President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has officially imposed the emergency activity restrictions (PPKM Darurat) in the Java-Bali region for the next two weeks in order to control the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest challenge with the restrictions is the lack of discipline from the regional heads and the public in general.

Some think that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo might appoint a general from a different military branch than the Military Commander (Panglima TNI) to become the Military Vice Commander. But a politician from Golkar Party suggested otherwise—the Military Vice Commander should come from the Air Force (TNI AU) like Commander Hadi Tjahjanto.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made a noteworthy statement when opening the chairmanship congress of the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. He told the attendees that he would regularly call Maj. Gen. Dr. dr. Tugas Ratmono and the Marine Lt. Col. drg. Muhammad Arifin by phone to monitor the COVID-19 situation at the Wisma Atlet Kemayoran emergency hospital. The President’s statement shows the importance of the said two high-ranking military officers to him, and they deserve our attention.

Red color dominated the chairmanship congress of the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi when President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo opened the congress on Wednesday (June 30). The President even wore a red batik shirt to the said event. Many believe it is a symbol of the end of Bakrie’s domination and the beginning of a new era.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo calmly responded to the criticism of student activists from Universitas Indonesia (UI). The President has also been criticized over his way of handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Jokowi prefers micro-scale restrictions (PPKM Mikro) to control the pandemic, but many are urging the President to weigh the probability of a large-scale lockdown, especially in Java given the COVID-19 situation in the Island.

The Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto has signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with his counterpart Florence Parly, France’s Minister of Armed Forces, during the former’s visit to Paris. There’s no official statement yet on the details of the agreement. But many believe that it is related to Prabowo’s plan to procure military equipment, especially the Dassault Rafale fighter jets, from France.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has submitted 33 names of Indonesian ambassador candidates to the House of Representatives (DPR). Some of the high-profile names are worth highlighting. One of them is Rosan P Roeslani, the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KADIN) for the 2015-2021 period. President Jokowi reportedly nominated Rosan for the position of Indonesian ambassador for the United States (US), one of the most strategic overseas posts.

Tomorrow, June 30, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN Indonesia) will hold its two-day chairmanship congress in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi. There will be no election in the said congress because Arsjad Rasjid, the CEO of Indika Energy (INDY), has been made, by way of consensus, the new chairman of KADIN. The congress, which will be opened by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, will make Arsjad’s appointment official.