VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Manokwari, West Papua - A joint research led to the discovery of some species of walking shark in the waters of Raja Ampat, West Papua Province, and Halmahera, North Maluku Province.

The joint research was conducted by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI); Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); University of Queensland, Australia; University of Florida, the US; and Conservation International (CI).

"Six of the walking shark species in the world can be found in Indonesia. This means Indonesia is home to walking sharks. These species are endemic, so the Indonesian government will need to ensure the preservation of the habitat of these unique sharks," Fahmi, a member of the research team, noted in a statement here on Thursday.

The research indicated that walking shark was the latest species to evolve some nine million years ago, thereby making them the youngest shark species as most of them evolved 200 million years ago.

"We found that the change in sea levels coupled with new formation of coral reefs and land have played their roles," researcher at the University of Queensland Dr Christine Dudgeon noted.

Walking shark species in Indonesia was first discovered in 1824 in Raja Ampat Islands (Hemiscyllium freycinetti). In 2008, two species of walking shark were described: H. henryi from Kaimana and H. galei from Cendrawasih Bay.

In 2013, scientists discovered the H. halmahera species in Halmahera.

Rather than swim around, these small bottom-dwelling sharks in fact “walk” by using their pectoral and pelvic fins, thereby making it easier for them to poke their heads under coral and rocks in search of small fish, snails, and crustaceans to eat.

Senior Director Marine Program Conservation International Victor Nikijuluw stated that coastal activities were not the sole threat to the survival of the species but also land-derived waste and uncontrolled coastal development.

"These activities can damage coral reef that has become the main habitat for walking sharks," Nikijuluw stated, highlighting the need for an integrated conservation program, both on land and at sea, to ensure survival of the species. (ANTARA)

Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a courtesy call from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss several areas of bilateral cooperation including the supply of clean water in several regions of Indonesia. "I appreciate the cooperation in clean water supply. The project was completed in December 2019 and was carried out in 36 regions of 12 provinces in Indonesia," President Jokowi said in his address during the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta Thursday.

The President said the government will consider a plan to develop three hospitals in cooperation with Hungary.

He also invited Hungary to invest in e-toll cooperation.

Prime Minister Orban arrived at the palace at around 4.30 p.m. local time and was greeted by President Jokowi.

The two leaders later held a bilateral meeting. During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, and Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono.

In September 2019, Marsudi and her Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto agreed to encourage business intensity and accelerate the completion of the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (I-EU CEPA). (ANTARA) 

Jakarta - Some 105,396,460 million people have been included on the list of eligible voters (DP4) for the 2020 simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada), Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian stated.

"This year, the DP4 we submitted contains 105,396,460 residents constituting 52,778,939 men and 52,617,521 women," Karnavian remarked while handing over the list to the General Election Commission (KPU) here on Thursday.

This year, Pilkada will be simultaneously organized in 270 regions, comprising nine provinces, 224 districts, and 37 cities.

"As we submit the list, we are optimistic of the KPU utilizing the population data properly and concurrently keeping them confidential in line with the laws and regulations," he stated.

Earlier, the home affairs minister admitted to have proactively prepared DP4 to serve as a material for synchronizing the voter list.

"In future, we will support the KPU responsively, notably when it is requested by the Commission, and not proactively, as we also view the independence of the KPU," he explained.

KPU Chair Arief Budiman stated that the voter data was one of the vital matters for the KPU in organizing elections.

"In addition to the voting and counting of votes as well as the registration of candidates, the voter data is one of the important matters for the KPU in the election process," he remarked.

The KPU will utilize the data received from the Home Affairs Ministry for synchronization of the final eligible voter data list (DPT) and data updating.

On September 23, 2019, the Commission officially launched the process of holding the Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) simultaneously in 2020. (ANTARA)

Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara - The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provincial administration launched the Lombok-Sumbawa 2020 Calendar of Tourism Events in a bid to facilitate the promotion of its tourist destinations and activities.

Themed "Goes To MotoGP 2021" of Lombok and Sumbawa, the launch took place at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (Jan 22), the NTB government's tourism office noted in a statement here on Thursday.

Deputy Governor of NTB Sitti Rohmi Djalilah revealed that NTB will target quality tourists rather than the quantity of travelers to boost foreign exchange earnings.

Djalilah called on the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to support NTB as a halal tourism destination that caters to the needs of investors and visitors, both Muslim and non-Muslim, so they would stay longer and return to NTB in future.

In the meantime, during the launch ceremony, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio highlighted the importance of jointly maintaining stability and security in the region to build a positive image of NTB’s tourism.

NTB has 16 big agendas outlined in this year’s NTB Calendar of Tourism Events, of which three are included in the national-scale wonderful events promoted by the ministry internationally through the Indonesian Calendar of Tourism Events 2020.

The three events are the Bau Nyale 2020 Festival to be held on February 9-15, 2020; Ramadan (Fasting Month) Khazanah Enchantment Festival 2020 during Ramadan (April-May), and Taliwang Festival to be organized in November 2020. (ANTARA)