VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOI, Jakarta -  The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) has agreed to collaborate with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on strengthening biodiversity data and information databases to support the development of the new national capital Nusantara.

OIKN head Bambang Susantono and BRIN head Laksana Tri Handoko signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the cooperation at the OIKN Office here on Thursday.

"Nusantara will be a city development model that prioritizes collaborative principles," Susantono said.

The results of research and expeditions carried out by BRIN will strengthen the database and information needed for developing Indonesia's new capital, he added.

BRIN's collaboration with OIKN will include research on biodiversity, environmental governance, culture, archeology, and technology.

In 2024, BRIN will carry out an interdisciplinary expedition on the island of Kalimantan, including the area where Nusantara is being built.

Like BRIN's previous expedition in Papua near the border with Papua New Guinea, the expedition to Kalimantan Island will involve researchers from several fields, including biology, archeology, and geology.

"We are focusing on Kalimantan and Nusantara because it is part of the Wallace Line, there is an area where we have never carried out an expedition," Handoko informed.

He added that the expedition aims to make new findings on animals and plants that can enrich BRIN's knowledge.

Earlier, BRIN informed that 20 percent of power generation in Nusantara city will come from green hydrogen by 2038.

The use of green hydrogen in Nusantara is one of the efforts to achieve net-zero emissions (NZE) by 2060, based on President Joko Widodo's directive.

In addition, other potential non-carbon-producing energy sources will also be used for generating power in Nusantara.

In order to enhance the local economy around the Nusantara development area, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry recently restored a former mining site in Wonosari village, Penajam Paser Utara, so that it can be developed as an ecotourism area.(Antaranews)

VOI, Jakarta - Director general of disease prevention and control at the Ministry of Health, Maxi Rein Rondonuwu, has said that 14 confirmed cases of monkeypox (mpox) have been recorded in Indonesia so far.

"In Indonesia, as of today, October 26, 2023, there are 14 (mpox) cases that have been confirmed," he said at a press conference, which was followed online from here on Thursday.

In addition, there are 17 negative or discarded cases, 2 cases have been included in the probable category, and 9 recorded as suspected cases, he informed.

Rondonuwu explained that patients included in the probable category are people who have had contact with mpox patients, but their samples have not been taken for laboratory testing.

Meanwhile, suspected patients are those who are experiencing the same symptoms as mpox sufferers and their samples have been taken, but their laboratory results are not out yet, he added.

According to him, 9 out of the 14 people who are confirmed to have contracted mpox are in the 25–29 age bracket, while the rest are aged 30–39 years. All of them are men and they contracted the infectious disease through sexual contact.

He further said that 12 of them are homosexual, while 1 is bisexual and 1 is heterosexual.

"All of them are symptomatic. Most have lesions, fever, swollen lymph nodes, experience pain when swallowing, muscle aches, and chills," he informed.

He said that the sufferers also have comorbidities: 12 people are living with HIV, 5 people have syphilis, and 1 person has hypertension; some mpox sufferers have more than one comorbid condition.

Rondonuwu then appealed to people to remain vigilant against the disease because, so far, 4 cases have been detected outside Jakarta. Earlier, mpox cases were only recorded in Jakarta.

"Outside Jakarta, (mpox) already exists in Tangerang. Can it happen in other regions? Of course, it can," he said.

The ministry has made several efforts to handle mpox, including strengthening surveillance through epidemiological investigation, conducting whole genome sequencing (WGS) of confirmed cases, and notifying the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition, he said, it is also providing therapeutics to patients. It has been carrying out vaccinations targeting 477 recipients since October 23, 2023, and has been cooperating with various parties for carrying out risk communication to check the spread of mpox, he added.

He also highlighted the importance of implementing a clean and healthy lifestyle as well as practicing safe sex to prevent infection.

He further said that the openness of men who have sex with men (MSM) with health officers is important to trace cases so that mpox handling can be made optimal.    (Antaranews)

VOI, Jakartia - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy assured that athletes with a medal achievement at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, will get a bonus.

He made the announcement following the attainment of the medal target of 19 golds.

"I am very delighted that today the target we have set, namely 19 gold medals, has been achieved. Likewise, with the top 10 (target), we are now in 7th place," he told the press at Binjiang Gymnasium, China, on Thursday.

"Regarding bonus, of course (it will be provided). Later, we will discuss it with the CdM (Chef de Mission), the parties responsible, and we will also propose it to the President," he added.

Even though the target of 19 gold medals has been achieved, Effendy expressed the hope that the athletes who will compete until the last day of the Asian Para Games will continue to strive to make the nation proud.

"Thus, after the 19 gold medals, we only need to seek the addition. Hopefully, it could be above 25 gold medals because there are some sports with high potential for gold achievement, including para-badminton, which we are relying on," the minister said.

As of Thursday, the Indonesian contingent ranked 7th in the standings, with 19 gold, 17 silver, and 26 bronze medals.

On Thursday, Indonesia secured medals in athletics, cycling, badminton, and chess. The chess team boosted the medal tally of the Indonesian contingent with 7 gold medals.

The Indonesian contingent is aiming to finish in the top 10 at the games, with a target of 19 gold, 23 silver, and 25 bronze medals.

Indonesia is competing in 12 sports in Hangzhou: athletics, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, cycling, shooting, judo, boccia, chess, lawn bowls, archery, and table tennis.   (Antaranews)