VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 26 - Indonesian Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan held a videoconference with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, formerly US secretary of state, to discuss clean energy.

During the videoconferencing, Pandjaitan and Kerry also discussed cooperation in addressing the challenge of climate change by building climate change awareness before the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and partnership to promote global ambitions, among other things, spokesman for the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment Jodi Mahardi noted in a written statement released on Friday.

"In addition, they discussed the strategy of achieving nationally determined contributions (NDC) and the efforts to handle COVID-19," he revealed.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will soon report the latest assessment of climate crisis, and all large countries are expected to raise their climate ambitions.

The US will host a summit of world leaders on April 22 to intensify efforts to address the issue of global warming. The summit is expected to bolster the commitment to carbon reduction based on the Paris Agreement.

During the videoconference, Pandjaitan and Kerry were on the same page that both nations will not wile away time to wage a war on climate change and should work towards developing the work plan of bilateral cooperation to raise the scale and scope of climate ambitions.

Pandjaitan echoed Indonesia’s contentment to make the US a strong partner in climate action.

"Coordinating Minister Luhut also stated that he, along with the environment and forestry minister and the foreign minister, are ready to cooperate with John Kerry to strengthen the outcome of the summit (of world leaders) to be held on April 22, 2021," he affirmed.  (Antaranews)

Feb. 26 - Athletes, coaches, and support staff from 40 branches of sports were administered the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the first phase of the immunization program for athletes at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium here on Friday.

Athletes scheduled to compete in national and international championships in the near future, such as the All England Open, the Menpora Cup pre-season soccer tournament, and the Tokyo Olympics, were the first to be vaccinated, Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali said after observing the vaccination activities on Friday.

"Today's vaccines take precedence for those who are in the national training team or those who are preparing for tournament activities in the near future, such as preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and the SEA Games," the minister informed.

“Later, we will also expand to our athletes in 34 provinces who are currently preparing for the National Sports Week (PON)," he added.

Athletes from as many as 40 sports received the vaccine on Friday, including badminton, football, weightlifting, athletics, swimming, basketball, bicycle racing, besides the National Paralympic Committee (NPC).

Zainudin said he hopes that the vaccine would provide protection to athletes and coaches, and increase their self-confidence in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Indonesian swimmer I Gede Siman Sudartawa, who was one of the vaccine recipients in the first phase of the immunization program, thanked the government for prioritizing athletes. He also asked Indonesians to not be afraid of getting inoculated against COVID-19.

The government is targeting around five thousand athletes, sport officials, and support personnel in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program for sportsmen.

Vaccinations for athletes living outside Jakarta will be coordinated with the Ministry of Health and local health offices. (Antaranews)

Feb. 26 - A total of 325 hotspots indicating land and forest fires were found in West Kalimantan Province as of Friday, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Satellite image of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) showed 325 hotspots spread across several districts and municipality in West Kalimantan in the past 24 hours, ending at 7:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB), chief of the observation and information section of the local BMKG station Ismar Hadi noted in a written statement released on Friday.

Most hotspots were centered in Kubu Raya, reaching 234, followed by 27 in Mempawah; 21 in Pontianak; 20 in Sambas; 10 in Ketapang; four in Bengkayang; three in Kapuas Hulu; and two each in Landak, Kayong Utara, and Sintang.

Hadi urged the public to exercise vigil against the likely surfacing of new hotspots since the dry season had begun in several parts of West Kalimantan and to do away with slash-and-burn practices to prevent land and forest fires.

West Kalimantan Governor lSutarmidji has announced an emergency standby status for land and forest fires in the wake of the increasing number of land and forest fires in the province.

"Earlier, only the districts of Sanggau and Ketapang had declared an emergency standby status for land and forest fires after which several other districts had followed suit. Overall, West Kalimantan has declared an emergency standby status for land and forest fires," he stated.

Sutarmadji also urged other districts in West Kalimantan to declare an emergency standby status for land and forest fires to tackle smoke.

Hotspots have additionally been reported in the provinces of North Sumatra and Riau. (Antaranews)

Feb. 26 - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) emphasized that digital connectivity should uphold national sovereignty amid globalization and hypercompetitiveness.

"Digital connectivity must uphold national sovereignty in the midst of globalization and hypercompetitiveness as it is today," the head of state remarked at the launch of the 2021 Digital Connectivity Program and the COVID-19 National Vaccination Movement Stamps at the State Palace here on Friday.

The president emphasized that digital self-reliance and sovereignty must become a crucial principle in digital transformation in Indonesia.

Furthermore, digital transformation must aid in boosting the level of domestic components, the utilization of domestic products, and encourage the mastery of the latest digital technology by every Indonesian, he affirmed.

"I hope that the 2021 digital connectivity program would become an important momentum to connect Indonesia with new technology, mindset, and global business opportunities, as well as a new future towards an advanced Indonesia," he affirmed.

President Jokowi had earlier stated that digital transformation should target millions of micro-, small-, and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) since it is a gateway for them to enter the digital marketplace and become part of the national and global supply chain.

"The data I have shows an increase of 10 to 15 percent in online sales transactions. This strengthens the national campaign to buy MSME products offered in e-commerce. Moreover, eight million of the 60 million MSMEs are connected with digital markets," the head of state noted.

Jokowi called for the need to intensify the digital transformation campaign to cover more MSMEs to join e-commerce.

To this end, the president called for more training to be imparted to MSMEs to enable them to apply digital technology. (Antaranews)