JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): The United States wants to increase its presence and engagement with South-East Asian nations to demonstrate its commitment to Asean centrality, Washington’s senior diplomat for East Asian affairs has said.
Indonesia extended its COVID-19 curbs on populous Java and Bali islands until Aug. 16, but will ease them in 26 areas, as official data showed infections have plunged in the capital Jakarta but are increasing elsewhere.
Indonesia is "finalising" a deal with Merck & Co to procure its experimental antiviral pills, named molnupiravir, to treat COVID-19 ailments, its health minister said on Monday.
"So that we have enough stock to withstand a potential next wave," he said, adding that Indonesia and Merck are in talks to build a production plant in Indonesia to produce raw material. Budi did not say how many pills are being procured.