The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi continues to lobby foreign countries toward a joint-development of COVID-19 vaccine. Recently, in a virtual summit of ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers, Retno urged the cooperation between ASEAN countries with the United States (US) in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic, including in the production of vaccines.

The Ministry of Defense wants to renegotiate a cost sharing agreement for the Rp21 trillion KF-X/IF-X jets development with South Korea. The Project was signed under the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).

Amien Rais confirmed the report that he will establish a new political party soon.  Who will join Amien’s new political party? Does Amien have enough financial support to run a political party?

The Minister of Research & Technology Bambang Brodjonegoro, who is also the head of the National Team to Accelerate the Development of COVID-19 vaccine, stated that three private pharmaceutical companies could be involved in the mass production of the vaccine. The identity of the said three private companies is now the subject of interest. Given the global demand, and the fact that Indonesia is the fourth largest population in the world, COVID-19 vaccine is a huge business.

Some have speculated that the former Military (TNI) Commander General (ret) Gatot Nurmantyo might join Amien Rais’ new political party. The speculation emerged after Amien’s loyalist Agung Mozin said that a number of high-profile figures, including a former military commander, and those from the so-called Coalition to Save Indonesia (KAMI) would join Amien’s new political party.

The Austrian Government is open for a negotiation after the Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto expressed his interest to procure 15 used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets of the Austrian Air Forces. Prabowo, however, is facing criticism from those who oppose the plan.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo established a National Team to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccine. The team reports to the President. The President expects the development of the so-called Merah Putih (Red-and-White) vaccine, a candidate vaccine fully developed by Indonesia, can be accelerated with the establishment of the said Team. 

The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim POLRI) arrested Ignatius Michael a.k.a Michael Tirta, a fugitive in a Rp14-billion tax case. Michael is the third fugitive that Bareskrim has arrested in the last two months. Bareskrim is in talks with the United States (US) for the extradition of two more Indonesian fugitives. These achievements would boost the profile of the Chief of the Bareskrim (Kabareskrim) Comr. Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo ahead of the succession of the police chief.