VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Indonesia on Sunday reported 6,982 fresh COVID-19 cases over a 24-hour period, which brought the total case tally to 664,930 since the country announced its first infections on March 2, 2020.

As per data of the Health Ministry which was announced by National Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, the number of recoveries increased by 5,551 in the 24-hour period, taking the total number of patients recovering from the virus to 541,811.

The country also reported 221 fatalities across the nation, which brought the death toll to 19,880.

The total number of suspected cases stood at 66,702, while the number of active cases being treated in the hospitals or in self-isolation reached 103,239.

Meanwhile, the health authorities examined specimens of 48,134 people, bringing the cumulative number of specimens examined so far to 6,786,585.

Jakarta contributed the highest number of cases at 1,592, followed by West Java (1,052), Central Java (878), and South Sulawesi (489).

Central Java reported the most deaths per day at 73, followed by East Java 60 deaths and Jakarta 19 deaths.

Jakarta also contributed the highest number of recoveries at 1,878, followed by West Java (1,186), East Java (794), Yogyakarta (203), and Central Java (172).

The capital city's cumulative case count stood at 163,111, followed by East Java (75,274), and West Java (73,948).

Jakarta's total recoveries reached 146,866, East Java 64,772, and West Java 60,940.

Meanwhile, the highest number of deaths occurred in East Java (5,210), followed by Jakarta (3,072), and Central Java (2,843). (antaranews)

Research and Technology Minister Bambang P. S. Brodjonegoro highlighted the government’s decision to accelerate the clinical trial of the Red and White Vaccine to ensure mass production for the public by 2021-end.

"We have communicated with Bio Farma and BPOM. We will make all-out efforts to accelerate the clinical trial while adhering to every required protocol," Brodjonegoro remarked during the road show of a mobile BSL-2 bus at the Gadjah Mada University here on Friday.

The ministry has issued a ministerial decree to involve Gadjah Mada University (UGM) as one of the institutions developing the Red and White vaccine using a recombinant protein platform.

"Incidentally, UGM uses the recombinant protein," he remarked.

Three vaccine seed developments by Airlangga University, the University of Indonesia, and the Eijkman Institute respectively clocked the quickest progress.

"Hence, it is estimated that the three of them have the potential to hand over vaccine seeds to Bio Farma in the first quarter of next year," he affirmed. Indonesia too has entered the fray by developing its own vaccine called Red and White, which refers to the colors of its national flag.

The Red and White vaccine is being entirely developed by Indonesia. The Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology, the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the Ministry of Research and Technology, and several universities are working on the vaccine.

In the meantime, the Red and White vaccine is being developed using a recombinant method, wherein, instead of the whole virus, only certain parts of it that are deemed important will be multiplied and used as antigens. (antaranews)

 Indonesia senses pride in having clocked several achievements while chairing three Committees at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) over the last two years, Indonesia's Permanent Representative in New York noted in a statement, Friday.

At the UNSC virtual meeting on Wednesday (Dec 16), Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani, permanent representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in New York, highlighted the successes of the three UNSC Committees in combating terrorism and preventing access to weapons of mass destruction for non-governmental entities.

Since January 1, 2019, Ambassador Djani has chaired the 1267 Committee on ISIL / Da'esh - Al Qaeda; the 1988 Committee on the Taliban; and the 1540 Committee on the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

The 1267 Committee, under Indonesia’s leadership, set a new record in updating the sanctions list data. The number of responses from countries providing information to the Committee during the 2019-2020 period is the highest in the history of the establishment of the sanctions committee.

Furthermore, Indonesia's achievements, as chairman of the 1988 Committee, are mirrored in the success of facilitating the achievement of a consensus on granting travel exemption permits for several names to participate in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

"Indonesia's efforts, so far, have always referred to the main objective of the committee, which is to support the peace and reconciliation process," the ambassador stated.

Djani also pointed to Indonesia’s achievement of having served as chair of the 1540 Committee on nonproliferation, as it has been successful in encouraging the unity of views in preparing a comprehensive review process for Resolution 1540 that will be implemented in 2021.

This comprehensive review is expected to be more effective in preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Furthermore, Indonesia has succeeded in encouraging the increased submission of reports on “nonproliferation” by countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents its own challenges for Indonesia's leadership. However, the 1267 Committee managed to become the first UNSC committee to meet virtually, while the 1540 Committee was the first committee to meet in person at the UN Headquarters, with the application of stringent health protocols.

All members of the UNSC lauded Indonesia's leadership in the three Committees for having made positive contributions and ensuring that the committee can continue to fulfill its mandate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indonesia’s election to lead the three subsidiary bodies of the UNSC demonstrates the trust of the international community in Indonesia's credibility and leadership in the issue of combating terrorism.

Under Indonesia's chairmanship, the three committees always make decisions by consensus on the principles of transparency, professionalism, and impartiality.

"The track record of Indonesia's diplomacy as a bridge-builder and consensus-maker on various issues is the main asset for gaining trust from the international community. This is a concrete result of Indonesia's active efforts to always seek consensus and a middle way to bridge differences," Djani stated. (antaranews)

President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, prompting a track-and-trace effort across Europe following numerous meetings between the French leader and EU heads of government in recent days.
Macron, who will turn 43 on Monday, is running France remotely and has gone into quarantine at the presidential retreat of La Lanterne close to the Palace of Versailles, the presidency said.

A presidential official described Macron as tired and having a cough. His wife Brigitte tested negative but was also self-isolating, staying at the Elysee palace in central Paris.

In the early evening, Macron spoke to a conference on French foreign aid policy via video link. Dressed in a roll-neck sweater and suit jacket, the president sat behind a desk and wore a facemask, showing no visible sign of the illness.

“This diagnosis was made following a PCR test performed at the onset of the first symptoms,” Macron’s office said, declining to give further details of his condition or the symptoms he had.

Macron will cancel all upcoming trips including a Dec. 22 visit to Lebanon where he has led international efforts to resolve a deep-rooted political crisis.

Closer to home, Macron’s COVID-19 infection spurred other leaders to take their own tests.

Macron joined all but two of the European Union’s 27 leaders at a summit in Brussels late last week to discuss climate change, the EU budget and Turkey.

The presidential official said it was almost certain Macron was infected at the summit given the timing of his symptoms. (reuters)