The Palembang municipal administration in South Sumatra, Sumatra Island, has explored sister-city ties with Houston, Texas, the United States, and suggested forging cooperation in the areas of tourism, education, health, culture, and urban planning. 

"We are keen to have in place exchange programs involving experts, paramedics, students, and manpower to enhance the quality of human resources in Palembang," Harrey Hadi, head of the Palembang development planning office, remarked in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Tuesday.

Palembang has put forth a suggestion of establishing a Palembang Corner in Houston City to help promote tourism in Palembang.

Hadi is upbeat about Houston offering a program that can help improve the quality of teachers and doctors of Palembang, so they can match up to the global competency standard.

"Education and health services in Houston are highly advanced in several aspects, and it would be wonderful if there were to be a transfer of knowledge," he stated.

Speaking in connection with the cultural field, Hadi suggested that it would be an interesting if a study and seminar were to be held in Palembang, the country's oldest city, and particularly centering on life around Musi River.

Palembang is also ready to send traditional artists to perform in Houston, he noted.

Hadi also expressed hope to establish cooperation in the areas of water management and waste treatment, as Houston is highly advanced in those areas.

Palembang will give a presentation on sister-city ties and potential cooperation with Houston next week, he revealed.

Hadi is also upbeat about attracting investors to Palembang, the second-largest city on Sumatra Island.

Palembang's Human Development Index is recorded at 77.2 percent, while it clocked an economic growth rate of 6.15 percent in 2018, or surpassing the national average index and growth rate.  (ANTARA)

A Rapid Reaction Team of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has been deployed in the earthquake-affected area in South Halmahera District, Acting Head of Information Data Center and Public Relations of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Agus Wibowo, said.

"The Rapid Reaction Team has arrived in Ternate. The team used a motorboat to get to the affected location," Agus Wibowo said during a press conference in Jakarta, Monday. BNPB also dispatched an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle team to the disaster area to monitor the impact and damage caused by the earthquake.

The location of the disaster is an archipelago consisting of several islands making it quite difficult to handle and collect data on the damage.

"Since Sunday night (July 14), the regional government along with the Indonesian National Armed Force/Indonesian National Police and related agencies have handled refugees, collected and installed tents, and organized the distribution of aid," he said.

The Communication Forum for the Regional Leaders of South Halmahera District has established a post in Labuha City, the capital of South Halmahera District.

The South Halmahera District Government has set up an emergency response status for seven days that will end on Sunday, July 21.

South Halmahera District was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter Scale at a depth of 10 kilometers under sea level, 62 kilometers northeast of Labuha, North Maluku.

The earthquake occurred on Sunday, July 14, at 16.10 Western Indonesian Time at the coordinates of 0.59 degrees South Latitude and 128.06 degrees East Longitude.

The earthquake that occurred was a shallow one due to the Sorong-Bacan fault activity. The results of the analysis of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) showed that the earthquake was generated by a rock deformation with a horizontal movement structure. (ANTARA)

The trend of non-communicable disease in Indonesia has increased based on the Public Health Development Index (IPKM) issued by the Research and Development Center of the Health Ministry. The negative growth of sub-index of non-communicable diseases in 2018 compared to 2013 has shown that the health levels of Indonesians have shown a decline every year, Health Minister Nila Moeloek said here Monday.

"This is a double burden. It means that if we do nothing, the data at the center has shown that non-communicable diseases will increase," Moeloek said after the launching of the IPKM.

Based on the index, none of the non-communicable disease sub-indexes in 34 provinces have shown a good rank. Although, in general, the national index has increased.

IPKM is the result of an assessment of 30 indicators categorized in seven sub-index for each province, such as toddlers' health, reproduction health, health-concerning behavior, health service, and environmental health.

Of those sub-indexes, only non-communicable disease has shown a worsening trend.

Non-communicable diseases could be prevented by adopting a healthier style by consuming balanced food, consuming more fruits and vegetables, exercising, and having routine medical checkups, Moeloek said.

"The IPKM has shown bad results in all provinces. It means that it has become a national problem, our problem. We will ask for provincial intervention surely," the minister said, adding that the government would also need the public to improve their lifestyle. (ANTARA)

Four tourist locations namely Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Mandalika (West Nusa Tenggara), Borobudur (Central Java) and Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara) could be developed by 2020, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya has said. "There are four super priority locations namely Lake Toba, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo and Borobudur. By 2020 all infrastructure and basic utilities must be completed for attraction, access, and amenity," Yahya said after a closed-door meeting on the development of priority tourist destinations led by President Joko Widodo in Jakarta Monday.

The meeting was also attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, cabinet ministers, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor Laiskodat, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zulkieflimansyah, North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey, North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo.

"Lake Toba for instance, has been named by the UNESCO as Global Geo-Park. Access to Silangit airport would be improved. There is a toll road from Kualanamu (airport) to Lake Toba, and there is an investment of Rp6 trillion in 2020," the minister remarked.

Development in infrastructure will also be followed by efforts to improve the public mindset to serve tourists, North Sumatra Governor Edy Rahmayadi said.

Mandalika will be hosting the MotoGP, in 2021, which is a major event on the racing calendar, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zulkieflimansyah said.

"Many friends have asked me whether it is possible to build a circuit quickly. In fact, we did not design a circuit, but like in Singapore and Monaco, we can use a public road as a circuit. The development will be started in October this year and is planned to be finished next year," he said.

Mandalika also has the potential to host Formula 1 racing events, the governor believes.

"The president has asked the directors of Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) to prepare the possibility of using the MotoGP circuit to host Formula 1 races. Hence we will also have to prepare for the arrival of tourists. Since June 9 there is a direct flight from Perth to Lombok, and hopefully we can also open a direct flight from Darwin, Melbourne, and Sydney for tourism," he said.

Meanwhile, the Borobudur management has created some important agenda such as the annual Borobudur Marathon, to attract more tourists, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo said.

All hotels in the region have been fully booked for the event that will be held in November 2019, he claimed.

He has also invited residents who have 1to 2 rooms with minimum international standards to accommodate tourists during the event, Ganjar said.

East Nusa Tenggara province is a rich and attractive tourist destination, including the Komodo dragon, Governor Viktor Laiskodat said. (ANTARA)