VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia's Central Bank (BI) has forecast that Indonesia's inflation rate, would rise to 0.18 percent, mark-to-market (MTM), in April, 2020 compared to the previous month. It added that would make the year-to-date (ytd) inflation rate 0.94 percent and year-over-year (yoy) inflation rate 2.78 percent. As quoted by Antara News Agency, executive director of Bank Indonesia’s Communication Department, Onny Widjanarko  in a statement  on Friday stated the calculation is based on a price survey conducted by the bank in Week Four of this month. Onions have the biggest contribution to the inflation rate, followed by gold jewelry, oranges, sugar, and mineral water. BI will strengthen coordination with the government and other related authorities to monitor the dynamic rate, which is currently being affected by the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19)//Ant

The US Congress has passed a new Covid-19 relief package totalling $484bn, the fourth aid bill to clear Congress in response to the pandemic. The legislation, approved 388-5 by the House of Representatives, tops up a small business aid fund, while funding hospitals and testing. President Donald Trump said he would enact the bill, which passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday. The US has over 845,000 confirmed cases of the virus and 46,800 deaths. Last month, Washington enacted the largest economic stimulus package in US history, with $2 trillion in coronavirus aid//BBC

The first human trial in Europe of a coronavirus vaccine has begun in Oxford. Two volunteers were injected, the first of more than 800 people recruited for the study. Half will receive the Covid-19 vaccine, and half a control vaccine which protects against meningitis but not coronavirus. As quoted by BBC.com, the design of the trial means volunteers will not know which vaccine they are getting, though doctors will. The vaccine was developed in under three months by a team at Oxford University. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, led the pre-clinical research. The vaccine is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus, known as an adenovirus, from chimpanzees that has been modified so it cannot grow in humans//BBC

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic of colossal magnitude that has impacted the health and safety of billions and has long-term economic and social repercussions. This challenging scenario is a time for APEC economies to relook the trade policy response to ensure that it supports health systems across the region. Taking into account that the trade policy is a tool for fighting the pandemic, Director of the APEC Policy Support Unit Denis Hew suggested, that it is time for countries to lift export bans and lower barriers on medical goods. Hew said, saving lives is, the most pressing priority right now. Finding innovative economic solutions to this dilemma cannot wait until the lockdowns are lifted and the health crisis abates//Ant