VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Presiden Joko Widodo - Business sector should create more sustainable jobs - Setkab  

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has urged business operators to expand job opportunities to expedite recovery of the national economy battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government has striven to create more jobs for the public through the labor-intensive program, Jokowi stated in Jakarta during the virtual celebrations of Chinese Lunar Year 2021 on Saturday.

However, the head of state believes the business sector would need to contribute to the creation of sustainable jobs.

"Sustainable job creation can be promoted by the business sector. That is the key and not the government," Jokowi noted.

The president affirmed that the government had continued to issue policies on economic recovery to boost economic activities during the pandemic for micro-, small-, and large-scale enterprises.The government has also prioritized state budget expenditure to purchase locally manufactured products.

In a bid to facilitate recovery of the economic ecosystem, especially in the manufacturing sector, the government has slashed the tax revenue target by reducing the sales tax on luxury goods (PPnBM) for cars until the end of the year.

"It also offers a zero-percent down payment to buy a house. I think through these ways, we will revive public demand, consumption, and purchasing power," Jokowi remarked//ANT

Presiden Jokowi menghadiri Perayaan Imlek Nasional Tahun 2021, secara virtual dari Istana Kepresidenan Bogor, Jawa Barat, Sabtu (20/02/2021). (Foto: Biro Pers Setpres/Lukas)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo laid emphasis on the concomitant handling of health and economic problems.

"The handling of health and economic problems cannot be separated," the head of state noted in his remarks at the 2021 National Chinese New Year virtual celebrations from the Bogor Palace, West Java, on Saturday.

The president emphasized that the Indonesian nation must be able to demonstrate that health problems can be handled optimally, so that confidence will emerge for economic recovery.

Furthermore, the nation must be able to demonstrate that the social and political situation stays stable, so that the people's purchasing power continues to increase.

"Supply and demand must be raised together and synergistically, and this can not only be done by the government and monetary authorities, but once again the role of the private sector and the business world is also very decisive and becomes the key," the president expounded.The finance ministry had earlier projected that the positive trend in economic recovery observed in the fourth quarter of 2020 will continue this year following an improvement in several indicators.

The national economy contracted 2.19 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020 as compared to a contraction of 3.49 percent recorded in the previous quarter.

The ministry noted that this year, several indicators had shown signs of improvement, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rising to 52.2 in January 2021, from 51.3 in December 2020.

“This is the highest level in the past six years. Public confidence has also continued its positive trend,” Febrio Kacaribu, chief of the ministry's fiscal policy board, stated//ANT

The G7 virtual meeting 2021 - independent.co.uk

The UK Prime Minister is setting out his ambition to cut the time to develop new vaccines by two-thirds to 100 days, as he chairs the first G7 leaders’ meeting of the UK’s presidency.

The development of a coronavirus vaccine in approximately 300 days was a huge and unprecedented global achievement. By reducing the time to develop new vaccines for emerging diseases even further, we may be able to prevent the catastrophic health, economic and social repercussions seen in this crisis. The 100 day ambition was proposed by CEPI earlier this year.

The UK Prime Minister has also confirmed today that the UK will share the majority of any future surplus coronavirus vaccines from our supply with the COVAX procurement pool to support developing countries, in addition to the UK’s £548 million funding for the scheme. He will be encouraging G7 leaders to increase their funding for COVAX in support of equitable access to vaccines.

“Perhaps more than ever, the hopes of the world rest on the shoulders of scientists and over the last year, like countless times before, they have risen to the challenge" Speaking ahead on Friday meeting, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. 

“The development of viable coronavirus vaccines offers the tantalising prospect of a return to normality, but we must not rest on our laurels. As leaders of the G7 we must say today never again. By harnessing our collective ingenuity, we can ensure we have the vaccines, treatments and tests to be battle-ready for future health threats, as we beat Covid-19 and build back better together" Prime Minister added. 

Meanwhile, on a press statement received by Voice of Indonesia in accordence to this matter, UK's Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste, Owen Jenkins said that the UK decision to donate the majority of any future vaccine surplus to developing countries through COVAX is big, great news. Indonesia is one of the 92 countries eligible for vaccines under COVAX, so is likely to be one of the countries that benefits from this generosity. 

"This comes on top of the UK’s huge donation to GAVI - £548 million – one of the largest donors, and 1/5th of the total funds raised. Now, as the first country to commit to sharing the majority of our surplus vaccines through COVAX, this news show how the UK is a force for good in the world – demonstrating how we should tackle this pandemic with a spirit of togetherness and through our shared multilateral institutions" the Ambassador added. 

"Difficult times lead to innovation. The rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines has been amazing – and one of the most impressive features of the global pandemic response. Now we have the chance to cement these gains for the future – working globally on every part of vaccine development – through research, trial and production – to benefit everyone. Hopefully these efforts mean we will be more ready than ever before for a future pandemic" The Ambassador also said.  

Delivering on the objectives in the Prime Minister’s Five Point Plan to Prevent Future Pandemics – first set out at the UN last year - will be a key focus of the UK’s G7 presidency this year. 

The UK Prime Minister will also call on G7 leaders to support a treaty on pandemic preparedness through the WHO. 

The meeting will be the first hosted by the UK PM as part of the UK’s G7 Presidency this year and the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020.

At the meeting leaders are expected to confirm their support for the UK’s G7 health priorities and discuss wider efforts to address global challenges and secure a sustainable, green economic recovery from coronavirus, as well as a number of foreign policy issues//NK-VOI  

Djokovic defends Australian Open dynasty against Medvedev rampage - NBC Sport

A very different Australian Open comes to a familiar end on Sunday as Novak Djokovic looks to thwart another challenge to his Melbourne Park dynasty from the latest Grand Slam aspirant in Daniil Medvedev.

The tournament has charted a rocky path through the COVID-19 pandemic and a snap five-day lockdown due to a local outbreak robbed it of much of its vitality.

Much like the tournament, world number one and defending champion Djokovic has been forced into crisis management at times during his campaign.

Pilloried in the leadup for petitioning organisers to ease strict quarantine protocols for players, the Serb struggled with an abdominal strain sustained in the third round.His ability to manage the injury was key in bringing him within one match of a record-extending ninth Australian Open crown but he said he was fighting fit after beating Russian qualifier Aslan Karatsev in the semi-finals.

Victory over fourth seed Medvedev would mean an 18th Grand Slam title for Djokovic, pulling him within two of the record 20 shared by "Big Three" rivals Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.

While the 33-year-old Djokovic has never lost a final at Melbourne Park, his reign has rarely looked so vulnerable.

He suffered a huge scare against Dominic Thiem in the five-set decider last year, and Medvedev is possibly the player he would least like to face.

Not for nothing did Djokovic brand him “the man to beat”.

The rangy Russian has been a machine since November, clinching the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals and the team-based ATP Cup in a 20-match winning streak that has included 12 straight victories over top-10 opponents.

Djokovic was among Medvedev’s victims at the ATP Finals but when the Serb strolls onto his favourite centre court on Sunday, the form-book is unlikely to figure.

With the exception of Thiem's U.S. Open win last year where Djokovic was disqualified for hitting a tennis ball into a line judge, the "Big Three" have won all the Slams since 2017.

"There has been a lot of talk about the new generations coming and taking over from the three of us but realistically that isn’t happening still," Djokovic told Eurosport.

Contesting his second Grand Slam final but first in Australia, Medvedev is hungry for success after being edged by Nadal in a classic five-set decider at the 2019 U.S. Open.

Djokovic might see something of himself in the confident 25-year-old, who boasts similarly elite court coverage, defence and shot-making.

Medvedev has added mental strength to his arsenal, which proved invaluable in his semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas as he closed out a tense third set after briefly wobbling in the face of a hostile crowd.

He has also shown willingness to indulge in a bit of niggle, saying the pressure is all on Djokovic as he chases the 20-slam record//CNA