VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 The Indonesian composite index (IHSG) of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) closed lower 41.13 points, or 0.7 percent, to 5,871.95, on Thursday evening amid the coronavirus outbreak in the past weeks in more than 25 countries outside mainland China.

In the meantime, the index of the 45 most liquid stocks, or LQ45, also plunged 6.77 points, or 0.7 percent, to 954.21.

"The market remains nervous over the outbreak, while on the domestic front, there has been no positive catalyst and the trade volume has been slightly down," Indopremier Securities analyst, Mino, said in Jakarta.

Despite the drop, Indonesia's composite index opened higher 8.83 points (0.15 percent higher), this morning, but an hour after the market opened, it dropped to the red zone throughout the day.

Before the closing, IDX recorded a net foreign buy at Rp49.43 billion, while 426,166 transactions of 6.17 billion stocks worth Rp6.81 trillion were traded today on the stock market.

Meanwhile, the regional markets that dropped this evening comprised Nikkei plunging 33.5 points, or 0.14 percent, to 23,827.7; Hang Seng index depreciating 93.7 points, or 0.34 percent to 27,730; and Straits Times index declining by 3.28 points, or 0.1 percent, to 3,220.09. (ANTARA)

South Sumatera expressed its readiness to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup because it has international standard match facilities. South Sumatera also had experience in hosting various international sports championships, South Sumatera Governor Herman Deru stated in Palembang, Wednesday.

"The Government of South Sumatera was committed and ready to host FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2021," he said.

South Sumatera also prepared to synergize with the central government for allocation of funds to comply with the required standards set by Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

"We can complete the infrastructure in one or two months," the governor said.

South Sumatera proved its commitment since the provincial government had signed an agreement as a host with PSSI at Griya Agung.

The chairman of PSSI Mochamad Iriawan visited South Sumatera to check the facility owned by its city as a host candidate.

PSSI would check the whole sporting area in Jakabaring Palembang in case any shortcomings needed to be followed up. PSSI also checked five more support stadiums.

PSSI would check the main stadium, accommodation, medical, hotel stadium distance and the distance of the stadium from the training areas.

There were 11 regions and there would be six chosen to host the U-20 World Cup. (ANTARA)

A Chinese national who was reported to be positively infected with the coronavirus and had taken a trip to Bali, did not contract the virus here, the Head of Bali Provincial Health Agency, Ketut Suarjaya, said.

"Theoretically, the tourist was not exposed to the virus in Bali since he left on January 28. He tested positive for the COVID-19 on February 5, eight days after his departure from Bali. The incubation period of the virus is normally three to seven days," Suarjaya confirmed here on Thursday.

Even if the second option of 14 days as the longest incubation period is considered, there is no positive case of coronavirus in Bali.

"Even if he brought the virus here, and it was incubated, there should have been a case reported here. But this is the 16th day, and no one has been infected. Bali remains safe," he added.

However, the agency is currently working on monitoring the tracks of the Chinese man--whose initial name is Jin-- during his trip to Bali as "according to the airline manifest, several passengers were named Jin".

As many as 20 patients were observed at the Sanglah Hospital, who were earlier suspected of being infected by the virus which initially spread in Wuhan, China.

The observation, as well as a sample test, resulted in 18 patients testing negative for the coronavirus, while another two— a Chinese and an Indonesian—are still awaiting the laboratory test results.

In the worst case, the Bali provincial government has taken several measures such as isolating patients in at least three hospitals: RSUP Sanglah, RSUD Tabanan and RS Sanjiwani Gianyar, Suarjaya emphasized.

"The standard operating procedure has been completed; medical devices, as well as the staff, are all ready. Thus, there is no need to worry even if it happens. Yet, we are all hoping it does not," Suarjaya remarked. (ANTARA)

Indonesia's government will not revoke citizenship statuses of more than 600 Indonesian nationals linked to ISIS while reaffirming that the authority has no plan to welcome them into the country due to security reasons. "We do not renounce their citizenship statuses, but they are not allowed to return to Indonesia because they were (linked to) ISIS," Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Mahfud MD said in his office in Jakarta, Thursday.

Revoking one's citizenship status must proceed through a trial, according to the former chief justice of Indonesia's Constitutional Court. "There's a legal procedure before renouncing a nationality status," he added.

On Wednesday, President Joko Widodo reaffirmed the government's stance of not allowing some 689 ex-ISIS combatants, now staying in evacuation camps in Turkey and Syria. The President further named the people as "ISIS, former Indonesian nationals".

Despite having no plan to bring back the former combatants, President Jokowi ordered his ministers to closely identify all the Indonesian nationals linked to the ISIS. The information collected will help immigration officials block them if and when they return to the country, the President remarked.

However, the Indonesian government will allow children under 10 years of age, who have no parents, to return to Indonesia.  (ANTARA)