VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo gives directions while reviewing the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination at Bogor Station, in Bogor City, Thursday (17/6/2021). (ANTARA/HO/Bogor City Government) - 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo reminded all parties that handling the pandemic necessitated the same frequency across state institutions and the central and local government levels.

"I want to remind all of us that the pandemic is not over yet. We must be vigilant, and the situation we face is still an extraordinary one that must be responded to with fast and appropriate policies, which require the same frequency by all of us, both at the level of state institutions and all levels of the central government and regional governments," Widodo noted at State Palace, Jakarta, Friday.

The president highlighted that since the pandemic struck in 2020, the government had taken extraordinary steps, including changing the state budget, refocusing and reallocating the budget at all levels of government, as well as providing space for relaxation of the state budget deficit, so that it can be widened to over three percent for three years.

"The deficit-widening measure must take into account the increasing need for state spending for health and economic care at a time when the state income is declining," he expounded.

The president noted that the government had also encouraged various state institutions to work together to share the burden, such as that carried out by the government and Bank Indonesia.

Through various policy responses, the president stated that Indonesia was able to handle the increase in health spending and concomitantly protect the economy from various pressures.

"Although we experienced a deep contraction in the second quarter of 2020, reaching minus 5.32 percent, but in the next quarter, we passed a rock bottom. The Indonesian economy grew better, and until the first quarter, we were at minus 0.74 percent," the president stated//ANT

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (right) delivered a joint press statement with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (left) after a bilateral meeting at Pancasila Building, Jakarta, Friday (25/6/2021). (ANTARA/HO-Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and her South Korean counterpart, Chung Eui-yong, accentuated the significance of bolstering bilateral cooperation in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In difficult times arising during the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea is one of the countries with which Indonesia has established health cooperation," Foreign Minister Marsudi noted during a virtual media statement on Friday after a bilateral meeting with the South Korean foreign minister.

Both nations have forged collaborations in areas encompassing the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostic equipment, and medicines.

In addition, the Indonesian foreign minister welcomed several ongoing collaborations, specifically the development of a vaccine between PT Kalbe Farma and Genexine that is scheduled to conduct phase 2 and 3 of the clinical trials in Jakarta and Central Java in July 2021.

"If all stages run properly, the vaccine is expected to be available at the end of 2021," Marsudi noted.

Both nations are also building therapeutic alliances through a collaboration between the National Institute of Health Research and Development and Daewoong Infion and PT Kalbe Farma and Genexine (GX-17) for the production of COVID-19 drugs that are currently in the testing phase.

Cooperation in diagnostic tools is also being initiated with investment plans for Korean diagnostic companies SD Biosensor and Sugentech to open a factory in Indonesia.

In the context of health cooperation, the Indonesian National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have inked the Minutes of Understanding on the Inclusive Program for COVID-19 Response, worth US$4 million (approximately Rp57.7 billion), to support various pandemic prevention programs and their socio-economic impacts in Indonesia.

"These various collaborations are certainly expected to strengthen the national health industry and increase our preparedness to face the threat of pandemics in the future," Foreign Minister Marsudi remarked.

Not only bilateral cooperation but Indonesia and South Korea have also agreed to actively cooperate internationally to promote equal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

"We also agreed to expand cooperation for the development and availability of vaccines," Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong stated.

In his presentation, Foreign Minister Chung highlighted that President Moon Jae-in had delivered a commitment worth US$200 million (approximately Rp2.9 trillion) to the vaccine-sharing facility for low- and middle-income countries (COVAX AMC), in which Indonesia is one of the co-chairs.

Through this donation, the South Korean government expects to support Indonesia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in procuring and distributing vaccines.

“We highly laud Indonesia, which has played a major role as the co-chair of COVAX AMC. We believe that Indonesia, as the host of the G20 Summit next year, will also make a major contribution in overcoming COVID and bringing about economic recovery," Foreign Minister Chung affirmed.

On the sidelines of his visit to Jakarta, Chung also sought special attention for South Korean citizens in Indonesia, so that they can participate in the COVID-19 vaccination//ANT

Sri Lankan navy personnel remove debris washed ashore from the MV X-Press Pearl ship in Colombo. (Photo: AFP/ISHARA S. KODIKARA) - 

The United Nations representative in Sri Lanka said the sinking of a container ship that caught fire while transporting chemicals off the capital Colombo has caused “significant damage to the planet” by releasing hazardous substances into the ecosystem.

The Singapore-flagged X-Press Pearl sank on Thursday (Jun 17), a month after catching fire, raising concerns about a possible environmental disaster.

“An environmental emergency of this nature causes significant damage to the planet by the release of hazardous substances into the ecosystem,” UN resident coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said in a statement late on Saturday. 

"This in turn threatens lives and livelihoods of the population in the coastal areas.”

A UN team of oil spill and chemical experts – provided by the European Union – has been sent to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has already submitted an interim claim of US$40 million to X-Press Feeders to cover part of the cost of fighting the fire, which broke out on May 20 when the vessel was anchored about 18km northwest of Colombo and waiting to enter the port.

The Sri Lankan navy believes the blaze was caused by its chemical cargo, which included 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals, most of which were destroyed in the fire. But debris including burned fibreglass and tonnes of plastic pellets have already polluted nearby beaches.

A ship manifest seen by the Associated Press said the ship was carrying just under 1,500 containers, with 81 of those described as “dangerous” goods.

The main concern has been about 300 tonnes of bunker oil used as fuel for the ship. But officials have been saying it could have burned off in the fire.

Both Sri Lankan authorities and the ship’s operator, X-Press Feeders, have said so far there is no sign of an oil spill//CNA

A forklift is used to transport Moderna vaccines against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Taiwan Air cargo Terminal in Taoyuan, Taiwan, June 18, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang - 

Taiwan reacted with an outpouring of thanks to the United States for shipping 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the major semiconductor-producing island, more than doubling its arsenal as it deals with a rise in domestic infections.

Washington, competing with Beijing to deepen geopolitical clout through "vaccine diplomacy", initially had promised to donate 750,000 doses but increased that number as President Joe Biden's administration advances its pledge to send 80 million US-made shots around the world.

"What a sight! What a gesture!" Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted late on Saturday (Jun 19), linking to pictures of the vaccines being loaded onto a China Airlines Boeing 777 freighter at Memphis airport.

"The Taiwan-US relationship is rock solid, & we'll keep cooperating closely in combating COVID19. Forces for good will prevail!"

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted she was touched by the US move.

"Thank you to the U.S. for this moving gesture of friendship. These vaccines will go a long way toward keeping Taiwan safe & healthy."

The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but is its most important international backer, to China's anger.

The 2.5 million Moderna doses, due to arrive at Taiwan's main international airport late Sunday afternoon, will more than double the number of vaccines that have already arrived on the island, including 1.24 million AstraZeneca shots donated by Japan earlier this month.

Taiwan has accused China of blocking at least one foreign vaccine deal with the island. Beijing denies that.

Despite the pandemic, China has continued to pressure Taiwan militarily.

Last week, 28 Chinese air force aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered Taiwan's air defence identification zone, the largest reported incursion to date.

Taiwan is trying to speed up the arrival of the millions of vaccines it has on order as it deals with a rise in domestic cases, although infections remain comparatively low. Only around 6 per cent of Taiwan's 23.5 million people have received at least one of the two-shot coronavirus vaccine regimen.

Tsai has come under pressure domestically to get vaccines faster.

On Friday the government said it would allow Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to negotiate on Taipei's behalf for vaccines//CNA