Today's Top 3 News: Epstein Files Mention Pandemic Simulations Linked to Bill Gates

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February 5, 2026 | 04:36 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tempo English compiled the top 3 news on Thursday, February 5, 2026. Here are the highlights: Epstein Files Mention Pandemic Simulations Linked to Bill Gates; Finance Minister Purbaya Backs Rp16tn Board of Peace Payment; and White House Experts Are Studying Indonesia's MBG Program, Says Prabowo.

The following is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today:

1. Epstein Files Mention Pandemic Simulations Linked to Bill Gates

Millions of Jeffrey Epstein's files, the late convicted sex offender, released by the U.S. Department of Justice last Friday, revealed that in a 2015 dated email, billionaire Bill Gates communicated with Epstein regarding a "pandemic simulation."

One email with the subject "Preparing For Pandemics" was sent by a person whose name was redacted to Epstein on March 20, 2015.

The email includes the agenda for the pandemic preparedness meeting and a suggestion to involve the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

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2. Finance Minister Purbaya Backs Rp16tn Board of Peace Payment

The Indonesian government assures that financial contribution for the Trump-backed Board of Peace will not disrupt the state budget's stability. According to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, the Rp16 trillion payment is still within a safe fiscal space.

"Rp16 trillion is not a big issue," said Purbaya after attending the Indonesia Economic Summit at the Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta on Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

The payment will be channelled through the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, derived from the state budget. Purbaya stressed that the government will be sure to implement cautionary principles in budget management to avoid creating new fiscal pressures.

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3. White House Experts Are Studying Indonesia's MBG Program, Says Prabowo

President Prabowo Subianto has claimed that Indonesia’s free nutritious meal program, known as MBG, has attracted attention from other countries.

He said experts from the administration of U.S. President Donald J. Trump are studying the initiative.

“Just yesterday, experts from the White House were studying our MBG,” Prabowo said while delivering a briefing during the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of the Central and Regional Governments in Sentul, Bogor, West Java, on Monday, February 2, 2026.

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Today's Top 3 News: Finance Minister Purbaya Backs Rp16tn Board of Peace Payment

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