VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Indonesian composite index (IHSG) of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) opened higher at 11.47 points, or 0.19 percent, to 5,963.55, Tuesday morning, and projected to continue strengthening daylong amid the global markets' positive sentiment.

"Positive trends in global markets and the US stock market may push the IHSG to rebound today," Valbury Securities Head of Research, Alfiansyah, noted in Jakarta. He added that the US stock market had grown stronger since earlier this week amid a release season of the company's earnings report.

In the meantime, the index of the 45 most liquid stocks, or LQ45, in the Indonesia Stock Exchange, also climbed 3.36 points, or 0.35 percent, to 971.7.

Despite a positive trend in the global market, investor concerns remained rife over the Coronavirus outbreak that has infected at least 25 countries outside mainland China. Several company representatives canceled some international meetings owing to the outbreak.

While Japan's Nikkei was closed for a holiday, regional markets that rose this morning comprised Hang Seng, climbing 333 points, or 1.22 percent, to 27,574.3, and the Straits Times Index, rising by 25.44 points, or 0.8 percent, to 3,188.59. (ANTARA)

Some 24 hotspots were detected in Aceh Province and had the potential to cause forest fires, according to the Climatology, Geophysics and Meteorology Agency (BMKG).

The hotspots were monitored by the Terra, Aqua, NPP Suomi satellites, Zakaria Ahmad, the Data and Information Section head of the Banda Aceh BMKG Station, stated on Monday

"Based on the satellite data, most hotspots are in Southeast Aceh and Gayo Lues, with a confidence level of 63-82 percent," he remarked.

The 24 hotspots had emerged since Sunday (Feb 9), as the weather in Aceh was quite hot and sunny.

The temperature in regions, such as Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, Aceh Besar, Bener Meriah, Subulussalam, Central Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, and Aceh Jaya, had reached up to 33 degrees Celsius, with low-intensity rainfall.

"Hence, we urge the local people to not set fire to clear land for farming, as it could lead to forest fires and trigger haze in Aceh," Ahmad stated.

According to a report from the Aceh Disaster Management Office (BPBA) on Monday, wildfire burned a half-hectare land in Mon Ikeun Lhoknga, Aceh Besar District.

The fire allegedly arose from the unsupervised burning of trash, so the fire expanded rapidly and spread around the area, as the weather was hot at the time.

"In addition to Aceh Besar, wildfires also occurred in Southeast Aceh, Aceh Jaya, and peatland areas in South Aceh. However, the fires have already been extinguished," Sunawardi, Aceh BPBA chief executive, stated. (ANTARA)

Sixty Army personnel are readied to evacuate victims of MI 17 helicopter that crashed around Mandala Mountain in Pegunungan Bintang District, Papua Province.

The Army personnel arrived in Oksibil to evacuate the victims using three Army helicopters, Chief Commander of the Cendrawasih Regional Military Command XVII Lt. Col. Dax Sianturi said on Tuesday morning.

Dax who is now in Oksibil said he had no idea when exactly the victims will be evacuated since the crash site is on a cliff with 90 degree slope.

"Today (Tuesday/Feb 11) the evacuation team still conducted an aerial survey to find a location to airdrop the personnel who will evacuate the victims," he said.

He expressed the hope the weather would be good since the cliff is located 11,000 feet above sea level

It is believed the MI 17 helicopter was connected to the Indonesian Army Aviation Center and carried 12 passengers including five members of infantry battalion 725/WRG.

The helicopter reportedly lost contact during its flight from Oksibli to Sentani on June 28, 2019. (ANTARA)

Local climber Reyhan Fadila slipped into a ravine while descending the peak of Mount Marapi near the Abel Monument area in West Sumatra Province though survived following rescue and evacuation by a team of rescuers and mountaineers, Sunday evening.

This 17-year-old climber suffered wounds on his head and body, Coordinator of Limapuluh Kota District's Search and Rescue Agency Post Robi Saputra told ANTARA on being contacted from Bukittinggi, West Sumatra Province, on Monday.

"The evacuation process was conducted until midnight. He has been evacuated to a local Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) office located not that far from the Koto Baru climbing checkpoint," Saputra stated.

Some 25 rescuers, representing the Limapuluh Kota SAR office, Bukittinggi Rescue Team, Indonesian Red Cross, and local community of climbers joined this search and rescue mission, he revealed.

Fadila, who scaled the peak of the 2,891-meter-high mountain along with his friend, will be rushed to the Achmad Muchtar Hospital in Bukittinggi for receiving medical treatment, he added. (ANTARA)