Jakarta – Following announcements by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan regarding the need for a city-wide lockdown of the capital to curb the spread of COVID-19, retailers fear the move would cripple Jakarta's economy.

Indonesian Shopping Center Tenant Association (Hippindo) chairman Budihardjo Iduansjah said the association hoped the capital city wouldn't be locked down.

Riza Roidila Mufti and Sausan Atika, Jakarta – Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan is calling on public transportation providers to not reduce the frequency and capacity of their services despite the government's appeal for people to work and study at home.

Izzan Fathurrahman – Perhaps no one else is more heavily regulated while, on the other hand, their roles are as rampantly neglected as women in Indonesia.

The latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed Indonesian women's employment rate at only 55.5 percent in 2019, up by only 0.06 percentage points from the year before.

Arya Dipa, Bandung – The West Java Health Agency said it only discovered later that a patient who died while being treated in a hospital in Cianjur had tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The temporary suspension, which includes exemption for short-stay visits, visa-on-

Jakarta – A coalition of civil society organizations has urged President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to dismiss Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto from his position due to an "absence of sensitive, responsive and effective leadership" in handing the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesian stocks hit circuit breakers for the third time in the past week on Tuesday, touching levels unseen since 2015 as the rupiah surpassed the psychological threshold of Rp 15,000 to the United States dollar in the ongoing coronavirus-driven global market rout.

Jeffrey Hutton, Jakarta – On any other Monday, Mr Ranggi Hardiyanto, 25, would have already sold at least a couple pairs of sneakers. But he and an assistant at an athletic shoe store at the Ambassador Mall in downtown Jakarta are standing at the till watching what few shoppers there are pass by.

V Arianti and Muh Taufiqurrohman – The Indonesian government has arrested more than 1100 suspected terrorists since 2015, with still more killed in counter-terrorism operations or during attacks.

Diana Mariska, Jakarta – When the Health Minister said Indonesia was prepared to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, did he mean everyone?

On Saturday, State Secretary Minister Pratikno confirmed that Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi tested positive for Covid-19. He now remains under intensive care at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued a fatwa on compulsory Muslim prayers specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MUI Fatwa Council chair Hasanuddin said in a written statement on Monday that Muslims in areas where COVID-19 had spread "uncontrollably" were "not permitted to perform Friday prayers in those areas until the situation returns to normal".

Jakarta – A member of Indonesian Young Scientists Forum (IYSF) has lauded President Joko "Jokowi" Wibowo for imposing a social distancing policy to stem the spread of COVID-19, but has urged the government to take a stricter stance by canceling mudik (exodus) this year.

Beritasatu, Jakarta – Judges at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday accepted a multimillion-dollar class action against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's alleged mismanagement of deadly flooding in Jakarta on New Year's Day that killed at least 67 people.

Jakarta – Floodwaters filled parts of Jakarta following heavy rain on Monday and submerged two subdistricts in East Jakarta, namely Cipinang Melayu in Makassar district and Tengah in Kramat Jati district.

Jakarta – Regions across the country have postponed the national exam and ordered students to study from home amid the government's call for people to practice social distancing in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Jakarta – Jakarta's office market is predicted to continue its declining trend as multinational companies remain cautious about expansion amid the growing uncertainties surrounding the country's economy, property consulting company Knight Frank Indonesia has said

Len Garae – In the latest emergency joint meeting organised by the Executive Committees of United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) and Vanuatu West Papua Association and Unification Committee (VWPAUC) at the Presbyterian Church Conference Hall in Port Vila last Saturday, members of both organisations have emphasised the importance of intense lobbying with member countries

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – The coronavirus in Indonesia has so far affected the middle class and up – people who returned from overseas trips, had exposure to infected foreigners, or are in the close circle of those infected.

Despite the central government and the Jakarta Provincial Government yesterday urging citizens to work from home in order to contain the coronavirus outbreak in the capital, long lines and crowds at public transportation facilities have been observed this morning after an abrupt reduction in city buses and trains.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – The House of Representatives and civil society groups have called on the General Elections Commission (KPU) to consider postponing regional elections scheduled for September and change political campaigning methods in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Jakarta – The government has announced 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 134 as of Monday afternoon.

"Fourteen [new] cases were [reported] in Jakarta, one in West Java, one in Central Java and one in Banten," Health Ministry Disease Control and Prevention Director General Achmad Yurianto told a press briefing on Monday.

Adrian Wail Akhlas and Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – Indonesia has officially announced a second stimulus package and has vowed to set aside a chunk of its state budget to support the country's economy against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak, providing some relief to a battered stock market and rupiah.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has not yet been able to arrest two key graft suspects who are still on the loose, former Supreme Court secretary Nurhadi and politician from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Harun Masiku, months after the antigraft agency named them suspects in two separate cases.

Jakarta – The number of Indonesia's ultra rich is expected to jump by 57 percent to 1,060 individuals over the next four years, the second highest increase in Southeast Asia, according to a recent report.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has called on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to enforce stricter social distancing measures by implementing "regional quarantines" following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in several regions of the country.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign debt rose in January due to an increase in the government's net borrowing, mainly through the issuance of government debt papers (SBNs).

Jakarta – Productively working from home, for those who can, is possible. That's the message President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his Cabinet members are trying to project to reduce the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.

Bandung – Workers from the All West Java Labour Alliance held a demonstration against the Draft Omnibus Law on Job Creation in front of the Sate Building (governor's office) in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Monday March 16.

Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo led his first cabinet meeting through video conferencing on Monday, two days after Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi tested positive for coronavirus.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – A group of scientists from the Indonesian Young Scientist Forum has called on the government to impose a lockdown on areas that have been deemed hot zones of the COVID-19 outbreak, in an effort to contain the virus' spread ahead of Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holiday in April and May.

Jakarta – A restriction on the operational hours of public transportation imposed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19 appears to have backfired, with large crowds and long lines building up at Transjakarta and MRT Jakarta stations across the capital on Monday.

Riza Roidila Mufti, Jakarta – Indonesia's logistics sector recorded 10.5 percent growth last year supported by high growth in railway and sea transportation, as well as warehousing, but the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to disrupt growth for 2020 as businesses limit operations worldwide.

James Massola, Jakarta – The Indonesian government's handling of the coronavirus crisis has been an omni-shambles from the get-go.

The government was in denial for more than a month, as almost every other country in south-east Asia reported cases, claiming it was coronavirus-free.

Arya Dipa and Markus Makur, Bandung – Regional leaders across the country have implemented social distancing measures following President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's call for people to work and study from home to avoid exposure to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano and Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asserted on Monday that imposing a lockdown was not in the works for Indonesia or any of its 34 provinces, saying that citizens should instead practice "social distancing" to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Herman, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade balance returned to the black last month because imports from China dropped by almost half as the world's second-largest economy dealt with the peak of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – The Taxation Directorate General has cancelled direct face-to-face services and is advising all taxpayers to use online facilities for filing their annual tax returns (SPTs) in compliance with the government's social distancing policy to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – The government needs to further simplify import procedures for basic needs such as sugar, meat and garlic to ensure sufficient supplies during Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holidays, when demand increases sharply, analysts and businesspeople have warned.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded a US$2.34 billion trade surplus in February thanks to higher manufacturing exports despite disrupted trade activities with China as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced on Monday.

Carlos K.Y. Paath, Jakarta – Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono looks set to succeed his father, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as chairman of the Democratic Party during the congress that kicked off on Sunday.

Agus, now serves as deputy chairman, is the sole candidate to register for the internal election just before the congress began at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – An Indonesian Health Ministry official confirmed that the ministry had received information from Singaporean authorities regarding Indonesian citizens being treated for COVID-19 in the city-state, saying that authorities at home had started tracing the patients' close contacts.

Sri Krishnamurthi – A remarkable 120 West Papuan students – all on scholarships – are studying in New Zealand, says Laurens Ikinia, a postgraduate student at Auckland University of Technology.

All-in-all, there are more than 600 Papuan students currently abroad in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, says Ikinia, a masters student in communication studies.

Carlos K.Y. Paath, Jakarta – Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono was appointed chairman of the Democratic Party by acclamation on Sunday to succeed father and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The Trump administration pressured Indonesia into dropping deals to buy Russian-made fighter jets and Chinese naval vessels, part of a global effort to prevent its top adversaries from eroding the US's military superiority.

Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – Indonesian humanitarian organization Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT) has denied reports alleging it of sponsoring the recent deadly sectarian riots in the Indian capital of New Delhi surrounding the controversial citizenship law.

Indian media company indiatvnews.com reported on Thursday that the ACT had funded the violent riots.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to deliver his last political speech as party chairman at the party's national congress on Sunday as he will be replaced by a new leader.

Joe Cochrane – The most valuable possession that Hasib, 40, owns with his wife Khomsiah, 38, is their shop in a trash-strewn riverside slum near the centre of the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

Riza Roidila Mufti, Jakarta – The government announced Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday but rumors that the minister was ill had been circulating for days before the announcement.

Ganug Nugroho Adi and Aman Rochman – A number of regions in Indonesia have decided to restrict public events, close schools and tourist destinations in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Tassia Sipahutar – Indonesia ordered schools to close across much of the archipelago as authorities scrambled to contain a sudden spike in coronavirus cases which included a minister who tested positive for the disease.