Jakarta – National COVID-19 task force head Doni Monardo has once again advised the public against gathering in large numbers to minimize the risk of further coronavirus transmission in light of a recent spike in confirmed cases.
The retired army general reiterated his warning that mass gatherings could almost guarantee viral transmission among the public.
Yunindita Prasidya, Jakarta – Blue chip stocks, or the so-called big caps, will benefit from foreign capital inflow, seen by the local stock exchange following the United States election, analysts have said, as the appetite for investing in emerging countries grows.
Mardika Parama, Jakarta – The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has introduced an integrated health, safety and security (3K) system to be implemented at the country's top 10 priority destinations to help the floundering travel and tourism industry amid pandemic pressures.
Antara, Jakarta – General Chairman of the Indonesian Mosques Council (DMI) and former VP Jusuf Kalla has hinted that he is ready to mediate a dialogue between the central government and Papuan people to seek solutions to various problems in the Indonesian province of Papua.
Jakarta – The Aceh administration has issued standard operating procedures for schools as it seeks to resume in-person learning during the pandemic.
Under the procedures, schools must provide on-campus facilities to implement health protocols and form a COVID-19 task force.
Jakarta – Although the public is largely well-acquainted with preventive measures to curb COVID-19 transmission such as the "3M" protocols, a significant number of people are still at a loss as to how tracing, testing and treatment – the so-called 3T procedures – work in the context of pandemic mitigation, according to a recent survey by research firm IPSOS Indonesia.
Ardila Syakriah, Jakarta – Indonesia is grappling with what health authorities have described as a "significant increase" in medical waste during the COVID-19 outbreak, with a shortage in processing facilities forcing the government to allow hospitals to burn their waste without license in times of emergency.
Medan and Jakarta – A COVID-19 reactive patient, identified only as D, 22, has given birth on her own, reportedly without the help of medical personnel at FL Tobing Sibolga Hospital in North Sumatra.
The patient's family criticized the unpreparedness of the hospital, saying that the patient, who had planned to have a C-section, ended up giving birth naturally.
Jakarta – As Indonesia approaches the ninth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities have revealed that many confirmed cases have been found among brides or their family members following wedding parties in Central Java.
Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has called on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to conduct a thorough audit and evaluation of the National Police for its personnel's alleged use of excessive force against Jobs Creation Law protesters.
Yustinus Paat, Farouk Arnaz, Dina Manafe, Yeremia Sukoyo, Jakarta – Hardline Muslime cleric Rizieq Shihab has gathered thousands of people in many events in Jakarta and West Java since his return from self-exile in Saudi Arabia last week, increasing the risk of Covid-19 spread as the Jakarta provincial government and the National Police looked away from his crowd's blatant disregard
Dhias Suwandi, Jayapura – A group of people in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, have blocked the arrival of an entourage from the Papuan People's Council (MRP) who were to hold a public hearing (RDP) on Papuan Special Autonomy in the Lapago indigenous territory.
Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – The Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has slapped Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab with a Rp 50 million (US$3,536) fine after finding the controversial cleric guilty of disregarding COVID-19 health protocol when organizing a public event that attracted large crowds over the weekend.
Norman Harsono, Jakarta – A multibillion-dollar and flagship coal gasification project in South Sumatra might do more harm than good for Indonesia's economy, the latest Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) report has found.
Jakarta – Digital violence has shown an alarming increase throughout 2019, especially leveled at women and critical voices against authorities, according to a report launched by the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet).
Jakarta – The shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani in Kampung Hitadipa in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, on September 19, conjured up memories of similar incidents in Gustaf Rudolf Kawer's mind.
Banda Aceh – Residents of Kuta Alam in the Acehnese provincial capital of Aceh have caught a gay couple having same-sex relations at a boarding house. The possible existence of a wider gay community is also being investigated.
Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – Journalists have called on fellow reporters and media workers to band together and form unions to stand up for their rights and welfare, especially during the COVID-19 crisis, which has prompted media companies to take drastic measures to cut costs.
Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – Twenty-two years since the 1998 student movement was staged by university students against former Indonesian strongman Soeharto, families of the fallen victims of the Semanggi tragedies are still doing everything they can to search for justice, even as their faith in the government dwindles.
Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia reported 5,272 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Saturday, a day after daily number passed the 5,000 mark for the first time since the outbreak began.
Muhammad Ridha – In a recent article Edward Aspinall suggests that the current student mobilisation revives old patterns from the Indonesian student movement. But there are three new manifestations in the current movement that can hardly be understood in terms of the old patterns.
Jessica Washington, Syarina Hasibuan, Eliazar Ballo, Jakarta, Indonesia – In the centre of the vast Indonesian archipelago – hundreds of giant lizards roam Rinca Island. The Komodo dragon – or Komodo monitor – is the world's largest and heaviest lizard. Fossils indicate they have ancient origins dating back millions of years.
Siktus Harson (UCAN) – Indonesia's firebrand and most controversial cleric Muhammad Rizieq Syihab has finally returned home after years living in exile.
He fled to Saudi Arabia more than three years ago because of charges filed against him by numerous civil society groups, particularly sex charges where he was accused of exchanging obscene messages and images with a woman.
Bu Wilson, Iram Saeed, Laura Afonso de Jesus, Caitlin Leahy, Pauline Tweedie – Timor-Leste, together with only a small number of countries globally, has to date successfully managed to control the spread of COVID-19 through an effective border and quarantine regime, and COVID-19 prevention programs.
To all regional heads in Indonesia, consider this a warning from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Firli Bahuri. The commission recently revealed that tips of graft committed by regional heads often come from those closest to them.
Tom Allard, Stanley Widianto, Gayatri Suroyo, Jakarta – Indonesia has sought emergency authorisation to start a mass vaccination campaign by the end of the year to combat the coronavirus in the archipelago, the Southeast Asian nation's president said on Friday.
Bali (Bloomberg) – Bali, the hardest-hit economy among Indonesia's provinces last quarter, is seeing a pick-up in activity as its governor continues debating when and how the island can reopen to international travellers.
With conservative lawmakers in Indonesia this week making another push to ban alcohol with a controversial bill, some are arguing against the potential harm of such a law, especially in a popular tourist destination like Bali.
Jakarta – The draft law on alcoholic beverages has again attracted public attention after the House of Representatives (DPR) Legislative Body (Baleg) revealed plans to begin deliberating the Draft Law on the Prohibition of Alcoholic Beverages (RUU Minol).
Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – Three people were arrested in Riau on Wednesday for allegedly trading elephant tusks.
They were identified as YP, a 52-years-old teacher from Jambi, YS, a 52-year-old man working for a private company, and WG, a 68-year-old farmer from Riau.
Ardila Syakriah, Jakarta – The national COVID-19 task force confirmed 5,444 new cases on Friday, the highest single-day figure the country has seen, as the cumulative death toll passed 15,000, two weeks after a long weekend during which thousands of people traveled throughout the country.
Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to award six Constitutional Court justices civilian honors has come under scrutiny, with critics noting that it could interfere with the court's impartiality as it reviews a number of challenges to contentious laws.
Jakarta – Eighteen members of an extended family in Yogyakarta have tested positive for COVID-19.
The Yogyakarta Health Agency and COVID-19 task force discovered the new cases using contact tracing after the head of the family died of the disease earlier this month.
Jakarta – The Army Military Police have named eight soldiers suspects for allegedly burning down an official residence of the Intan Jaya Health Agency in Hitadipa village, Intan Jaya, Papua, amid a series of alleged violence preceding the fatal shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani.
Jakarta – Indonesia has entered the monitoring stage of a phase three clinical trial for the Chinese-developed vaccine Sinovac, state-owned pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma director Honesti Basyir has said.
Mardika Parama, Jakarta – Insufficient cold storage infrastructure and lengthy shipping routes have posed challenges for fishery product distribution in Indonesia, impeding the industry's growth, government officials and experts have stated.
Jakarta – The House of Representatives resumed its deliberation of a controversial alcohol prohibition bill on Tuesday, after the bill had spent years on hold, as some lawmakers asserted that it was important for the country to have stronger laws governing alcohol production and consumption.
Jakarta – One soldier from the Indonesian Army and one from the Air Force are facing punishment after voicing their support for Rizieq Shihab, the controversial leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), in viral videos in conjunction with the firebrand cleric's return from self-exile in Saudi Arabia.
Jakarta – Attorney General ST Burhanuddin has filed an appeal against a guilty verdict in a lawsuit filed by family members of victims of the Semanggi shootings over his statement that the tragedies did not amount to gross human rights abuses.
Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia reported a new high in daily number of coronavirus cases on Friday amid a dramatic surge in Central and West Java.
The country has recorded 5,444 confirmed cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, taking its total to 457,735, according to the latest data from the Health Ministry.
Jakarta – As the national tourism has been idle for months amid global coronavirus lockdown, the Indonesian government has taken its time to improve safety standards in resort areas to maintain the maximum state of preparedness for when the global travel resumes.
Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – Indonesia has pushed for a travel bubble in Southeast Asia to start in the first quarter of next year as the country seeks to rejuvenate its tourism sector that has been decimated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jakarta – The Army's Central Military Police commander, Lieutenant General Dodik Wijanarko, says that a joint army (TNI AD) investigation team has yet to find any hard evidence to upgrade the status of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Intan Jaya Pastor Yeremia Zanambani to a criminal investigation.
Jakarta – The family of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani, who was shot dead in September in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua, has demanded that the military personnel allegedly responsible for the killing be brought to a human rights court instead of undergoing prosecution in a military court.
Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – Ever since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo named his expert staff team last year, the wait has been on for the millennial members of the team come up with what Jokowi hoped would be "out-of-the-box ideas" and "leaping breakthroughs" to support the programs of his second and final term in office.
Jakarta – The COVID-19 health crisis is said to have driven up the number of manusia perak (silver human), a kind of street performer covered in silver metallic paint armed with a cardboard box to collect donations, making their rounds on the streets in the capital city.
Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Australia has signed a AU$1.5 billion (US$1 billion) loan deal with Indonesia to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati announced on Thursday.
Yunindita Prasidya, Jakarta – Social media giant Facebook is selecting local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) affected by the COVID-19 crisis to be recipients of a total of Rp 12.5 billion (US$887,688) in grants, according to the company's country director.
Jakarta – The names of several current and former top officials were mentioned during the hearing of a bribery case against former Supreme Court secretary Nurhadi and his son-in-law, Rezky Herbiyono.
Jakarta – Emergency response authorities have evacuated 1,294 residents from parts of Yogyakarta and Central Java in the vicinity of Mount Merapi in anticipation of heightened volcanic activity, following a volcano tectonic earthquake that occurred on Wednesday afternoon and subsequent data analysis showing that magma below the mountain was rising to the surface.