VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Aviation industry needs incentives to recover: INACA - inews

Indonesia’s aviation industry, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, will need government incentives to recover, chairman of the Indonesia National Air Carriers Association (INACA), Denon Prawiraatmadja, said.

“For the aviation sector to recover, we need tax incentives and various airport fees," Denon said in a statement issued here on Friday.

The aviation industry contributes more than 2.6 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides jobs to 4.2 million workers, he noted.

As many as 36 companies under the association submitted a proposal seeking incentives to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in March, 2020, but the ministry is yet to approve them, he said.

The industry would also need to offer payment flexibility to some aviation-related state enterprises, such as Pertamina, airport operator Angkasa Pura I and II, and air navigation firm AirNav, he added.Pertamina is the only supplier of aviation turbine fuel (AVTUR), and spending on fuel accounts for 40-45 percent of airlines' operational costs, he observed.

"That's why we sought payment flexibility for AVTUR, navigation, and other fees for airport services provided by AirNav and Angkasa Pura," he said, adding that the proposal is yet to be approved by the state enterprises.

Meanwhile, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia, Veranita Yosephine, said negotiations with the airport operator on payment delays or discounts for inactive planes parked at the airport are still underway.

"We continue to work in coordination with the authority, association, and all stakeholders in the aviation industry to survive and recover from the impact of the pandemic," she remarked.

Meanwhile, president director of PT Citilink Indonesia, Juliandra Nurtjahjo, said demand in the aviation industry is expected to recover in 2022 if the government's vaccination program meets the target.

"The most optimistic prediction is that by the end of 2023 or early 2024, (the demand) will recover to its previous level (seen) in 2019," he added//ANT

Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province Zulkieflimansyah and Commander of the Military Regional Command (Danrem) 162 / WB Brigadier General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani saw off 400 Indonesian soldiers to be deployed to guard the Indonesia-Timor Leste border.

Some 400 soldiers from the 742 Infantry Battalion /Satya Wira Yudha of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) have been stationed to increase security in the border line between Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Governor of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province Zulkieflimansyah, Commander of the Military Regional Command (Danrem) 162 / WB Brigadier General Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani, and Head of NTB Police Inspector General Pol M. Iqbal saw off the soldiers departing aboard the Teluk Amboina warship at Lembar Harbor, West Lombok, on Friday.

Zulkieflimansyah affirmed that it was a noble mission to guard the country's border to fortify security and maintain the nation’s integrity and sovereignty."On behalf of all people of NTB, I would like to laud and pay my highest respects to the TNI soldiers, who will devote themselves to this noble task," he emphasized.

Earlier, 400 soldiers of the 742 Infantry Battalion / Satya Wira Yudha had undergone a physical fitness test at the Trisula Yonif 742 / SWY Gebang Mataram field as a prerequisite for the RI-RDTL Border Security Task Force on Friday (Feb 12).

Indonesia and Timor Leste share both land and sea borders in the eastern part of Indonesia//ANT

Indonesian badminton athlete Muhammad Rian Ardianto prepares for COVID-19 vaccination at Gelora Bung Karno stadium, Jakarta on Friday (Feb 26, 2021). ANTARA/HO-PBSI

A total of 2,449,451 Indonesians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Friday afternoon, as part of the first and second phases of the vaccination program, according to the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling.

The number of people vaccinated under the first phase of the program increased by 121,661 to reach 1,583,581 on Friday. Meanwhile, inoculations under the second phase of the program rose by 12,125 to touch 865,870.

The two phases are targeting healthcare workers and public service officers.

A total of 1,468,764 healthcare workers across Indonesia are expected to be vaccinated under the first phase of the vaccination program.

The government has set a target of inoculating 181,554,465 people, or 70 percent of the total population of Indonesia, with the aim of building herd immunity against the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Indonesia on Friday added 8,232 coronavirus infections, 7,261 recoveries, and 268 deaths over a single day, the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling reported.With this, the total tally of cases in the country rose to 1,322,855, while total recoveries reached 1,128,672, and the death toll climbed to 35,786. The first COVID-19 infections emerged in the country in March, 2020.

In the 24 hours ending at 12 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesian Time) on Friday, a total of 63,827 specimens from 39,766 people were tested in 670 laboratories across the country, bringing the cumulative number of examined specimens to 10,708,262 from 7,141,629 people//ANT

Climate Change ‘Grave Threat to Global Peace and Security’ - UN

The UK Prime Minister warned the UN Security Council this week that unless leaders take urgent action to tackle climate change, the world risks worsening conflict, displacement and insecurity.

He chaired a virtual session of the Council to call on members to help the most vulnerable countries adapt to the impact of climate change and take steps to cut global emissions to net zero by 2050. It was the first time a British Prime Minister has chaired the UNSC in nearly 30 years and the first leader-level discussion on climate at the Security Council. Both show the importance of the issue.

The impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world, with the effects of rising temperatures and extreme weather forcing population movements and creating competition over increasingly scarce natural resources. Of the 20 countries ranked most vulnerable to rising global temperatures, 12 are already in conflict.

“The UNSC is tasked with confronting the gravest threats to global peace and security, and that’s exactly what climate change represents. From the communities uprooted by extreme weather and hunger, to warlords capitalising on the scramble for resources – a warming planet is driving insecurity.Unlike many issues the Council deals with, this is one we know exactly how to address. By helping vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and cutting global emissions to net zero, we will protect not only the bountiful biodiversity of our planet, but its prosperity and security.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said

Sir David Attenborough also spoke to the 15 members of the UNSC by video, before UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Sudanese climate activist Nisreen Elsaim briefed the Security Council live. 

“If we bring emissions down with sufficient vigour we may yet avoid the tipping points that will make runaway climate change unstoppable. In November this year, at COP26 in Glasgow, we may have our last opportunity to make the necessary step-change. If we objectively view climate change and the loss of nature as world-wide security threats – as indeed, they are – then we may yet act proportionately and in time.” Sir David Attenborough explain. 

The UK has led the way on climate action, committing in law to reach net zero by 2050 and pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2030 - the steepest reduction of any major economy. UK have also pledged to spend £11.6 billion on international climate finance over the next five years, including on efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vulnerable and fragile countries.

The Prime Minister is addressing the UN Security Council on Thursday (25/02/21) as part of the UK’s month-long presidency. The UK will also host a high-level Climate & Development Ministerial event on the 31st March with representatives from the countries most vulnerable to climate change around the world, as well as major donors and international institutions//UK Embassy realease