VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Italian Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte announced that he would take several steps to anticipate the development of the corona virus (Covid 19) in the country. This step was taken after the number of cases of corona virus (covid 19) in Italy was reported at 5,883 on Saturday. The announcement he made that Sunday included closing access to a number of cities and territories in Italy. The new regulation also includes a ban on entering or leaving Lombardy, a number of provinces and 19 other territories. In his announcement, Guiseppe Conte as quoted as saying by The Guardian, said that the government would restrict all activities except those which were very important.

"There will be an obligation to avoid any movement of people who are either entering or leaving these areas. And even within the areas, movement will occur only for essential work or health reasons. All events are organized in both public and private spaces along with recreational, cultural, sports, religious and fair events will be supended We will also suspend all events in cinemas, theaters, pubs, dance schools, arcades, betting shops, bingos and night clubs We can no longer afford gatherings of people in these areas, said Prime Minister.

Furthermore Prime Minister Guiseppe Conte said schools and universities are closed, apart from distance learning, including wedding parties and funerals, all had been suspended. Meanwhile, cafes and restaurants are allowed to remain open from 6 am to 6 pm, as long as the owners can ensure safety distance between people of at last one meter. Restaurants and cafes will be closed if the conditions are violated. Guiseppe added that his country was facing a national emergency. He said Italy had been on guard from the start and would take this situation seriously. // (VOI/WATI/The Guardian/AHM)

Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh has called on Indonesian residents in Saudi Arabia not to travel to Macca and Medina for the time being amid the ongoing concerns over the spread of novel coronavirus diseases.

"Until this time, the Saudi government still bans Muslims from all over the world from performing umrah (minor hajj) pilgrimage," the embassy revealed in a press statement received by ANTARA News Agency in Jakarta, on Sunday.

The temporary ban is imposed on the Saudi residents and expatriates who stay inside and outside the two cities, the Indonesian embassy said.

The Saudi authorities also restrict the arrivals of flights from United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain at three international airports -- King Khalid, King Abdulaziz, and King Fahd in Dammam.

This latest policy has been made effective since March 7, 2020. On the same day, the Saudi Ministry of Sports also prevent people from attending sporting events.

Over such ongoing concerns regarding the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak which has killed more than 3,600 people and infected at least 106,400 people all over the world, the Saudi Government has been banning the inflow of foreign umrah pilgrims since February 27.

Among the countries reporting confirmed COVID-19 cases are nations with Muslim-majority populations, including the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Oman, Egypt, and Indonesia.

Indonesia respected the decision saying that it is aimed to prioritize the Saudi citizens' health and safety amid the spread of COVID-19 that continues to lead to rising number of casualties.

"We respect (the decision), as the Saudi Arabian government is prioritizing health," President Joko Widodo stated recently.

Early this week, Indonesia's Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi affirmed that preparations for the Hajj pilgrimage in 2020 had run as scheduled, notwithstanding the global uncertainty over the COVID-19 outbreak.

"Preparations are still on for the Hajj pilgrimage, and no changes are expected," Razi stated.

Saudi Arabia, where the Islamic Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina are located, is a destination for Muslims worldwide that are keen to perform Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. (ANTARA)

Six years since Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 vanished from radars, relatives of the 239 people who were on board are calling on authorities

The fate of flight MH370 became one of the world’s greatest aviation mysteries when it disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Repeated searches for the aircraft were called off in 2018.

Holding star-shaped signs reading “Never give up”, “Waiting”, and “Resume the search”, the relatives of those who were on the flight marked the sixth anniversary of their disappearance by making a fresh appeal for answers.

A piece of aircraft debris, believed to be from the missing plane, was on display at the gathering as media reported.

Malaysia, China and Australia ended a two-year, A$200 million ($132.90 million) underwater search in the southern Indian Ocean in January 2017 after finding no trace of the plane.

In 2018, Malaysia contracted U.S. firm Ocean Infinity to resume the search on a “no-cure, no-fee”-basis, meaning it would pay the firm up to $70 million if it found the plane. But the 138-day search was also fruitless. (Reuters)

Jakarta - The Indonesian government has entrusted the State Logistics Board (Bulog) with importing 100 thousand tons of buffalo meat to cater to domestic requirements, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated.

The decision to import buffalo meat was reached at a coordination meeting between the Trade Ministry, Agriculture Ministry, and Bulog at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta on Friday.

Bulog Director for Business and Industrial Development Bachtiar noted that the 100 thousand tons of buffalo meat will be imported within a one-year period.

In the near future, Bulog will import 25 thousand tons of buffalo meat from India to fulfill the demand during the fasting month of Ramadhan and the subsequent Eid al-Fitr festivities that will fall in April and May 2020.

"We plan to import buffalo meat (from India). During this period of time, we will import 20 thousand tons to cater to the demand during the Eid al-Fitr festivities. It is expected to arrive (in Indonesia) in April," he stated.

Bulog currently holds one thousand tons of buffalo meat in stock, excluding that at distributors. The agency is awaiting an import permit from the Trade Ministry, he revealed.

Soon after the Trade Ministry issues the permit, Bulog will import buffalo meat from India, he confirmed.

"The permit will be issued soon," he stated.

Based on the result of the National Socio-Economic Survey conducted by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2019, per capita beef/buffalo meat consumption had reached 2.66 kilograms per year. The demand for beef/buffalo meat until May 2020 is projected to reach 302,300 tons.

In the meantime, national production of beef/buffalo meat until May 2020 is expected to touch 165,478 tons. (ANTARA)