VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The government will continue diplomatic efforts with Japanese authorities to ensure the smooth evacuation of 74 Indonesian nationals aboard the Diamond Princess cruise liner in Japan's Yokohama waters, President Joko Widodo stated.

"This is a process of diplomacy between Indonesia and Japan, and we are sending our inquiries, but they have yet to answer. We hope there can be a decision taken soon so we can also make a decision," President Joko Widodo said n the District of Pelalawan in Riau, Friday. 

The Diamond Princess cruise liner has been under quarantine after several passengers and crew members were infected with the coronavirus or the COVID-19, including four Indonesian nationals who are currently being treated in a hospital in Japan. There is a total of 78 Indonesians working as crew members and aside from the four being treated, the rest of the 74 Indonesians are still on the ship. In a statement received in Jakarta, Thursday, February 20, the President said that the government continued to ensure that all Indonesian citizens were treated in accordance with the World Health Organization's protocols. Indonesia, through the embassy in Japan, is also communicating with all Indonesian citizens who are still on the cruise ship. The Indonesian embassy also provides logistical assistance and coordinates with several relevant parties to ensure protection for Indonesian citizens.(ANT)

The UK's first industrial contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) will be delivered on Tuesday. As quoted by bbc.com (Feb18) the communications antenna is part of a consignment of supplies that is due to arrive on a Cygnus freighter. Made by MDA UK, the Columbus Ka-band (COLKa) Terminal will enable astronauts to connect with scientists and family on Earth at home broadband speeds. The equipment will be fixed to the exterior of Europe's ISS science module in a few weeks' time. This should improve substantially on current arrangements for radio links. David Kenyon,  managing director of Oxfordshire-based MDA UK, told BBC News that at the moment, the communications from Columbus go through the American data relay satellites, but those satellites are prioritised for US use. This gives Europe some independence. Although Britain was an original signatory to the 1998 treaty that brought the International Space Station into being, the country never got involved in building the platform.  Indeed, it pretty much walked away from the project right at the outset, preferring to spend its civil space budget in other areas of space exploration//  Voi.bbc.com 

Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 70,000 cases of Covid-19, in the biggest study since the outbreak began. As quoted by bbc.com on Feb18,  data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) found that more than 80 percent of the cases have been mild with the sick and elderly most at risk. The research also points to the high risk for medical staff. The findings put the overall death rate of the Covid-19 virus at 2.3 percent.  In Hubei, the worst affected province, the death rate is 2.9% compared with only 0.4 percent in the rest of the country. China's latest official figures released on Tuesday (Feb18) put the overall death toll at 1,868 and 72,436 infections. Officials said there were 98 new deaths and 1,886 new cases in the past day, 93 of those deaths and 1,807 of the infections were in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak. More than 12,000 people have recovered, according to Chinese authorities// Voi.bbc.com

Indonesian President Joko Widodo wants Dubai World Expo 2020, in which Indonesia will be participating, to become a hub and bridge of Indonesia's economy with countries in the Middle East and Africa as emerging economies. President Jokowi, in a limited meeting on the topic of the Hannover Messe 2020 Preparation and the Dubai 2020 World Expo, at the Presidential Office in Jakarta, Monday as quoted by Antara News Agency explained that  Indonesia should be able to take advantage of its participation in the event, to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021. He further said this is an opportunity to promote Indonesia's economic potential// The event, which was deemed as the world's biggest agenda after the World Cup and the Olympics, would be attended by 192 participants from various countries.  It is also expected to be attended by 25 million visitors from all parts of the world. He also said  this can be a hub, a place to build an economic bridge with countries in the Middle East and Africa as emerging economies// Voi.Ant