Day: June 18, 2023

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The formulation of national and regional action plan for sea turtle conservation needs scientific data support and alignment, according to the Director General of Marine Spatial Management at Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP) Victor Gustaaf Manoppo.”Unfortunately, scientific studies or data regarding the spread, number of population,bioecological aspect, threats, as socio-economic (aspects) of sea turtle survival remain very limited,” he said in his official statement here on Sunday. To this end, the ministry encourages various stakeholders to strengthen the sea turtle conservation through the empowerment of regulation, population monitoring, sea turtle nest conservation, andtransnational management efforts that are jointly made by countries in the region and beyond. t the “2023 Indonesia Sea Turtle Symposium and the Greater Coral Triangle Region”, he noted that the population monitoring and sea turtle nest conservation efforts continue to be carried out at several priority conservation locations to preserve the sea turtle population in nature. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia Foundation Lukas Adhyakso stated that his party has a long-term commitment to sea turtle conservation in Indonesia. He also noted that efforts to maintain species survival need the cooperation of various parties. “Zero species extinction is one of WWF’s goals. Interventions to reduce threats that include minimizing incidental capture, ending the trafficking of protected species, and increasing the survival rate of species need all partners’ collaboration,” he remarked. He further said that Indonesia, as part of the coral triangle area, is home to key species such as stingrays, sea turtles, and many other marine mammals. To this end, the management of critical habitats needs to be carried out through concrete steps to support the conservation and rescue of the sea turtle population in Indonesia, he added.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Environment and Forestry reported that forest and land fires had ravaged 28,019 hectares of land in Indonesia from January to mid-June 2023, releasing 2.84 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.”Cross-sectoral collaboration is carried out to maintain the safety of areas, which are prone to the forest and land fires,” the ministry’s Director of Forest and Land Fires Control Thomas Nifinluri said in a statement quoted here Sunday. Based on the ministry’s Sipongi+ data, the five provinces with the widest forest and land fires-ravaged areas are East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), with 5,211 hectares; West Kalimantan (4,172 hectares); Lampung (2,272 hectares); Southeast Sulawesi(1,961 hectares); and Maluku with 1,953 hectares. The government has carried out weather modification in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and East NusaTenggara. The weather modification will be continued in Indonesia’sparts of Kalimantan Island to anticipate the forest and land fires that potentially occur due to the El Nino phenomenon, especially from July to October 2023. The weather modification in West Kalimantan and CentralKalimantan will be carried out on June 23 and June 25 respectively by using the Cassa 212 aircraft. The same operation will also be conducted in South Kalimantan, he said. In addition, the weather modification will also be carried out in Riau and East Kalimantan to anticipate land and forest fires in the two provinces’ vulnerableareas. The weather modification is part of efforts to prevent forest and land fires by wetting peatlands. If hotspots appear around areas owned by private companies, the government assigns them to deal with the forest and land fires. Nifinluri expressed hope that the synergy that has been established well can be continued and the incidence of wildfires can be made under control. Earlier, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in a statement on Wednesday (June 14) stated that the Indonesian Government readied 15 aircraft for carrying out weather modification operations to prevent the wildfires. Bakar noted that seven provinces had declared an emergency alert status for the disasters. Those provinces comprise Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, West Kalimantan, NTT, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Law enforcement is key to thoroughly resolving cases of human trafficking to give a deterrent effect to perpetrators, according to an official from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.”A quicker and more comprehensive and integrated handling is needed,” the ministry’s Deputy for the Protection of Women’s Rights Ratna Susianawati said in a statement here on Sunday. Thus, a discourse on forming the Directorate of Women and Children’s Protection (PPA) and Human Trafficking in the National Police (Polri) would meet the people’s need, and show the state’s commitment to providing protection and ensuring justice for violence victims, she said. This is in line with efforts to eradicate violence against women and children as well as human trafficking that become a national priority, as stated in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). She added that with the formation of the PPA and Human Trafficking Directorate, the prevention and mitigation for victims of violence against women and children, as well as human trafficking, and the crackdownon the perpetrators can be carried out more quickly and thoroughly. “Currently, the trend of case reports in the community is rising. It shows that people have started to have the courage to report violence that they experience,” she noted. part from that, it has also shown that the state’s presence is getting more significant in protecting women and children from all forms of violence. In addition to the urgent need for the directorate’s formation, what is also important to receive attention is the capacity improvement of law enforcement officials and other technical service human resources, Susianawati remarked. Earlier, a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), Poengky Indarti, on Saturday stated that Polri’s human trafficking task forces recorded 314 police reports and arrested 414 human trafficking suspects from June 5 to 15, 2023.

Source: Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) assessed that the National Police’s (Polri’s) law enforcement against human traffickers had become more significant after the formation of Polri’s human trafficking task forces in early June.Kompolnas member Poengky Indarti, when confirmed here on Saturday, stated that the task forces, formed from the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) to the regional police levels, have received 314 police reports and arrested 414 human trafficking suspects from June 5 to 15, 2023. “This is because the task force is formed in all regional police. Therefore, the uncovering of cases became more focused, fast, effective, and efficient, rather than relying only on the Directorate of General Crimes (Dittipidum),” she explained. The number of cases uncovered by the task forces in just 11 days is almost close to the number of human trafficking cases handled by the national and regional police in three years. Data shared by the Dittipidum in early May 2023 showed that from 2020 to April 2023, there were 405 police reports recorded with 517 suspects arrested. The 405 reports comprised 126 reports in 2020, 122 reports in 2021, 133 reports in 2022, and 24 reports in 2023 as of April. From 314 reports in the period of June 5 to 15, 2023, the number of victims reached 1,314 people. The figure was almost similar to the number of victims recorded by the Dittipidum in three years. “Kompolnas appreciates and supports Polri for successfully uncovering 500 cases of human trafficking and determining hundreds of suspects between 2020 and 2022. We hope this achievement can be improved in 2023,” Indarti said. She added that the mapping of human trafficking syndicate networks, coordination with activists, and prompt action for prevention and law enforcement in all regional police are needed to eradicate human trafficking. National PoliceSpokespersonBrigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan said the intensive handling of human trafficking,carried out by the task forces, is a manifestation of the state’s presence in protecting citizens from human trafficking. He also affirmed Polri’s seriousness in handling human trafficking before and after the task forces were formed.

Source: Antara News Agency

Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Indonesian Ambassador to Germany, Arif Havas Oegroseno, welcomed the Special Olympics Indonesia (SOIna) contingent, which includes two athletes from South Kalimantan, in Berlin on Friday (June 16, 2023).Budiono, an official at the South Kalimantan’s Youth and Sports Office, said on Saturday that Oegroseno received the SOIna contingent with great enthusiasm. The ambassador also provided them with guidance regarding the conditions in Berlin, Budiono said. “As Germany enters the summer, we expect the SOIna contingent to adapt quickly,” he added. He mentioned that the SOIna contingent was officially sent off by Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo on June 10 to participate in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games (SOWSG) in Berlin. The SOIna contingent arrived at Frankfurt International Airport on June 12 and stayed in Hessen for three days, where German athletes usually prepare for competitions. Then, on Thursday (June 15), the contingent continued their journey to Berlin. Thousands of athletes from 170 national representatives will participate in the SOWSG. The SOIna contingent consists of 42 individuals, including 25 athletes, 12 coaches, 4 officials, and a doctor. The Indonesian athletes will compete in 7 sports: athletics, badminton, swimming, bowling, table tennis, artistic gymnastics, and rhythmic gymnastics. The SOWSG will take place from June 17 to 25 in Berlin. The South Kalimantan athletes in the SOIna contingent are Arsyad, who will compete in swimming, and Sila, who will participate in artistic gymnastics. Furthermore, Minister Ariotedjo stated that the government is committed to providing equal opportunities and rights to all athletes in the country. He expressed this statement while sending off the SOIna contingent from Jakarta. “The government is committed to providing equal opportunities and rights for sports and achievements without discrimination,” he said.

Source: Antara News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 18 issued an order to simultaneously start the construction of three important national transport projects at a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18.

The ceremony was linked to sites in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The projects comprise Ho Chi Minh City’s Ring Road 3, the first phase of the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway, and the first phase of the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway.

Ring Road 3 running 90 km and costing more than 75.3 trillion VND (3.2 billion USD) will cross HCM City as well as Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An provinces.

It will have six lanes designed for speeds of 80-100km per hour for commuting and two lanes for emergency stops.

The first phase will stretch 76 km with four lanes and each locality is in charge of clearing the site and building the section in their territory.

An overpass will be built to link the ring road with HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, which links Dong Nai and HCM City and connects with Dau Giay – Phan Thiet Expressway running from Dong Nai to the beach city of Phan Thiet.

The project will also link with four other expressways including HCM City– Trung Luong that connects HCM City with the Mekong Delta; Ben Luc– Long Thanh; HCM City – Moc Bai, connecting the city with Cambodian border; and HCM City – Chon Thanh linking HCM City and Binh Duong.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau Expressway will run 53.7km with a total cost of over 19 trillion VND, and the first phase of the Khanh Hoa-Buon Ma Thuot Expressway will stretch 117.5km with funding of nearly 21 trillion VND. Speaking at the ceremony, Chinh reiterated the target of building around 5,000km of expressways by 2030, with 3,000km set by 2025 and 2,000km for the remaining years.

However, he said, only 1,729 km have been put into service, stressing the huge workload ahead.

The leader hailed efforts by localities in site clearance, compensation and resettlement, and by ministries and agencies in preparations for the construction, especially the Ministry of Construction.

The three projects are scheduled to be completed in 2025 and put into operation in 2026, he continued, noting their special significance as they cross the central, Central Highlands and southwestern regions where not many expressways run through.

He asked relevant sides to ensure the quality and progress of the projects, saying regular supervisions and inspections should be maintained.

The Government will take drastic actions to facilitate the projects and other infrastructure ones, meeting demand for socio-economic development, and raising people’s living standards, he pledged.

He also stressed the need to ensure rights and legal interests of residents, and harmonise interests of the State, people and businesses./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Australia and Italy showed off their fireworks during Chasing Your Dreams – the topic of the third night – at the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival with breathtaking performances along the Han River on June 17.

The Australian performance was built on dance music and unique light effects to win the hearts of spectators and the jury.

The team also described the ups and downs of the country through fireworks performances on the basis of music Mad World and Survivor, featuring the forest fire in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Italy demonstrated the antique space and modern light with inspiration from a masterpiece Ambiente spaziale a luce nerea (Spatial Environment in Black Light) by Lucio Fontana, an Argentinean-Italian painter, sculptor and theorist (1899-1968). The Italian team played a classic concert night with effects of fireworks in the skies, creating a night music party with fireworks on the rhythm of ‘Symphony No 5’, and ‘Fate Symphony’, in C Minor, Op.67 by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Different Italian fireworks teams previously had taken top prizes at the annual fireworks festival in Da Nang city, including Italy’s Martarello in 2017-18, and Parente Fireworks in 2011-12.

The UK and Poland will play on the fourth night on June 24.

Da Nang is the only locality in Vietnam to host a fireworks festival, making it a magnet for the best fireworks producers from around the world each year since 2008. It has been building a “Fireworks Festival City” reputation to promote it as a top destination in central Vietnam and Asia.

The festival has helped the city win recognition as Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination in 2016 and 2022 by the World Travel Awards./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the inaugural ceremony of the Nha Trang-Cam Lam and Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet Expressways in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on June 18.

The expressways are included in the eastern part of the North-South Expressway project for the 2017-2020 period.

The four-lane Nha Trang-Cam Lam Expressway runs more than 49km in Khanh Hoa province, with a total investment capital of over 5.5 trillion VND (233.74 million USD). Its construction began in September 2021.

Meanwhile, the Vinh Hao-Phan Thiet Expressway, whose construction started in September 2020, stretches 101km in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, and is linked to the Cam Lam-Vinh Hao Expressway to the north, and the Dau Giau-Phan Thiet Expressway to the south. The expressway was built at a total cost of 10.85 trillion VND.

Addressing the ceremony, PM Chinh said the two expressways will help spur socio-economic development in Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan, and maximise the potential and advantages of the south-central coastal region in particular and the country in general.

Stressing the important role of the North-South transport corridor, the leader said the new routes raise the total length of expressways put into operation along the North-South axis to 954km, and in the country to 1,729km.

The PM lauded efforts by the Ministry of Transport, other relevant sides and localities during the construction, and asked them to coordinate in the operation of the two expressways.

Greater efforts are needed to speed up the progress of the remaining sections of the North-South Expressway project, he noted.

The Government leader agreed in principle with the proposal of Khanh Hoa province and Son Hai Group Limited Company regarding investment in some other expressway projects, and assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Transport to coordinate with the People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa in making the plans./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency