VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Bambang Soesatyo has called for vigilance against possible natural disasters.

Every district and city administration must consolidate and coordinate its disaster mitigation office (BPBD) to anticipate natural disasters, he said in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday.

"Every regional head whose region is prone to natural disaster must remain vigilant and cautious. Every element in BPBD must begin consolidation and anticipation," he said.

He urged anticipatory measures following a series of earthquakes in Banda, Bengkulu, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and the Sunda Strait on Jan 10 and 11, 2019.

Moreover, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned that there is a potential tsunami in the Sunda Strait.

"Besides earthquakes, several volcanoes have been erupting, such as Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Mount Agung in Bali, and Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta. In addition to, whirlwinds have also been reported in several regions," he stated.

The earthquakes and volcano eruptions so far did not pose serious threats, but the House Speaker asked the local governments to remain vigilant and prepared.

The local disaster mitigation officers must actively communicate with BMKG officers to minimize the number of victims of natural disasters such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, he said.

On Dec 22, 2018, Mount Anak Krakatau erupted and a huge part of its southern flank collapsed and slid into the ocean.

The flank collapse triggered a tsunami that killed at least 437 people and rendered 23 others missing in five districts in Lampung and Banten Provinces.

Indonesia is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, as it is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where a large number of volcanoes and earthquakes occur.

During the January-December 2018 period, a total of 2,427 natural disasters hit Indonesia, leaving at least 4,821 people dead or missing, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB). (ANTARA)

The government of West Java Province and South Korea will establish an international coffee school in a bid to promote coffee along with tourism of West Java.

"Coffee and tourism promotion to the world are the two things to be collaborated," West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil noted in Bandung, West Java on Saturday, Jan 12.

The idea was discussed at a meeting between Kamil and Korean Sung Kyul University`s President Dong Cheoul Yoon, who is also a representative of the International Coffee Association, at the Pakuan Building in Bandung on Friday.

"The most anticipated (cooperation) is the international coffee school with networking from Korea, as Koreans are one of most coffee addicts in Asia," he pointed out.

Kamil said he had sought partnership with Korea to build the coffee school, with the hope of opening a special cafe in Korea that only serves coffee from West Java.

In the near future, the West Java government will find three locations in the mountain area, with beautiful scenery, to build the school.

"Hopefully, this would improve the quality of our coffee that would also make our economy robust," Kamil noted. (ANTARA)

The trade value of Indonesia and Cuba during January to October 2018 reached more than 13 million US Dollars. The two countries must have benefited a lot from trade relations. This was conveyed by the Indonesian Minister of Manpower, Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri in his remarks representing the Indonesian government on the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in JakartaFriday night (Jan 11). Minister Dhakiri hopes that the collaboration can be further improved because there are still many opportunities that can be explored from the trade relationship.

“In terms of trade, Indonesia and Cuba together have managed to reach more than 13 Million US Dollars during the period of January to October 2018. I believe we are both benefited from the trade and there are still many opportunities to be further explored to increase our economic ties," said Dhakiri.

On the occasion, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri said Indonesia would continue to support the UN Resolution on the Necessity to End the economic, trade and financial embargoes imposed by the United States against Cuba. Indonesia understands that Cuban people are certainly suffered socially and economically due to the embargo. The Indonesian government considers that the embargo is not in line with international law, human rights, the UN Charter and the spirit of the 2030 Agenda. For this reason the Indonesian government underlines the need to hold dialogue to stop the embargo and support efforts to normalize the US-Cuba relations. (VOI/AHM)

Bilateral relations between Indonesia and Cuba have been established for 59 years. Indonesia's bilateral relations with Cuba were strengthened by President Soekarno's visit to Cuba in 1960, followed by a visit by President Abdurahman Wahid in 2000 and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2006. The two countries have also been active in the Non-Aligned Movement and G-77. Regarding the embargo sanctions imposed by the United States against Cuba since 1960, the Cuban government expressed its gratitude to the Indonesian government for its permanent support towards the resolution to end the United States embargo on Cuba. This was conveyed by the Cuban Ambassador to Indonesia Nirsia Castro Guevara in her remarks on the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, in Jakarta Friday night (Jan 11).

"I thank this opportunity to express Cuba's gratitude to the Indonesian government for the permanent and sustained support for the resolution entitled Necessity of Ending the Economic, commercial and financial embargoes imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," Nirsia said.

Regarding the cooperation between the two countries in the economic field, Ambassador Nirsia acknowledged, even though there has been cooperation in the field of sports and public health sector, the two countries have not managed to take advantage of it. However, Indonesia and Cuba still wish to further increase the collaboration. (VOI / AHM)