited the Bakauheni Port in Lampung in order to monitor the Eid return flow condition.

At the location, he was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Head of the National Police Traffic Corps Inspector General Aan Suhanan, President Director of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry Ira Puspadewi, and several officials.

He said the relaxation in the form of making ticket invalid for the first 24 hours which is being enforced on April 11-21, 2024 has significantly reduced the return flow density.

He said the number of ferries can still accommodate the numbers of travelers in the return flow from Sumatra to Java.

On that occasion, Sumadi praised the Lampung Regional Police that has implemented the red-green-yellow mechanism for handling return flow.

The red return flow condition means that it is very dense so that many ferries must be operated quickly from Bakauheni Port to Merak Port.

"So the ferries must go directly from here (Bakauheni Port) to there (Merak Port), unload the passengers, and return again from there without loading," he said.

To anticipate the surge in passengers at Bakauheni Port, his side operates Lampung's Panjang Port for ferry crossings to Ciwandan Port in Banten, he said.

He hoped that travelers can take advantage of Panjang Port to get crossed to Java Island//Antara-VOI

File - Indonesian weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan performs the snatch lift in the men's 61 kg category during the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 13, 2023. (ANTARA PHOTOS/Muhammad Adimaja/aww/nbl) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : The Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC) applauded lifter Eko Yuli Irawan for his fifth Olympic participation streak after passing the qualifications for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. 

"He has made a new historical feat in Indonesian sports by becoming the first athlete to compete in five consecutive Olympics," NOC Indonesia Chairperson Raja Sapta Oktohari said in a press release on Wednesday.

Irawan secured a spot to compete in the 2024 Olympics after completing a 133 kg snatch at the International Weightlifting World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday.

However, the 34-year-old lifter did not complete his clean-and-jerk due to his ongoing recovery from a knee injury.

The 2024 Olympics will be Irawan's fifth consecutive Olympics since his first appearance at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The lifter had won silver medals in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and bronze medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

Oktohari said that NOC Indonesia is glad that Irawan qualified again for the Olympics. He stated that Irawan's consistency in presenting his best performance should be exemplary for other Indonesian athletes.

He hailed Indonesian weightlifters for always participating in the Olympics and contributing medals for the nation's contingent. He also appealed for support from Indonesians to win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics.

"We hope we can get our first gold medal in Paris in 2024," Oktohari stated.

According to NOC Indonesia, eight athletes have qualified to participate in the 2024 Olympics. They are Eko Yuli Irawan from weightlifting, Arif Dwi Pangestu and Diananda Choirunisa from archery, and Rifda Irfanaluthfi from gymnastics.

Meanwhile, Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Rahmad Adi Mulyono from sport climbing, Fathur Gustafian from shooting, and Rio Waida from surfing also qualified for the Olympics//ANTARA-VOI

File - President Joko Widodo walks near humanitarian aid packages for Palestine and Sudan at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in Jakarta on April 3, 2024. (ANTARA FOTO/Asprilla Dwi Adha/tom) - 

VOInews, Jakarta : Indonesian Joko Widodo released humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in Egypt and the Sudanese people affected by the internal conflict and disease outbreak in Sudan. Indonesian humanitarian aid was released by the President from the Halim Perdanakusuma Indonesian Air Force Base, Jakarta, Wednesday (3/4/2024).

The President said that Indonesia was concerned about the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza, Palestine, and the internal conflict that occurred in Sudan which causes many victims. The aid sent according to official request from the government of Egypt and Sudan.

"The aid sent today is worth approximately 30 billion rupiah. In the form of medicines and health equipment And also other aid, which is tailored to existing needs in the field. In accordance with official requests from the governments of Egypt and Sudan. President Joko Widodo explained that the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Agency, Suharyanto, led a delegation to deliver aid to Egypt and Sudan", President said. 

The Indonesian government, through the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a diplomatic note from Egypt and Sudan regarding a request for humanitarian assistance for the people there who are facing conflict and disease outbreaks.

In this note, the Egyptian government hopes for assistance from the Indonesian government in handling Palestinian refugees entering Egypt region, around Rafah Egypt (North Sinai Desert), due to the Israeli invasion of the Gaza region, Palestine//(NDY-YT) 

Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister, Retno Marsudi (Photo : Antara) -  

VOInews, Jakarta : Minister of Indonesian Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi held a meeting with ambassadors from Arab countries in Jakarta, Tuesday (2/4) to discuss developments in the Palestinian issue, especially the crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

During the discussion which lasted for one hour, Retno conveyed the importance of united attitudes and positions in supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people, as well as having a moral responsibility to support Palestine.

Indonesia and Arab countries can focus on ensuring the implementation of Resolution 2728 of the UN Security Council (UNSC) 2024 - which contains the issue of a ceasefire. The Indonesian Foreign Minister’s meeting with representatives of Arab countries was attended by seven ambassadors, namely from Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Syria, Oman and Egypt. 

In addition, 13 officials representing the embassies of Bahrain, Mauritania, Yemen,Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Libya, Qatar, Kuwait, Tunisia,Sudan, Somalia and Morocco also participated in the meeting//ANTARA-VOI