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Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Laksana Tri Handoko, visited the Aeronautics and Space Research Organization Head Office and its Aeronautics and Space Policy Studies in Jakarta on Friday (September 24, 2021). ANTARA/HO-BRIN/KT - 

Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Laksana Tri Handoko, reviewed research facilities and infrastructure readiness at the Aeronautics and Space Research Organization Head Office and its Aeronautics and Space Policy Study Center.

"This center is very important in its role to produce many materials and results of aeronautics and space policy studies at the maximum level," Handoko remarked in a written statement received here on Friday.

The government would merge four research institutions into BRIN. The four institutions are the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), and the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).

Under the new structure LAPAN would be renamed as the Aeronautics and Space Research Organization.

Handoko said his visit aimed to accelerate the work process after BRIN's establishment, which is in accordance with Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 78 of 2021.

Handoko also inspected the Disaster Quick Response facility at the Remote Sensing Software Research Center in Pekayon village, Pasar Rebo sub-District, East Jakarta.

This facility is a place where researchers can conduct data processing and analysis when there is information related to disasters in Indonesia, he added.

At the central office, he also visited other facilities, such as the server room and the Platypus Command Center.

"With the command center, the Remote Sensing Software Research Center can monitor and serve as a dashboard for remote sensing utilization," he said.

The dashboard can be accessed by ministries so that they can benefit from information related to remote sensing software, he added.

"BRIN, through the Remote Sensing Software Research Center, is committed to providing information on remote sensing that can be directly used by users," he said.

Furthermore, Handoko said he also visited the Remote Sensing Data Technology Center in Pekayon village, East Jakarta.

He inspected the service room that has a demo space map and toured the data center room at the center, he added//ANT

Archive: Chairman of National Sports Committee Marciano Norman. (ANTARA/Arindra Meodia/uyu) - 

The National Sports Week (PON) Organizing Committee launched the PONPapua Stream apps to provide livestreaming of the XX Papua PON matches that will officially start on October 2, 2021.

Chairman of the National Sports Committee (KONI) Marciano Norman has lauded the committee's attempt, so that the matches can be viewed by all Indonesian people.

"I consider that the preparations are excellent. I highly laud the committee that has made this preparation," Norman said as cited from gerakita.com, KONI’s media partner.

The statement was delivered during his visit to the XX Papua PON National Broadcast Center (NBC) at the Papua Governor's office complex, Jayapura City, on Friday.

Meanwhile, the livestreaming will cover 21 sports competed in four clusters of XX Papua PON comprising Jayapura City and District, Mimika District, as well as Merauke District.

Although the nation's biggest sporting event has not been officially inaugurated, the broadcasting of several games has begun through the apps as matches have begun for several sports comprising esports, surfing, futsal, baseball, and softball.

"I am certain that gradually, the broadcasting of the XX Papua PON will be well-received by Indonesian sports enthusiasts," he affirmed.

Furthermore, he noted that the broadcasting of the XX Papua PON was expected to spread the euphoria of the national event among members of the public.

In addition, the broadcasting will demonstrate that Indonesia is able to continue to perform and excel even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing strict health protocols.

The PONPapua Stream apps is available for download on the Play Store on Android devices though not on the App Store for iOS yet//ANT

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsuadi delivers a press statement on the arrival of 1 million Sinovac vaccines on Friday (September 24, 2021). (ANTARA/Yashinta Difa) - 

Indonesia received one million doses of the Sinovac vaccine from the Chinese government and an additional one million free doses from Sinovac on Friday.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, as of September 24, 2021, Indonesia has secured a total of 273,603,790 COVID-19 vaccine doses.

"With the arrival of these vaccines, the total number of vaccines that have arrived in Indonesia is 273,603,790 doses, both in the form of finished products and bulk," the minister said while delivering a virtual press statement on Friday.

Earlier, on September 21, 2021, Indonesia had received 200 thousand doses of the Sinovac vaccine in the form of finished products from the Red Cross Society of China.

Marsudi on Friday affirmed that Indonesia will keep strengthening diplomacy to meet its domestic vaccine needs. She also expressed her gratitude to China for its support and cooperation in vaccine procurement.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Xiao Qian, explained that the vaccine donation was an effort by the Chinese government to support Indonesia's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from vaccine supply, China donated 120 ventilators, 400 oxygen generators, and other medical supplies for Indonesia last August, the ambassador said.

"Under the strong leadership of President Joko Widodo and the joint efforts of the Indonesian people, China believes that Indonesia will defeat the pandemic as soon as possible and restore economic and social development," Qian added.

The first case of COVID-19 in Indonesia was confirmed in March 2020. To win the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. President Widodo was the first vaccine recipient under the program.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, as of September 24, 2021, at least 84,863,899 Indonesian citizens have received the first vaccine dose and 47,708,141 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19//ANT

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands with Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau to announce that Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig have been released from detention in China, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP) - 

Two Canadian citizens who were detained by Beijing for more than 1,000 days have left Chinese airspace and will arrive back in Canada early on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters on Friday (Sep 24).

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were picked up in December 2018, shortly after Vancouver police arrested Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant. Shortly before Trudeau spoke, Meng flew back to China after reaching a deal with U.S. authorities.

"These two men have been through an unbelievably difficult situation, but it is inspiring and it is good news for all of us that they are on their way home to their families."

Although Beijing insisted throughout that the two cases were not linked, Trudeau's Liberal government accused China of engaging in hostage diplomacy. Trudeau was not asked whether the two countries had struck a bilateral deal.

"I want to thank our allies and partners around the world in the international community who have stood steadfast in solidarity with Canada and with these two Canadians," he said.

The seemingly tit-for-tat arrests soured Canada-China relations.

Earlier, a Canadian judge ended extradition proceedings against Meng and lifted her bail conditions, allowing her to return to China for the first time since her arrest in Vancouver's international airport at the behest of US authorities on Dec 1, 2018.

The Canadian judge's move followed an agreement she made with the US Justice Department to suspend fraud charges against her.

Both Kovrig and Spavor were put on trial in March of this year. In August, Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while there had been no decision in Kovrig's case.

Trudeau previously denounced Spavor's sentence as "unacceptable and unjust," and said the charges were "trumped up"//CNA