Polyglot Indonesia again held Polyglot Indonesia National Gathering at Philatelic Building, Jakarta on Sunday, July 8th. Polyglot Indonesia is a community in Indonesia that accommodates people who have the ability to speak in several foreign languages not only English. Director of Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Azis Nurwahyudi in his speech at the meeting said Polyglot Indonesia is part of Indonesian diplomacy. According to Azis, this community has an important role as a friendship agent or create people to people contact between Indonesia and people around the world.

"Polyglot is a friendship agent, Polyglot is a part of Indonesian diplomacy. Polyglot will be able to create more beautiful people to people contact. I have noticed that you have tremendous potential. You are polyglot people, mastering several languages. You are diplomats, when you communicate with other friends in other countries with their languages. You have created a friendship agency. You have created people to people contact," Azis Nurwahyudi said.

Azis further hoped that members of Polyglot Indonesia are able to convey a message of peace to the world community and explain about Indonesia with all its hospitality, cultural diversity and natural beauty through its language skills. It is also expected that the members of this community can contribute to some international events held in Indonesia such as the Asian Games 2018 and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meeting. (VOI/Rezha/AHM)

A total of 20 young researchers from 14 countries in the Asia-Pacific region are studying plant improvement at the National Atomic Energy Agency’s (BATAN’s) Isotope and Radiation Application Center in Jakarta on July 9-20.

"(The training program) marks the progress BATAN has achieved in developing its nuclear technology," Djarot Wisnubroto, the agency’s chairman, remarked in Jakarta on Monday.

He noted that BATAN has served as a research collaboration center, as acknowledged by the International Atomic Energy Agency some years ago.

The agency has sought to upgrade the quality of soy and paddy in the past years. Wisnubroto explained that the new plants are more resistant to pests and viruses. Moreover, the harvest periods of the new soy and paddy are shorter than those varieties planted earlier.

Several varieties that have been improved by the agency include Muria, Tengger, Meratus, Rajabasa, Mitani, Mutiara-1, Gamasugen-1, and Gamasugen-2.

On a similar occasion, Totti Tjiptosumirat, the isotope application center head, stated that the workshop was organized by BATAN, as it has rich experience in utilizing nuclear technology to develop agriculture.

"The agency has a long history of conducting research on plant mutation by utilizing nuclear radiation technology," Tjiptosumirat stressed.

The new varieties of soy and paddy that have been introduced to the farmers are expected to increase the yield and to realize food security in the country.

"Our research work now attracts significant attention not only from farmers and fellow scientists but also government officials, students, and scholars," he pointed out.

Hence, BATAN remains committed to opening its doors to other foreign researchers seeking to learn and adopt the technology, Tjiptosumirat added.

In the past years, he stated BATAN had provided training and workshops for researchers from Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, India, South Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Vietnam.(ANTARA)

Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham handed over life insurance aid, worth Rp6.9 billion, to the victims of Mount Sinabung eruption in temporary shelters in the third phase of relocation in Karo district, North Sumatra Province.

"The president has given directives to provide assistance to children who are hit by the disaster. This is a form of the country`s responsibility to its people," he told the evacuees of Sinabung in Kabanjahe on Monday.

The aid was distributed to 7,690 evacuees from the sub-districts of Namanteran, Simpang Empat, and Tiganderket.

He was accompanied by Director General of Social Protection and Social Security, Harry Hikmat; Head of Tanah Karo District, Terkelin Brahmana; and other officials while distributing the symbolic life insurance to the evacuee representatives.

He remarked that since the beginning of Mount Sinabung eruption until now, the government has handed over a total of assistance of Rp79 billion to the evacuees.

"Please use the money for the benefit of the families," he urged.

He added that the government would continue to pay attention to the Indonesian society, including the victims of the disaster.

He also asked Brahmana to record the number of poor evacuees, who will be included in the Family Hope Program or rice social assistance program. (ANTARA)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) told his ministers and heads of other government agencies to improve system of utilization of budget funds to stop the practice of waiting toward the end of year to start use the budget.

"Improve the system of using the budget fund not to let work pile up toward the end of year, but keep observing the quality of output," Jokowi said at a limited cabinet meeting discussing realization and prognosis of implementation of the 2018 state budget at the Bogor State Palace on Monday.

The head of state said he wanted all programs and strategic projects to be executed and completed as scheduled but with good governance.

"Transfers of funds to the regions and rural funds must not be delayed and minimize government funds idle in banks," he said.

The President said he appreciated acceleration of development program and services to the people and 12.1 percent growth in 2018 budget spending by ministries and state agencies in the first half of 2018 , far exceeding realization which grew only 0.4 percent in the same period last year.

"I ask the momentum of achievement in the first semester of 2018 to be maintained and improved in the second half of the year," he said.

Jokowi reminded the ministers of the big challenges ahead , especially related to global economic uncertainties that calls for harder work and great focus on work to finish all programs as scheduled.

He also reminded the ministers of the need for efficiency such as in goods procurement , unnecessary official travels, meetings and package meetings and other non productive procurement.

He thanked the ministers and heads of government agencies, governors, regents/city mayors for improved performance shown in the first half of this year.

"I see improvements in the implementation of the state budget in the first semester of 2018 in comparison with the same period last year," he said.

Implementation of the state budget in the first half of 2018 improved with lower budget deficit, down 36.8 percent, primary balance also was "very good" becoming positive from being negative in three consecutive years before.

The president also pointed to smaller budget financing in the past two years and largest unspent budget .

The improvement in the implementation of the state budget in the first half of this year was also attributable to 16 percent increase in the state income .

The increase in the state income itself was attributable to strong 14.3 percent rise in tax revenues, as against a growth of 9.6 percent in the same period in 2017 .

"State spending continued to increase , up 5.7 percent or higher than a growth of only 3.2 percent in the same period last year," the president said. (ANTARA)