Live Streaming
Program Highlight
Company Profile
Program Highlight (3018)
PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
more news
May
Indonesian temples embody spirit of G20: Minister Plate
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesian temples embody the spirit of harmony in diversity as well as resilience, which have inspired Indonesia's G20 Presidency this year, Minister of Communications and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, has said.
"Throughout history, Prambanan Temple continued facing major disasters, yet collaboration of communities (in various eras) has made the temple surpass those challenges and even has its significance grown till now," he noted during a gala dinner with the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) delegates at Prambanan Temple, Sleman, Yogyakarta, according to information released on Thursday.
Of the hundreds of temples in Indonesia, the Buddhist Borobudur Temple and the Hindu Prambanan Temple are the most renowned, he said.
The close proximity of the two world-famous temples exhibits religious harmony among communities in Indonesia, the minister added.
The existence of temples in Indonesia, besides being an important cultural heritage for the nation, is also evidence of the Indonesian nation's resilience in facing challenges in various eras.
"The large number of temples in Indonesia is not only a panoramic beauty, but also a history in every temple construction and continuous renovation," Plate remarked.
The construction of the Prambanan Temple was initiated by Rakai Pikatan of the Medang Kingdom under the Sanjaya Dynasty in 830 AD, and successors of Rakai Pikatan continued to develop the temple complex, the minister said.
As time went by, conflicts and disasters plagued the region, causing the temple to be abandoned. Despite the abandonment, the temple structure continued to stand, he added.
Plate expounded that since its rediscovery in the early 1700s, Prambanan Temple has continued to face challenges despite various efforts made by the government, scientific institutions, and members of the society to restore and reconstruct it. The latest major restoration project was conducted in 2009, a few years after the Yogyakarta earthquake of 2006, he added.
"We hope that during Indonesia's Presidency, we can also survive and thrive beyond these difficult times to achieve the Recover Together, Recover Stronger goal," the minister remarked. (Antaranews)
May
Easing of mask rule must be supported with vigilance: ministry
Written by Nur Yasmin
The easing of the government's mask policy must be supported with vigilance and health protocol compliance, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Mohammad Syahril, has said.
"This easing of the mask policy must be supported by maintaining health, one of which is by implementing the health protocols," he stressed at the Ministry of Health Building here on Wednesday.
The pandemic has taught people to maintain a high level of awareness and prevent the spread of the virus by wearing masks, maintaining a safe distance, and washing hands because COVID-19 can be transmitted through the air.
Similarly, acute hepatitis is believed to have the ability to transmit through the air and the gastrointestinal tract. "Even though the President has announced it (lifting of the mask mandate), there are still obligations that must be understood and watched out for," he emphasized.
Syahril, who also serves as the president director of the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, said that the virus can transmit to people within a radius of 1–2 meters through droplets.
He assured that the government's decision regarding the lifting of the mask mandate in open spaces has been made after long consideration.
Earlier, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin had said that the high level of awareness among people on health protocol compliance was one factor that had contributed to the government’s decision to ease more COVID-19 restrictions.
He noted that the initial step in the transition to the endemic phase is the lifting of the mask mandate in open spaces that are not crowded with people.
The government has also lifted the obligation for fully vaccinated domestic and international travelers to show a COVID-19 test result before traveling.
The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of May 18, 2022, the nation has recorded a total of 6,051,532 COVID-19 cases, 5,891,190 recoveries, and 156,498 deaths. (antaranews)
May
Pandemic-to-endemic transition under way in Indonesia: Health Minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesia is currently in the process of transitioning from the COVID-19 pandemic to the endemic phase, Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, has said.
"The transition to endemic is being done gradually, not in one go," he said in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, on Wednesday.
The efforts made by the government to achieve this include the relaxation of the health protocols, which were previously very strict. COVID-19 tests are also no longer required, and people can opt to not wear masks outdoors, he noted.
This policy will indirectly encourage people to follow the health protocols of their own volition, he said.
"All infectious diseases which have turned to endemic, one of the characteristics is that each person already understands what the disease is, maintains adherence to the health protocols, and (ways) to address it if they have been exposed," he disclosed.
Sadikin said that despite the relaxation of the mask rule while outdoors, people are being asked to adjust to the situation: if they are in a crowded environment or see friends around them with symptoms such as fever, coughing, and sneezing, they must wear masks to avoid the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
"If you feel safe and comfortable, you may just remove the mask," he added.
Reiterating President Joko Widodo's message, he said that Indonesians have shown good discipline in the use of masks, thereby helping control the spread of COVID-19.
Currently, the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has shown a decline, with almost no patients in hospitals and a low death rate.
"President Jokowi (Widodo) has just returned from America. In that country, the COVID-19 handling in Indonesia has been commended after it succeeded in reducing cases significantly," the minister added. (Antaranews)
May
UK expects Indonesian G20 Presidency to be a success: envoy
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Embassy of the United Kingdom (UK) in Indonesia has said that the UK expects Indonesia’s Presidency of G20 to be a success.
"We do hope that Indonesia will still manage to achieve all the wonderful things it has set out to achieve," Deputy British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Robb Fenn, said on the sidelines of the "Plant a Tree for the Jubilee" event at the embassy, here on Wednesday.
The G20 forum was almost perfect at the beginning, he added. The UK, as the chair of G7, and Indonesia, as the president of the G20 forum this year, also had a close agreement on maintaining continuity between the G7 and the G20 agendas, he noted.
The UK, he said, has no national objective other than helping Indonesia succeed in its G20 Presidency. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been a game-changer.
“So, that worked until Russia invaded Ukraine. And when that happened, Russia put Indonesia in a very difficult situation," he noted.
Hence, Fenn said that his country hopes that Indonesia will still manage to achieve all the wonderful things it has set out to achieve at the G20.
"Recover together, recover stronger is a brilliant motto. And it really captures the global agenda this year. And we will continue to work with Indonesia to make that happen," the deputy remarked.
However, a good next step would be to exclude Russia from the forum, he added.
"We're not going to tell President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) who he should invite but it is very difficult for many, many countries. So, this is not just the UK but for many, many countries who know what's happening in Ukraine to work with Russia as though it is business as usual," the deputy added. (Antaranews)
May
Indonesia urges DEWG to continue discussion on digital connectivity
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Indonesian government has urged the G20 Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) to continue the discussion on digital connectivity.
"I believe we have all witnessed the importance of information and communication technology in helping people cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, said at the opening of the second DEWG meeting in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.
The DEWG is part of the Indonesian G20 Sherpa Track. The working group originated with the formation of the G20 Digital Economy Task Force (DETF) in 2017 during the German G20 presidency.
Plate emphasized the importance of overcoming the digital divide by building digital connectivity or telecommunications infrastructure. During the second DEWG meeting, he asked that the discussion focus on inclusiveness, empowerment, and sustainability for strengthening the global position and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The digital divide has remained an issue until now. According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in 2021, there were 2.9 billion people across the world who had never used the Internet.
Meanwhile, according to World Bank data for Indonesia, 94 million adults could not access the Internet via mobile devices in 2019.
"The digital divide remains a challenge. Those who have access to fixed broadband Internet are even fewer," Plate pointed out.
The digital divide has become one of the reasons why the G20 DEWG forum must discuss the issue of digital connectivity. The Ministry of Communication and Informatics, which is in charge of the DEWG, is seeking to address the digital divide by strengthening collaboration so that digital infrastructure is spread between G20 member countries and the world.
The discussion on connectivity has become more relevant due to the presence of a global economic turmoil that has affected food, commodities, and energy availability, and caused the inflation rate to soar. (Antaranews)
May
Zimbabwe Vice President pays courtesy visit to Amin
Written by Nur Yasmin
Vice President Ma'ruf Amin received a courtesy visit from the first Vice President of Zimbabwe, Constantine Chiwenga, at his office on Tuesday.
“The Vice President has just received an official visit from Zimbabwe (Vice President). During the (Chiwenga’s) visit, his entourage consisted of many persons, and they had many bilateral interests (that were) conveyed to the Vice President,” vice presidential spokesperson Masduki Baidlowi said at a press conference here the same day.
The spokesperson confirmed that Chiwenga will visit some industrial sites to explore potential cooperation with Indonesia in the industry, economic, and other bilateral spheres.
Chiwenga, who is also serving as Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, also invited Amin to reciprocate his visit, he added.
"God Willing, if the Vice President has the opportunity, we will visit Zimbabwe," Baidlowi remarked.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Directorate General of Asia-Pacific and Africa, Trisari Dyah Paramita, said that the Zimbabwean Vice President will attend the 2022 Sector Ministers' Meeting (SMM) on Sanitation and Water For All, which has been organized by Indonesia.
She confirmed that Chiwenga will also visit some state-owned companies, such as PT LEN, PT Pindad, and Bio Farma, to explore the possibility of cooperation in their respective industry fields.
During Chiwenga's visit to pharmaceutical company Bio Farma in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia will promote cooperation on vaccines, medicines, and pharmacy industry development, which would make Zimbabwe a distribution hub in Africa.
During his visit to PT Pindad in Bandung, Chiwenga will be offered weapons and arms to modernize the Zimbabwean military, as well as other heavy equipment to improve the Zimbabwean mining industry.
He will also be offered cooperation to modernize the railway network in Zimbabwe during his visit to PT LEN. (Antaranews)
May
People allowed to take off masks in open spaces: President Jokowi
Written by Nur Yasmin
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) highlighted the government's decision to ease the policy of wearing masks in open spaces by taking into account the controlled COVID-19 situation in Indonesia.
"The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia is increasingly under control, and the government decides to relax the policy on wearing masks," President Jokowi stated at the Bogor Presidential Palace as seen in a video uploaded on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, on Tuesday.
However, the easing of the rules for wearing masks only applies outdoors and not in closed rooms or in means of mass transportation, he clarified.
"People engaging in outdoor activities or in open spaces are allowed to take off their masks. However, for activities in closed rooms and while using means of public transportation, they must still wear masks," Jokowi emphasized.
For people categorized as vulnerable, elderly, or have comorbid diseases, the president still recommends them to wear masks while conducting activities.
"Likewise, people having symptoms of cough and cold must wear masks during their activities," Jokowi noted.
Furthermore, domestic and foreign travelers, who have received the complete vaccination dose, are not required to conducted swab test.
"Domestic and foreign travelers, who have been fully vaccinated, need not conduct PCR or antigen swab test," the head of state stated.
Based on data from the COVID-19 Task Force as of May 16, 2022, the total number of confirmed positive cases in Indonesia increased by 182, thereby bringing the total case count to 6,050,958, while the number of active cases of COVID-19 in the country reached 4,697.
The number of recovered cases also increased by 263, thereby bringing the total to 5,889,797 cases, while the number of mortalities increased by six to reach a total of 156,464 since the COVID-19 pandemic struck Indonesia in March 2020.
For vaccination, the government has administered 199,625,406 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, 165,273,179 second doses, and 42,709,756 third doses to the community. (Antaranews)
May
Minister Sadikin hands over ASEAN Health Ministers leadership to Laos
Written by Nur Yasmin
Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin handed over the position of chair of the ASEAN Health Ministers to Laos for the 2022-2024 period on Sunday evening.
"Today is the last day that Indonesia acts as the chair of the ASEAN Health Ministers," he noted in a press conference in Nusa Dua, here.
Indonesia assumed the leadership position for the 2020-2022 period under difficult circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he remarked.
As a result, the agenda to hold a physical meeting between representatives of member countries can only be realized on May 11-15, 2022, in Nusa Dua.
"We do not have the opportunity to conduct a physical meeting. This is the first physical meeting throughout Indonesia's leadership because our previous meetings had been virtual ones," he pointed out.
Despite this, Indonesia managed to realize two important achievements: ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) as well as health protocol harmonization across ASEAN countries.
"I believe that despite all the flaws during the COVID-19 pandemic, we still managed to complete these," Sadikin emphasize.
ACPHEED is formed within the framework of developing regional preparedness and response system in better handling the people's emergency health situation in future.
The three pillars of ACPHEED will be surveillance or detection, response, and risk management. These pillars will be supported by three ASEAN representative countries: Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.
In general, ACPHEED's work principle is similar to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"In addition to handling disease emergency, it also has extraordinary events' risk management," the minister explained.
Meanwhile, the harmonization of health protocols was implemented through the COVID-19 vaccination certificate acknowledged by all ASEAN member countries.
Indirectly, this vaccination certificate can assist in driving economic activities to ensure the revival of business, including tourism, after the COVID-19 pandemic. It can also facilitate travel for ASEAN citizens.
Sadikin expects that Laos' leadership in future can be better than Indonesia due to more stable conditions that can lead to more physical meetings to be held.
"This is the best achievement that we can record. We surmount the pandemic and handle vaccination first after this," he remarked. (Antaranews)
May
APEC auto industry pushes uptake of new-technology vehicles
Written by Nur Yasmin
APEC member economies have been intensifying coordination to develop measures to promote the uptake of new-technology vehicles to meet climate commitments and realize the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 of a sustainable Asia-Pacific.
APEC officials and senior auto industry representatives convened in Bangkok last week to deliberate on the benefits of environmental and vehicle safety regulatory cooperation, convergence and harmonization in advancing trade facilitation, as well as the promotion of connectivity in the region, according to a press release issued by the APEC Automotive Dialogue, on Monday.
The APEC Automotive Dialogue is a forum for industry and government to discuss a broad range of issues that affect auto trade.
"In line with the bio-circular-green (BCG) economy model, as part of APEC 2022 priorities, the region’s auto industry should seize the momentum and push ahead with our net-zero and low-emission commitment to contribute to economic recovery and address global environmental concerns," deputy director general of Thailand’s Office of Industrial Economics, Krit Chansuwan, said in his remarks at the APEC Automotive Dialogue.
"While electric vehicles have been the go-to solution for the auto industry to achieve a net-zero or low-carbon future, we need to remember that each APEC economy is unique, therefore, we need multiple approaches to achieve our climate commitments," he added.
Chansuwan said that both policy makers and industry players recognize the critical role of policy because, without it, the industry will not be able to fast-track technology deployment and make the necessary transition.
APEC member economies have made notable progress in the past years in transitioning to electric vehicles through the redevelopment of regulatory regimes, common standards, and targets to encourage the shift to a low-carbon-vehicles option.
However, more needs to be done as member economies race to achieve their commitment to reducing global carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent, from 2010 levels, by 2030.
During the APEC Automotive Dialogue, officials and industry experts deliberated policies to reduce the price of new-technology vehicles, with a focus on tax credits, subsidies, and rebates, among others.
They recognized the urgent need to incentivize innovation, research and development, and manufacturing and recycling components of new-technology vehicles, such as batteries and semiconductors, the press release stated.
The dialogue also brought out the challenges surrounding charging infrastructure, where industry representatives recommended that support from policy makers in developing and funding electric vehicle charging plans—to a point that charging ports are well-located and can be easily accessed—will smoothen the transition and boost market confidence.
Participants at the dialogue also agreed that having stable, transparent, and predictable carbon dioxide-emission targets and regulations will provide a clear direction and signal to long-term industry players and investors that these shifts can be made progressively.
The dialogue will continue collaborating with other APEC groups such as the Energy Working Group and Transportation Working Group to identify and integrate new and emerging sustainable transportation and mobility technology and services. (Antaranews)
May
Global religious leaders issue declaration on common human values
Written by Nur Yasmin
Global religious leaders have issued a declaration on common human values to affirm the centrality of religion for every civilization.
The activities of the forum themed "Common Values among Followers of Religions,” which brought together senior Muslim scholars and leaders from the countries of the Islamic world and Muslim minority countries, were wrapped up in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to a statement received from the Union of OIC News Agencies here on Monday.
Based on common religious principles and international conventions seeking the embodiment of human values in a serious and honest spirit, the forum issued the Declaration of Common Human Values, in which the participants agreed to affirm the centrality of religion for every civilization due to its influence in “shaping the ideas of human societies.”
The participants held the most important international religious event under the umbrella of the Muslim World League. The main representatives of the followers of all religions besides several religious and intellectual leaders attended the event.
They stressed the need to not link religion with the wrongdoings of some followers, and to not employ religion for worldly purposes.
In the declaration, the participants stressed the growing global need to activate international mechanisms for conflict resolution through "a serious will, strong determination, and wise measures."
They also agreed that the religious specifics of every religion or sect should be understood and dealt with as they represent human diversity covered by the Creator’s wisdom in difference.
The participants denounced the thesis of the clash of civilizations, and attempts to impose religious, cultural, political, and economic hegemony "without merit or morals."
They condemned “hatred and racism" as the greatest instigators of violence, terrorism, and division.
Through the declaration, they also recommended the establishment of an international coalition through an honest, just, and effective will to serve humanity with all its rights, along with underscoring the common values that bind everyone together as the main starting point for this important human construction.
The participants urged responsible national and international institutions to work hard on everything that would guarantee freedoms within the framework of respecting the relevant international and national laws, maintaining family cohesion that represents the nucleus of society, and taking care of the quality of education.
They called upon various platforms of influence, especially the media, to understand the moral honesty entrusted to them as the most influential element for directing public opinion, and appealed to nation states and the international community to make all possible efforts to provide adequate protections for places of worship, ensure free access to them, preserve their spiritual role, and distance them from intellectual and political conflicts and sectarian strife.
The participants also called upon religious institutions around the world to encourage moderate discourses and reject extremist ones that incite hatred.
The participants announced the launch of a global forum themed "Religious Diplomacy Forum for Building Bridges,” based on the centrality of the influence of religions on human societies, as well as the launch of The Encyclopedia of Common Human Values.
They called upon the United Nations General Assembly to establish a world day for human denominators, as a meeting point for the unifying values that can help achieve human fraternity.
Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, announced the forum's launch in his opening speech. He expressed his pleasure at meeting with a group of prominent religious leaders from "around the world" and a selection of active partners, and contribute to strengthening the peace in our world and the harmony of its national societies.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Emirates Council for Sharia Fatwas, Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, said that the forum represents a new step in the path of common religious action where various religions gather to embody their agreement on universal values, the values of peace, solidarity, and justice, and search for ways to deepen this through practical initiatives.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Dr. Shawki Allam, made clear that earth construction and benefits from its bounties could not be achieved if the relationship among the followers of religions was one of disharmony and hatred.
Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Ecumenical, Bartholomew, affirmed that "the best way to reach peace is sincere religious dialogue," stressing total rejection of the theory of the "inevitable conflict" among civilizations. (Antaranews)