The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) launched expedition Indonesia PRIMA to the Indian Ocean for Nov 12-Dec 10, 2019, to further explore the less-identifiable depth of 70,560,000-square-kilometer waters, chairwoman Dwikorita Karnawati stated in Jakarta, Monday.

"We still have several mysteries, black holes in the Indian Ocean," she remarked while adding that the expedition aimed at gaining a better understanding of the air-sea interaction in the Indian Ocean, mainly by utilizing a sonar-based multibeam echo sounder (MBS) tracking system.

Karnawati expounded that the device will facilitate researchers to study the Indian Ocean's bathymetry or the underwater profile in the seafloor. As a key factor of biological oceanography, the results of bathymetric surveys will enable researchers to measure the depth of a water body along with its underwater features.

The depth and seafloor's characteristics will further reveal information, one of which includes organisms inhabiting the seabed of the Indian Ocean.

The Indonesia PRIMA expedition, an abbreviation of the Indonesia Program Initiative on Maritime Observation and Analysis, was a multi-year program established by Indonesia's BMKG and the Maryland-based the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an American scientific agency under the United States Department of Commerce.

In addition to conducting research on Indian Ocean’s bathymetry, the expedition team was tasked with renewing some buoys or moorings in the waters. Buoy is a multi-purpose floating device that measures an entire range of weather variables, including wind speed, direction, and air and water temperature, as well as detects and launches an early warning system of tsunami.

The expedition team, comprising two NOAA marine experts, 12 BMKG researchers, three scholars, and four experts of the Assessment and Application of Technology Agency, will sail with a research vessel KR Baruna Jaya I for at least a month. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received several members of the General Election Commission (KPU) executive board at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

At the meeting that began at around 9:30 a.m. local time, KPU Chief Arief Budiman reported on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections held on April 17, 2019, to the president.

"In line with Law No. 7 of 2017, the KPU is obliged to report on the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections (to the president). Today, we fulfilled the obligation as set forth in the law," Budiman remarked at the meeting.

During the meeting, Budiman also handed over a report on the implementation of general elections to the head of state.

In addition to the implementation of the presidential and legislative elections, the KPU and president also discussed simultaneous regional head elections to be organized next year.

Budiman unveiled a plan to discuss good governance of the KPU.

During the meeting, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

Minister of Research and Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro stated that Indonesia needs to take example of technology and innovation made by other countries, such as the one made by South Korea.

"There is no harm in us imitating or adapting the South Korean model called From Imitation to Innovation ," he said when delivering a speech at the Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya, Sunday.

This strategy has already been carried out by South Korea until it was able to become one of the developed countries in Asia that can compete with other developed countries in the world.

In the 1950s South Korea was one of the poorest countries in Asia, along with Indonesia. However, it only took about 40 years for South Korea to become a developed country.

"It means that we are still left behind and we need a strategy to bump up Indonesia's status and competitiveness among other countries," he said.

Generally, a country can progress by intensifying the development of science, technology, and innovation. Therefore, Indonesia needs to implement the 'From Imitation to Innovation' strategy to fulfill its ambitions to progress.

However, he continued, after following the progress of science and technology in developed countries, Indonesia must continue to develop it further, as well as learn and improve along the way, so that it does not stop at a certain stage.

"We must not be imitators or imitate continuously but we must turn into innovators," he said.

In addition, the rapid development of technology also causes changes in various aspects, including the industry that is developing now and in the future, which is the  fourth industrial revolution. 

Technologies that will develop in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 include artificial intelligent, the Internet of things, augmented or wearable reality, advanced Robotic, and 3D printing.

The IR 4.0 enables the development of new digital-based economies, at the same time generating disruptive changes or innovations. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi opened a photo exhibition and archive of the 60th Anniversary of Indonesia's First President Sukarno's Visit to Vietnam and the Visit of the President of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, to Indonesia, at the National Archives Building, Friday (08/11). In her remarks Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the meeting of the two countries’ founding fathers had a strategic meaning. According to her, building a strong and sustainable friendship is a long investment and requires a strong foundation. Furthermore, the visit of the two founders of the country has a monumental meaning.

“This morning we gather here to celebrate friendship. Strong bond of friendship that is built and developed since more than 60 years ago. Building a strong and sustainable friendship is a long investment. Friendship could not be built overnight. Within this context, the friendship between our two founding fathers, President Soekarno of Indonesia and President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam has a very strategic meaning. The exchange visit between our two leaders 60 years ago has a monumental meaning. It laid the foundation to the strong bond and friendship between the two countries. It goes until now,” said Retno Marsudi.

Attending the opening of the photo and archive exhibition was the 60th Anniversary of the First Visit of Indonesian President Soekarno to Vietnam and the Visit of the President of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, to Indonesia, were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Cabinet Secretary Minister Pramono Anung, Deputy Chairman of the MPR Ahmad Basarah, Ambassador of Vietnam for Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang, as well as a number of ambassadors from friendly countries. (VOI / AHM)

President Joko Widodo acted as an inspector in the ceremony to commemorate National Heroes Day at the Kalibata National Heroes Memorial Park in South Jakarta on Sunday to honor Indonesia's fallen heroes.

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, along with several members of the Indonesian Onward Cabinet and top government officials, joined the president at the commemorative event.

President Jokowi laid a wreath of flowers at the memorial park's monument, and prayed for the fallen heroes.

Religious Affairs Minister Fahcrul Razi recited prayers at the end of the event.

The National Heroes Day, which is commemorated to honor all Indonesian fighters killed and injured in the heroic Battle of Surabaya, East Java, on November 10, 1945, is also celebrated across the archipelago.

As part of the government's annual programs for commemorating the National Heroes Day, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) granted the national hero titles to six figures.

The six figures are Ruhana Kudus from West Sumatra, Sultan Himayatuddin Oputa Yii Ko from Southeast Sulawesi, Prof. M. Sardjito from Yogyakarta, Abdoel Kahar Moezakir from Yogyakarta, Alexander Andries (AA) Maramis from North Sulawesi, and KH Masykur from East Java.

"President of the Republic of Indonesia bestowed the national hero title as the highest mark of appreciation and honor for their extraordinary merits," Secretary of the Military Maj. Gen. TNI Suharyanto stated while reading out the presidential decree on granting of the national hero title on Nov 8.

Jokowi presented the honorary title to the heirs of the national heroes.

Kuddus was a female journalist from West Sumatra. She established the Amai Setia craft school in Koto Gadang and was an activist in the education sector. After her newspaper Poetri Hindia was banned by the Dutch colonial ruler, she founded the Sunting Melayu newspaper, the first of its kind for women in Indonesia.

Sultan Himayatuddin, or also known as La Karambau from Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, led the guerrilla war in Buton against the Dutch colonialism in 1755-1776.

Sardjito is the first rector of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) for the 1950-1961 term and rector of the University of Islam Indonesia (UII) for the 1964-1970 period. He prepared biscuits for soldiers in the battlefield in the wake of the problem of logistical shortage.

Abdoel Kahar Moezakir, AA Maramis, and KH Masykur were members of the Preparatory Committee for the Indonesian Independence (PPKI).

Moezakir was the rector of UII for the 1945-1948 and 1948-1960 terms. He established the Greater Indonesia Association in 1933.

AA Maramis served as finance minister for the 1945-1945 and 1948-1949 periods. He signed the first Indonesian banknotes, with denomination 1, 5, 10 cent, and 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 100 rupiah.

KH Masykur was a founder of Pembela Tanah Air (Peta). He was the religious affairs minister for the 1947-1949 and 1953-1955 periods. As chairman of Malang branch Nahdlatul Ulama, Masykur had led Laskar Sabilillah in a war in Surabaya, East Java, in November 1945. (ANTARA)