VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The coronavirus epidemic is putting up to 50 million jobs in the global travel and tourism sector at risk, with international travel likely to slump by a quarter this year, the World Travel and Tourism Council projected on Friday (Mar 13). 

The coronavirus outbreak "clearly presents a significant threat to the industry as a whole, to those employed within it, and those wishing to continue travelling," it said in a statement.

The equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel in 2020 "could lead to a corresponding reduction in jobs of between 12 per cent and 14 per cent", it said in a statement, also calling on governments to remove or simplify visas wherever possible, cut travel taxes and introduce incentives once the epidemic is under control. The tourism industry accounts for 10 per cent of the world's GDP and jobs//CNA 

Iran announced on Friday (Mar 13) that the new coronavirus has claimed another 85 lives, the highest single-day death toll in one of the world's worst-affected countries.

"Sadly, 85 people infected with the COVID-19 disease have died in the past 24 hours", bringing to 514 the overall number of deaths in Iran, health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said in a televised news conference. 

"Across the country, at least 1,289 infected people have been added to the list of confirmed patients," said Jahanpour.

"The total number of patients has therefore reached 11,364 cases," he said, adding Tehran province had the most new infections.

The outbreak in Iran is one of the deadliest outside China, where the disease originated. Several politicians and officials both sitting and former, have been infected, with some dying from the illness. The latest suspected case of infection was Ali Akbar Velayati, who advises Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on foreign policy. Velayati fell ill with "mild symptoms" on Wednesday and has been placed in quarantine, according to Tasnim news agency//CNA

Deputy Indonesian House Speaker Aziz Syamsudin has urged the government to tighten ports of entry across the country as a precautionarymeasure to stem the spread of the coronavirus, after the government confirmed cases of the virus entering the country from abroad. Each port of entry in Indonesia, such as airports equipped with thermal scanners, Mr Aziz said at the parliament building,on Thursday. However, he questioned why foreign nationals with positive coronavirus infections could enter Indonesia. Hence, the government should pay attention to airports at the country's main tourist destinations, such as Bali, Yogyakarta, Jakarta and Batam. The government should tighten entry at the airports in such a way that no foreign national with a positive coronavirus infection could enter the country, he added//ANT

The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and the Jakarta Japan Clubdiscussed cooperation in the development of Indonesian human resources, particularly concerning their entrepreneurship skills.

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said this cooperation is related to various programs including vocation, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship. The two sides also discussed a program designed to send certified skilled Indonesian workers to Japan.Japan is one of the countries supporting the development of Indonesian human resources as the country has many businesses and industries in Indonesia.

Some 730 Japanese industries operate in Indonesia under the coordination of the Jakarta Japan Club. Hence, the programs that have been planned could be implemented properly, she said.The Indonesian government through the relevant ministry has inspected the apprenticeship program at Toyota Corporation in Japan. The program is considered quite effective in providing a positive impact on industries or companies, she added. The Indonesian government also wants the development of entrepreneurship. Moreover, the Jakarta Japan Club has so far contributed to the development of entrepreneurs as they have done in Central Java//ANT