Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia has recorded more than 2,500 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 18 days and is bracing for more deaths in the next few weeks, while newly confirmed cases are also rising at an unprecedented rate.
At this point in September, when the monthly death toll set the all-time high, there were around 1,900 deaths.
Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – The government is planning to reallocate some of this year's remaining stimulus funds to pay for mass vaccination in 2021.
Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has issued a gubernatorial instruction and decree ordering his subordinates to implement stricter restrictions over the year-end holidays to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the nation's capital.
Jakarta – As countries around the world continue the long struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Baduy tribe, which lives in a remote area of Lebak regency, Banten, has reportedly not been affected by the virus.
A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has reiterated that the responsibility of reparations for the victims of past gross human rights violations, including acts of terrorism, is in the hands of the government.
Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – Despite rising to rank among countries with high human development in the 2019 Human Development Report (HDR) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Indonesia's sluggish approach to environmental protection has significantly impacted its achievements, the 2020 HDR shows.
Riska Rahman, Jakarta – Railway developer PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC), a joint venture between Indonesian and Chinese companies, has announced that the construction of the widely anticipated Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway has reached 63.9 percent, amid delays due to the pandemic.
Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman, Jakarta – Low-cost carrier AirAsia Indonesia and the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) have inked an agreement to offer promotional rates for flights and hotels to boost demand amid the pandemic-induced downturn.
Hotman Siregar & Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Starting on Friday, anyone entering and leaving Jakarta on public transportation must first show a negative rapid antigen test to prevent Covid-19 case surges during the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police launched a new branch from its established 'Covid-19 Hunters' that will utilize online motorcycle taxi (ojek online) communities. The police find it necessary to expand the team to grassroots levels as the number of infection rates continues to climb. This new initiative was introduced on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
Bisnis, Jakarta – The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani lamented the government policy which obliged tourists heading to Bali for year-end holidays to present negative PCR test results in an effort to curb Covid-19 spread.
Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A coalition of NGOs has documented rampant labor abuses in five oil palm plantations in Indonesia, the world's biggest producer and exporter of the commodity. The palm oil from these plantations is certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and ends up in products made by food giant Nestle.
Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will reopen some of its waters to fishing with seine and trawl nets, drawing criticism over the destruction wrought by this practice.
Jakarta – A joint security team consisting of 8,179 people from the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Jakarta administration are preparing to provide security and enforce health protocols in the capital during Christmas and New Year services and celebrations.
Jakarta – The Jakarta Employment Agency (BKD Jakarta) is reportedly set to issue a circular stipulating that local government agencies operate at 25 percent capacity with the remaining employees working from home, as previously ordered by Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.
Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo announced on Wednesday (Dec 16) that he will be the first recipient of a Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia and the vaccination will be available free to all Indonesians.
Devika – "My family is religious. They do not have much knowledge of mental health problems. They asked me to pray more often, and even try fasting. When I first told them about my problem, they had difficulty accepting it. They asked me not to go to a psychologist."
– Person living with anxiety disorder, Jakarta
Fathin Ungku, Bernadette Christina, Singapore/Jakarta – Violent protests by hundreds of workers at one of Indonesia's biggest nickel smelters on Sulawesi island operated by PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (PT VDNI) had "paralysed" its activities, the China-backed company said in a statement.
Kiki Siregar, Jakarta – Indonesia has received 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech on Dec 6 and is set to receive raw materials to produce 15 million doses from the same company later this month.
Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has handed over awards in the form of medals and National Defense Patriot certificates to 11,485 former East Timor fighters.
Prabowo handed over the symbolic awards to 23 representatives – one of which was East Timor pro-integration figure and former East Timor pro-Indonesian militia deputy commander Eurico Guterres.
Lenny Tristia Tambun, Novy Lumanauw, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has decided that the Covid-19 vaccine would be free of charge for all Indonesians, amending the government's earlier decision to limit the free vaccination program only for healthcare frontline workers and the poor.
Indonesia's COVID-19 Task Force has told hospitals in the country to refrain from taking pre-orders for vaccines amid reports that the practice has become quite widespread.
The task force said advertising a potential vaccine is irresponsible at this point since no vaccine has received regulatory approval in the country.
Jakarta – President Joko Widodo must establish an independent fact-finding team to investigate the killings of six members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in the early hours of Monday, December 7.
Joniansyah (Contributor), Tangerang – Tangerang Regency Government has allowed several entertainment venues and tourist attractions to reopen after months-long closure during the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.
Adam Prireza, Jakarta – Jakarta Environment Agency has managed 1,213 kilograms of disposable face mask waste from households from April to December 2020, reported the agency acting head Syaripudin in a written statement on Tuesday, Dec. 15.
Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded 6,725 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, the second-highest daily total since the outbreak began, to take its total to 636,154.
The highest single-day rise was 8,369 cases reported on Dec. 3.
Jakarta – The Central Java administration is searching for at least another 914 nurses and 26 doctors to work at COVID-19 hospitals in the province, in addition to providing extra beds for isolation facilities and intensive care units, as it continues its fight against the pandemic.
Jakarta – The national COVID-19 task force has conducted a study into the COVID-19 mortality risks based on age and comorbidity factors.
According to an analysis by a team of experts in the past five months, COVID-19 patients aged 31 to 45 had 2.4 times the mortality risk of those aged between 19 and 30, while people aged 46 to 59 were 8.5 times more at risk.
Alfath Asmunda (AFP) – Sumini gets up at dawn to do her household chores – then leads a team of women into the jungles of Indonesia's Sumatra island, on a mission to battle rampant deforestation and wildlife poaching.
Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has once again listed among the world's top 20 most influential Muslim figures according to the 2021 edition of annual publication, The Muslim 500.
Ainurrahman Rabu – The Attorney General's Office has responded to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's instruction to resolve past gross human rights violations which have been left hanging in the air.
Jakarta – Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chief Jusuf Kalla has asked regional branches of the organization to collect convalescent plasma for COVID-19 treatment.
The former vice president said convalescent plasma came from people who had recovered from the disease.
Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Workers Union Confederation (KSPI) said international labor organizations supported its struggle against Law No. 11/2020 or Job Creation Law.
The KSPI president Said Iqbal warned President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the House of Representatives, business players, and the Constitutional Court of the matter.
Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Bali provincial government has issued circular No. 46 of 2020 which requires domestic airline passengers wishing to visit the Island of the Gods to present PCR swab or swab test documents. The policy takes effect during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Charles Maniani, Manokwari – Mobile Brigade (Brimob) paramilitary police, national police intelligence officers (intel) and the army's special forces (Kopassus) stormed the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) offices in the Almasuh area of Merauke regency, Papua, during a raid on Sunday December 13.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has responded to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo request for the institution to resolve cases of past human rights violations.
Jakarta – Residents of Tambrauw regency in West Papua province are opposing the establishment of the Tambrauw 1810 District Military Command (Kodim) which was officially inaugurated on Monday December 14.
Members of the Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) walked out of a plenary session yesterday in an apparent show of displeasure against the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) faction, who kicked up a fuss when other factions proposed a raise for councilors while many are struggling during the pandemic.
Jakarta – Burials in the Indonesian capital were 61% higher in the first 10 months of 2020 than in the past five years, according to a new study that could suggest Indonesia's real coronavirus death toll is far higher than official data shows.
Julian Millie – Over the last 2 years, the ABC's news website has featured at least six stories focussing on cruelty to animals in Indonesia. The stories are accompanied by graphic images and a warning: 'This story contains graphic images that some readers may find distressing'.
Erwida Maulia and Ismi Damayanti, Jakarta – Things were looking good back in January for Suryanti, an employee at a small travel agent in Bogor, a city south of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. She had just paid off her motorcycle loan and was planning a vacation with her parents with a bonus she expected to receive from her employer.
Thresa Sandra Desfika, Jakarta – The government will limit restaurants', movie theaters,' and shopping malls' operation hours and ban crowds and New Year celebrations in public places as the number of Covid-19 new cases and daily deaths soar in the country, the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday.
Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The government has decided to ban crowd-pulling events and New Year's Eve celebrations from Dec. 18 to Jan. 8 in a bid to prevent a spike in COVID-19 transmissions during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.
Jakarta – Authorities in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, are still considering the school reopening plan.
Jakarta deputy governor Ahmad Riza Patria said on Monday that the Jakarta administration was still studying the plan to avoid making any mistakes, antaranews.com reported.
Jakarta – The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has announced that it will extend the monitoring stage of a phase three clinical trial for the Chinese-developed vaccine Sinovac for another three months to determine the vaccine's efficacy and side effects.
Jakarta – National COVID-19 task force head Doni Monardo has asked regional health agencies to ration their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and stay consistent with the World Health Organization's minimum benchmark of 1,000 per 1 million people per week.
Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to shrink by 2 percent at worst or grow by 0.6 percent at best in the fourth quarter of this year, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday.
Ardila Syakriah, Jakarta – An online survey carried out by the Health Ministry has found that only one third of Indonesians wanting to get COVID-19 shots are willing to pay for a vaccine.
Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia has kept its trade balance in the black for the seventh month in November, posting a $2.62 billion surplus thanks to improving coal and palm oil exports while raw material imports remained depressed. The country's statistic agency announced on Tuesday.
Jakarta – The National Police's Densus 88 antiterror squad has apprehended a fugitive wanted in connection to the first Bali bombing who was on the run for 18 years.
A special task force detained Zulkarnaen, 57, in Purbolinggo, East Lampung, on Dec. 10, the police announced over the weekend.