Month: March 2022

The rare Sumatran rhino is in the spotlight of foreign media. Most recently, the species gave birth in Way Kambas National Park. One of the highlights was CNN. He said, Wednesday (30/3/2022), that moment was an ‘important opportunity for the survival of the Sumatran rhino species. The extremely rare Sumatran rhino has been born in captivity in a nature reserve in Indonesia, according to the government. It’s a celebration of conservation efforts to save endangered animals from extinction. The female rhino was born in the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary in Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province on March 24, according to Indonesia’s Ministry of the Environment.

“The birth of the Sumatran rhino is good news amid the efforts of the Indonesian government and partners to increase the Sumatran rhino population,” said the Director-General of Environmental Conservation at the Ministry of Environment, Wiratno.

The Sumatran rhinoceros, the world’s smallest rhino species, once bred throughout Southeast Asia but is now found only in small pockets on the northern islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia. Fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos remain, according to the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).

The captive program at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary, assisted by IRF, is the only place where the Sumatran rhino breeds naturally with the support of technology and collaboration of expertise. The program aims to maintain the survival of the Sumatran rhino by increasing the number of rhinos. So that one day this rhino can be released back into the wild. Without intervention, the IRF says the Sumatran rhino will be extinct in a matter of decades. International rhino experts and the Indonesian government have decided relocating rhinos to a captive breeding program is the only way to save the species.

March 30, 2022, detikTravel

(https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-6008566/badak-indonesia-langka-yang-melahirkan-disoroti-media-asing)

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Train (KCJB) project would later be inaugurated by President Jokowi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

            “We want it because later, hopefully, President Xi Jinping and President Jokowi will also be in Bali. We will also try to inaugurate some of our big projects with China using Zoom,” said Luhut during a visit to tunnel 6 area in Purwakarta, West Bandung Regency, Wednesday (30/3/2022).

            For now, Luhut said the KCJB Project is targeted for trials this year, November to be exact. Previously, the KCJB construction project in tunnel 6 had experienced delays. The project was delayed due to landslides, due to the geographical location which had to pass through clay shale conditions. Thus, it makes the development process take more time.

“Due to yesterday’s landslide problem, we have been delayed for about 5-6 months. We will try to get rid of it immediately, if possible, 10 months from now, it will be a trial,” said Luhut.

March 30, 2022, detikFinance

(https://finance.detik.com/infrastruktur/d-6008339/luhut-sebut-xi-jinping-bakal-resmikan-kereta-cepat-jakarta-bandung)

Group of 20 (G20) chair Indonesia will adhere to the economic theme of G20 meetings this year, even though a growing rift between members over the Ukraine crisis threatens to derail talks at the international forum. G20 sherpa track chair and Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia would uphold the group’s traditional role as an economic forum. The government will not realign the agenda to accommodate geopolitical issues, “which are clearly political and security issues”.

“There are many forums for geopolitical and security issues, such as the United Nations general meeting and UN Security Council. These are the channels to resolve geopolitical issues in Ukraine,” Airlangga told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

As the leader of the G20 forum this year, Indonesia has been adamant not to accommodate pressures to address the political impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The international forum, which includes Russia, has been on track despite the US and its western allies questioning whether Russia should remain within the G20 following the invasion.

March 25, 2022, The Jakarta Post

(https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2022/03/24/indonesia-balks-at-pressures-to-add-ukraine-war-to-g20-agenda.html)

MotoGP Mandalika 2022 has been completed. Although accompanied by several notes, this event is expected to be a revival of Indonesia in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. MotoGP has finally returned to Indonesia after 25 years of absence. Held at the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Sunday (20/3/2022), the race was delayed by an hour due to heavy rain.

Indonesia’s great success at the inaugural Mandalika MotoGP event invited a lot of praise. Moreover, the organizers of the Mandalika Grand Prix Association (MGPA) were criticized for having circuit problems in the pre-season test session last February. Although it is recognized that the name of the inaugural event can not be separated from several shortcomings outside the race, such as the supporting facilities around the circuit are not fully 100 percent.

However, Indonesia still has a year to improve before the 2023 race. What is certain is that with the Mandalika MotoGP, the Indonesian economy, especially Lombok, has faltered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the Mandalika MotoGP was also questioned because, at the beginning of the pandemic, there were restrictions on activities in the country and also in many countries. However, amid Indonesia’s efforts towards endemic status, the primary class motorcycle race was able to be held.

            “The Mandalika MotoGP is momentum for Indonesia’s economic revival, especially tourism. Therefore, it is hoped that next year, MotoGP can be even better,” said Angkasa Pura Logistik President Director Danny P Thaharsyah.

March 21, 2022, detikSport

(https://sport.detik.com/moto-gp/d-5992745/semoga-motogp-mandalika-jadi-momentum-kebangkitan-indonesia)