VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Paris Curfew - the Sun daily 

Countries across the world tightened restrictions on their populations on Saturday (Jan 2) to fight a resurgence of COVID-19, as the European Union offered to help drug companies expand vaccine production to deal with distribution "bottlenecks". From local curfews to alcohol bans and complete lockdowns, governments are trying to tackle a surge in cases. The coronavirus has killed more than 1.8 million people globally since emerging in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

But experts fear the worst is yet to come, predicting a sharp rise in infections and deaths after weeks of holiday gatherings. French police booked hundreds of New Year revellers on Saturday for flouting anti-COVID-19 measures at an illegal rave. In Bangkok, the city's nightlife shut down following a ban on bars, nightclubs and restaurant alcohol sales, among a raft of restrictions aimed at curbing Thailand rising Virus toll//CNA

Journalist to interview The Indonesian President - JP

Indonesia's Press Council has appealed to all elements of society at large to keep defending and protecting freedom of the press because it is one of the fundamental pillars of democracy and an integral part of freedom of expression. 

"To this end, the Press Council urges all parties to create a conductive situation and to show a collective commitment to making the quality of our press freedom get improved and beneficial for the entire nation. The press freedom is part of the principles of democracy that must collectively be fought," Press Council Head Mohammad Nuh said in a statement that ANTARA quoted in Jakarta on Sunday.

Nuh made his statement in the midst of Indonesian journalists' protest over Point 2d of National Police Chief General Idham Azis' Announcement No.Mak/1/I/2021.dated on January 1, 2021. The point 2d of his announcement, General Idham Azis warned the people at large of not getting access to, uploading, and spreading contents of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) on websites or social media platforms. According to Nuh, the freedoms of speech and expression are the basic human rights of all Indonesian citizens that are protected by Indonesia's state constitution, and the press freedom is an integral part of them.

In a democratic country, mass media freely exercise freedom to report, publish, and broadcast public interest-related events and issues by obeying journalists' code of ethics, he said. The state is principally and morally obliged to avoid or minimize any barrier and restriction that may impede freedom of the press in disseminating information to the public//ANT

Covid 19 Vaccine ready to be distributed - ledger Enquirer

In a survey conducted by the Indonesian General Election Study (LKPI), 81.7 percent of the respondents have said they are ready to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses under the government’s immunization program. The survey has also indicated that 76.6 percent of the respondents are satisfied with and confident in the ongoing national economic recovery efforts, which are expected to help improve the economy that has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, LKPI executive director Arifin Nur Cahyono said in a written statement released on Saturday.

Only 18.7 percent of the respondents have said they are not satisfied with the national economic recovery efforts since they have had no positive impact on the people's economy. Meanwhile, 4.7 percent of the respondents refrained from answering. The survey, which was conducted from December 20 to 27, 2020, covered 1,225 respondents in 34 provinces in the country. Sampling was done using a mix-mode method since the research was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted face-to-face interviews.The survey has a margin of error of 2.8 percent at a 95-percent level of confidence, he informed.

Meanwhile, the government has begun listing the first stage recipients of the COVID-19 vaccine after millions of doses from Sinovac arrived in Indonesia recently, spokesperson for vaccine-related affairs at the Health Ministry, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said on Saturday//ANT

Electricity grid network - Resources asia

The government has made assurance that electricity subsidies for the community will continue in 2021 under the efforts to bring about economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The subsidy in electricity cost will still apply in accordance with the system that was in place before," State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Erick Thohir noted in an official statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

The minister remarked that 450-VA customers will receive a full fee waiver or free of charge. This is testament to the government's support for economically vulnerable communities.

"In accordance with the president's instructions, we, from the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), recently held a meeting with the minister of energy and mineral resources, so that the State Electricity Company (PLN) continues to provide services to people in need," Thohir, concurrently chairman of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), remarked. The minister further expounded that the electricity cost subsidy also refers to 900-VA customers. This subsidy extension is valid from January to March 2021.

Thohir stated that the focus will again be set at the possibility of continuing to extend the subsidy in line with the conditions of the affected community.

"The government has decided to extend the time to provide assistance for electricity costs in the form of a 100-percent discount or free for 450-VA household customers and a 50-percent discount for 900-VA power household customers for the next three months until March 2021," the minister revealed. 

Furthermore, the government ensures that all social safety devices will continue in order to ensure that COVID-19 handling is conducted comprehensively, with health and economic recovery prioritized//ANT