VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) carried out the destruction of illegally imported goods worth a total of Rp. 11 billion. The destruction was held in the Jaya Park warehouse area, Sidoarjo, East Java, Saturday (9/24/2022).

This activity is a follow-up to the inspection and supervision of the import trade system after passing through the customs area (post border). This was conveyed by the Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, in a written statement received on Sunday (25/9/2022).

"The supervision was carried out in January-September 2022 in the work area of ​​the Surabaya Commercial Order Supervisory Agency. The products were proven to be imported illegally or not based on import regulations," said the Minister who is familiarly called Zulhas.

Zulhas explained that the destruction was carried out on 15 types of imported products including the categories of electronic products, forestry, plastics, and clothing. The importer of these products does not have the required import license.

This is in accordance with Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 25 of 2022 concerning Amendments to Minister of Trade Regulation Number 20 of 2021 concerning Import Policies and Regulations.

"This extermination activity is one of the efforts so that business actors can be legally orderly. And obey the laws and regulations in the trade sector in carrying out their business activities," he said.

According to the Trade Minister, so far the government has provided many conveniences for business actors in carrying out their business activities. Starting from the ease of licensing, relief in the fiscal sector, shortening the time for the inflow of goods, to fostering business actors.

"For this reason, it is appropriate for business actors to be lawful in carrying out their business activities," he said, affirming. Meanwhile, the Director General of PKTN at the Ministry of Trade, Veri Anggrijono, hopes that business actors will always comply with the provisions of the legislation.

"We will be firm in enforcing the provisions of the legislation. There is no compromise for business actors who do not obey or abuse the rules," said Veri.

Currently, the Ministry of Trade only has four Commercial Order Monitoring Centers located in four major cities. Namely Medan, Surabaya, Makassar, and Bekasi.

The purpose of the establishment of the Supervisory Center is to serve as the spearhead of the supervision of the trade sector in the regions together with the relevant agencies. Given the wide coverage area of ​​Indonesia, this number is expected to be increased again in the future. (RRI)

Researchers found a new virus found in Russian bats that is similar to SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind Covid-19. The virus is likely capable of infecting humans and, if it spreads, resistance to current vaccines.

The research team at the Paul G. Allen School for Global Health at Washington State University (WSU), United States found a spike protein from a bat virus. The virus, named Khosta-2, can infect human cells and is resistant to antibodies to individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Khosta-2 and SARS-CoV-2 belong to the same sub-category of coronaviruses and are known as sarbecoviruses.

“Our research further shows that sarbecovirus circulating in wildlife outside Asia, even in places like western Russia where the Khosta-2 virus is found, also poses a threat to global health and the ongoing vaccine campaign against SARS-CoV- 2," said Michael Letko, WSU virologist and author of the study published in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

Letko said the discovery of Khosta-2 highlights the need to develop a universal vaccine to protect against sarbecovirus in general. According to him, a number of groups are currently trying to make such a vaccine.

Hundreds of sarbecoviruses have been discovered in recent years, mainly in Asian bats. Most do not infect human cells. Khosta-1 and Khosta-2 viruses were discovered in Russian bats in late 2020, and initially did not appear to be a threat to humans.

"But when we looked at them further, we were really surprised to find they could infect human cells. It changes our understanding a bit about these viruses, where they come from and what areas of concern," Letko said, as quoted from the Washington State University website, Sunday (25/9/2022).

Letko is working with colleagues to study these two viruses. They are Stephanie Seifert, WSU viral ecologist, and Bonnie Gunn, WSU viral immunologist. They determined Khosta-1 posed a low risk to humans, but Khosta-2 exhibited some disturbing properties.

The team found that like SARS-CoV-2, Khosta-2 can use its spike protein to infect cells. Using serum from a human population vaccinated against Covid-19, the team looked at Khosta-2 as non-neutralizing the current vaccine. They also tested serum from people infected with the omicron variant, but the antibodies were also ineffective.

Fortunately, Letko said the new virus lacks several genes that are believed to be involved in its outbreak in humans. However, there is a risk of Khosta-2 merging with other viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. (RRI)

If global warming continues, blue lakes around the world are at risk of turning brownish green. The new study presents the world's first global lake color inventory.

A shift in the color of lake water can indicate a loss of ecosystem health. The research was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

It is well known that substances such as algae and sediment can affect the color of lakes. This latest study found that air temperature, rainfall, depth, and elevation of the lake also determine the color of the lake water.

Researchers used 5.14 million satellite images for 85,360 lakes and reservoirs worldwide. They analyzed data from 2013 to 2020 to determine the most common water colors.

"No one has ever studied lake color on a global scale," said Xiao Yang, a remote-sensing hydrologist at Southern Methodist University, United States, and the study's author.

"There have been previous studies of maybe 200 lakes around the world, but the scale we're trying here is much, much larger in terms of the number of lakes and also the coverage of small lakes," he said. /2022).

"Although we didn't study every lake on Earth, we tried to cover the large and representative sample of the lakes that we have," Yang said.

The author characterizes the color of the lake by assessing the color of the lake that appears most frequently for seven years according to seasonal algae growth. The results can be explored through an interactive map developed by the author.

In addition, different degrees of warming could affect the color of the water if climate change continues. The study found climate change could reduce the percentage of blue lakes, such as those found in northern Europe and New Zealand.

"Warmer water, which produces more algae, will tend to turn the lake green," said Catherine O'Reilly, an aquatic ecologist at Illinois State University, US, and author of the study.

"If you use a lake for fishing or for food or drinking water, the changes in water quality that may occur when the lake becomes greener may mean it will cost more to treat that water," O'Reilly said.

In addition, changes in water color may have implications for recreational and cultural behavior in locations such as Sweden and Finland. As warming continues, lakes in northern Europe may lose their winter ice sheets. This can affect winter activity and culture in the region.

"No one wants to swim in a green lake," O'Reilly said.

"So aesthetically, some of the lakes that we might always think of as a sanctuary or spiritual place, those places might disappear when the color changes," he said. (RRI)

Indonesia Mengajar held a Press Conference discussing education in Eastern Indonesia, Saturday (24/9/2022). During the conference, several speakers shared their experiences when they were involved in teaching children in Eastern Indonesia.

The chairman of the Indonesian Teaching Movement Foundation, Hikmat Hardono, said that this activity was aimed at discussing with each other about learning methods. Also exchange ideas and views on education in Eastern Indonesia.

"These speakers told facts, shared portraits of struggles in the regions. They invited all participants to jointly explore how our education really is in Eastern Indonesia," Hikmat said in his statement in Jakarta, Saturday (24/9/2022).

“This conference provides spaces for discussion and a closer look at education in the East. The space referred to is through the Policy Room, Culture and Education Room, Sustainable Impact Room, Initiative Room, and Interaction Room.

Hikmat said that this conference presented 62 views or insights related to education in Eastern Indonesia. These views are expected to be a solution to the problems of education in Eastern Indonesia.

This view comes from the grassroots, namely from academics, education movers, to cultural actors. These views are a portrait of education in eastern Indonesia during the 12 years of Indonesia Mengajar in the region.

One of the educators and a native of West Papua who was directly involved is Amos Atkana. Amos also appreciated the activities of Indonesia Mengajar which was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

"I appreciate it, because here we all come together from various regions, especially in Eastern Indonesia. Why? Because those who come here are really those who are involved and directly involved (in education in the east)," said Amos.

Amos and his wife founded the Atmatu Learning House at his home located in Ibasuf Village, Aitinyo District, Maybrat Regency.

"My community is small in scale, I opened it in my village before but now it's widening. My last student is 140 people, from kindergarten to high school the teacher is myself, my wife and children who are in grade 2 of elementary school," said Amos.

Amos recounted the background that prompted him and his wife to establish the Learning House. He admitted that his wife was very excited about the abilities of elementary and junior high school children who had not memorized the anthem Indonesia Raya to the text of Pancasila.

"The story is that last year, my wife held a ceremony on August 17, when they sang Indonesia Raya, the 17s were not finished, Pancasila was also not finished. My wife became angry, who was already in junior high and in 6th grade," said Amos.

"Then since that time, my wife told them (the children) to come to our house to study. We are every Monday and Friday a week, Monday I teach general lessons. Friday special lessons about information technology (IT) computers, " he continued.

Currently, Atmatu Learning House only has 7 laptops available for 58 students, which they teach using the practical teaching method. The limited facilities did not dampen the good intentions of Amos and his wife to continue teaching.

They even regulate the use of the laptop alternately. "In the end, I divided the shifts. From 2 to 3 o'clock the elementary school group. 3-4 hours for junior high school students and 4-5 hours for high school students," he explained.

He also hopes that his students will get qualified facilities so that they can continue to learn about information technology (IT).

"These children will grow up with the availability of qualified facilities. Especially regarding information, technology through existing internet networks," he said. (RRI)