VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo admitted that he had a conversation via telephone with President of  China,  Xi Jinping on Tuesday night (12/2). To journalists at the State Palace, Jakarta on  Wednesday (13/2), President Joko Widodo explained that in his conversation with President Xi Jinping, he conveyed condolences for the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. COVID-19 is a new virus named  by WHO (World Health Organization), a type of Corona Virus which is endemic to China. President Joko Widodo also expressed optimism that China will be able to overcome the COVID-19 problem in a short time. The President also explained that Indonesia is ready to provide assistance if needed by China.

"I had conversation on telephone with Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Firstly, I expressed condolences and sympathy to the victims of the corona virus in China.  Then, I said that Indonesia will always be with China in a difficult time like this. I also stated that Indonesia believes that China  can solve the corona virus problem quickly. That's  what I conveyed to President Xi Jinping," President Joko Widodo said.  

Previously, a number of media in China stated that  President Xi Jinping on Tuesday night (11/2) had communicated with President Joko Widodo. President Xi assured President Joko Widodo that China has won the war against COVID-19. Xi also expressed his appreciation for the attention given by the Indonesian government to China. He further said as a friendly country, Indonesia and China must walk hand in hand for progress. (Ndy)

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mrs Lyudmila Vorobieva, at a press conference at her home in Jakarta on Wednesday (12/2), said she was optimistic about upcoming Indonesia-Russia defense dealings, which would include a navy force training program and 100 navy ships commissioned from Russia. The program, which was agreed amidst the two country’s 70^th anniversary celebrations of their relations, was signed off after meetings between Russian and Indonesian defense delegates.

“As I always say, Indonesia is our friend, and we want our friends to have the best. We produce all kind of equipment, any kind. Any kind of equipment Indonesia has, we can supply, but we respect the right of Indonesia to choose from who and what they buy,” the Ambassador said.

The countries have a long history of defense relations, with past deals centring around Indonesia’s arms purchases from Russia. Indonesia’s current efforts to improve their defense forces aim to safeguard their valuable territorial waters, such as the Malacca Strait, a major trade route in the Asia-Pacific under Indonesian administration. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva said she was excited for future deals between her country and Indonesia, particularly with furthering defense agreements alongside goods trading such as Indonesian palm oil imports to Russia.

“We just want to have cooperation that makes both of our countries stronger,” Ambassador Vorobieva said. (VOI/Laura Green)

The loss of wild animals' natural habitat and forest clearance underway, the likelihood of viral transmission from wild animals to humans increases since they trespass into human settlements in search of food, a researcher stated.

"Forests being cleared for development, including farming and mining, has the potential to wipe out wild animals' habitat, so they will intrude into human settlements and transmit virus," senior researcher at the Primate Study Center of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Joko Pamungkas stated during a seminar on anticipating coronavirus COVID-19: from Eijkman Institute for Indonesia in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Undoubtedly, the growing population will result in virus-carrying animals and human beings living in greater proximity to one another, he stated.

Bat and civet can potentially transmit the coronavirus to humans, he pointed out.

"Greater the biodiversity of wild animals, higher the potential or risk they may have as reservoir or virus-carrying animals," he noted.

Pamungkas cautioned that if the habitat of wild animals gets wiped out owing to conversion of forests into farm land, it could result in them venturing closer to humans by trespassing into human settlements in pursuit of food.

"This raises the likelihood of wild animals coming into contact with humans," he stated.

To prevent the coronavirus outbreak from recurring in future, he suggested that human beings should not destroy the habitat of wild animals. (ANTARA)

A relatively thin volcanic ash fall descended on a partial slope area in Sleman District, Yogyakarta Province, after Mount Merapi erupted earlier on Thursday at around 5:16 a.m. local time.

"Two hours after the eruption, we had monitored areas affected by the ash rain in the sub-districts of Pakem and Cangkringan," Head Division of Emergency and Logistic of Local Disaster Management Body Makwan confirmed.

Makwan remarked that areas in Cangkringan Sub-district where volcanic ash rain fell are Kaliadem Lama, Kepuharjo, Kalitengah Lor, and Kalitengah Kidul in Glagaharjo, while in Pakem Sub-district, ash rain descended on Bukit Turgo and the surrounding areas.

However, the situation remains under control as "the people living in those areas are still going about their regular activities, while tourists are also having such a new type of experience here."

The agency is not providing masks since the affected areas are not considered to be that extensive even though the people probably continue to stock up on masks.

According to the Centre of Study and Technology Development for Geological Disaster (BPPTKG) of Yogyakarta, today's latest eruption of Mount Merapi was recorded at a maximum amplitude of 75 millimeters and a duration of 105 seconds.

It spewed volcanic ash reaching some two thousand meters high from the peak that is 4,968 meters above sea level. The ash was observed to be white to grey in color with medium intensity and leaning toward the northwest direction.

The status remains at Level II, thereby indicating to be on alert to potential hazard of "its hot cloud and volcanic materials falling, which result in any kind of activities being banned within a three-kilometer radius of Mount Merapi's peak." (ANTARA)