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☆ G20 New Delhi summit 2023: Which countries and leaders will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside Le Meridien hotel during a rehearsal ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 2, 2023. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAKSunak is expected attend the summit on his first official trip to India as Britain's prime minister. GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZScholz has said the upcoming G20 summit in India remains important despite the absence of Russia and China. SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSARamaphosa has expressed full support for India's G20 presidency while conveying his intent to attend the summit. BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINABangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

Persons: Le, Adnan Abidi, JOE BIDEN Biden, Biden, XI, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Xi, VLADIMIR PUTIN, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, JUSTIN TRUDEAU Trudeau, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, RISHI SUNAK Sunak, KISHIDA, ANTHONY ALBANESE, YOON SUK, YEOL Yoon, OLAF SCHOLZ Scholz, EMMANUEL MACRON, Modi, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA Ramaphosa, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ALBERTO FERNANDEZ Fernandez, BOLA TINUBU Tinubu, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, URSULA VON DER, CHARLES MICHEL The, SHEIKH HASINA, Sheikh Hasina, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, JOKO, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Criminal Court, ICC, BRITISH, AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH, Associated Press, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN, African Union, NIGERIA'S, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA Brazil, OF, EUROPEAN, CHARLES MICHEL The European Union, BANGLADESH, Thomson Locations: Le Meridien, New Delhi, India, DELHI, India's, Ukraine, U.S, RUSSIAN, Russia, South Africa, Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Saudi, SHEIKH HASINA Bangladesh, Bangladesh, MELONI Italy

FILE PHOTO-Former Indonesian education minister Anies Baswedan talks to reporters after voting in the Jakarta governor election in Jakarta, Indonesia April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Beawiharta/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on Saturday named the chairman of Indonesia's largest Islamic party as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election, a move aimed at boosting his popularity in this Muslim majority country. His vice presidential pick, Muhaimin Iskandar, leads the National Awakening Party (PKB), which has strong ties with Indonesia's biggest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), that boasts 40 million members. Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a senior member of Prabowo's Gerindra party, said the announcement "automatically ended the political cooperation of Gerindra and PKB" but added his party respected Muhaimin's decision. Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Writing by Gayatri Suroyo; editing by Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anies Baswedan, Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto, Joko, Muhaimin Iskandar, Prabowo, Anies, Djayadi Hanan, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Muhaimin, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Prabowo's, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Former Jakarta Governor, Saturday, Central Java, Defence, National Awakening Party, Indonesia's, Ulama, PKB, NU, Anies, Thomson Locations: Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Surabaya, East Java

☆ Southeast Asia's first high-speed train – a boon or bust for Indonesia's economy?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While it could improve overall economic and business productivity, those benefits may be overrun by Jakarta's soaring debt burden as project costs continue to mount. The 142-kilometre train linking Indonesia's capital to Bandung is expected to move at 350 kilometers per hour, driven by electricity with no direct carbon emissions expected during operations. However, escalating costs of the project could push up Indonesia's government debt and overshadow any short-term economic gains. Initially, the train was to be financed by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China — a consortium of companies from China and Indonesia tasked with building the rail project. In that scenario, money spent on the train would have been better spent on alternative investments like irrigation projects, he said.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Arief Anshory Yusuf, Jokowi, Sri Lanka's, Mao Ning, Mao, Yusuf Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, Initiative, Indonesian, Bandung's Padjadjaran University, Australian National University, PT Kereta, Indonesia China —, KCIC, China Development Bank, Reuters, of Economic, Law Studies, Nurphoto, CNBC Locations: Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, Southeast Asia, Indonesian, Surabaya, Japan, Indonesia China, China, Entebbe, Beijing, IDR

☆ Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara. Here's why it won't be so easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Adek Berry | Afp | Getty ImagesIndonesia has ambitious plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Nusantara National Capital Authority, a government agency charged with planning and constructing the new capital, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The new Presidential Palace under construction at the country's new capital Nusantara. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA lack of demand for service-led jobs is another challenge Archer predicted. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Persons: Adek Berry, Joko Widodo's, Melinda Martinus, Martinus, Ju Ye Lee, Bagus Saragih, Agung Wicaksono, it's, Wicaksono, Bruno Lanvin, Joko Widodo, Diane Archer, Archer, Lanvin, Maybank's Lee Organizations: Nusantara, Afp, Getty, Indonesia, Cultural Affairs, Yusof, CNBC, Nusantara National Capital Authority, country's Ministry, Public, Agung Wicaksono Nusantara National Capital Authority, Maybank Investment Banking Group, Smart, IMD Business School, Bloomberg, Ciputra, Stockholm Environment Institute, Nusantara . Bloomberg Locations: Jakarta, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Indonesian, Indonesia, Singapore, Agung Wicaksono, Asia, Pacific, Nusantara ., Stockholm, Diane Archer Stockholm, Kalimantan

☆ Indonesia launches sky train in capital, hopes to ease traffic and pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks as he launches the Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 28, 2023. The driverless, 41.2 km (25.6 miles) Light Rail Transit (LRT) system connects central Jakarta and its satellites cities in West Java, Bekasi and Depok. People in Greater Jakarta commonly use a 418 km (260 mile) Commuter Line which serve around 1.2 million passengers per day. The president blamed the pollution on excessive road traffic and industries using coal and said nearly 1 million vehicles enter Jakarta each day. "Jakarta is always on the top 10 of list of cities with the worst traffic jams," he said.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Antara, Hafidz Mubarak, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Rail, REUTERS, Acquire, Rights, Monday, Swiss, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Greater Jakarta, West Java, Borneo, Nusantara, Southeast

☆ Jakarta orders civil servants to work from home to fight soaring pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“The air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area has been very, very bad,” Widodo said. ASEAN is a regional bloc that brings together 10 Southeast Asian countries, many of which have long suffered high pollution levels in their major cities. Ministers in the Southeast Asian country confirmed this week that President Widodo had been battling a cough for weeks and suggested it could be related to worsening air pollution in Jakarta. Air pollution has long plagued the Greater Jakarta area, with factories, coal-fired power plants and traffic congestion all contributing to the smog, according to experts. Experts previously told CNN the health costs of Indonesia’s air pollution cannot be underestimated.

Persons: Joko, Widodo, ” Widodo, Heru Budi, Sigit Wijatmoko, ” Wijatmoko, “, Wijatmoko, Sandiaga Uno Organizations: CNN, Jakarta Gov, CNN Indonesia, 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jakarta Convention Center, ASEAN, Ministers, Tourism, ” Tourism Locations: Jakarta, Swiss, Greater Jakarta Area, Greater Jakarta

☆ Malaysia and Indonesia should be able to complement each other, says Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMalaysia and Indonesia should be able to complement each other, says Malaysia's Anwar IbrahimAnwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, tells CNBC's Martin Soong as part of The CNBC Conversation, that his country and Indonesia should work together to complement each other — he said that has been the "spirit" of his conversations with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo, known commonly as Jokowi.

Persons: Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim Anwar Ibrahim, CNBC's Martin Soong, Joko Widodo Organizations: Email Malaysia, CNBC Locations: Indonesia, Malaysia

☆ Jakarta is the world's most polluted city. And Indonesia's leader has the cough to prove it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is the world’s most polluted city, according to a new study, and the country’s president may have the cough to prove it. Uno said doctors were still diagnosing the cause of Widodo’s cough but added that it might be related to the worsening air quality, reported CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia. But in recent weeks air quality in the capital has become particularly bad, deteriorating to the worst in the world, according to data provided by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. On August 9, Jakarta topped its list of polluted cities after registering “unhealthy” air pollution levels nearly every day, the company said. “Air pollution is a serious problem in Southeast Asia,” said political analyst Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham.

Persons: Joko Widodo, IQAir, ”, Sandiaga Uno, Uno, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, ” Budi, Widodo, ” Widodo, Bridget Welsh Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Tourism, Creative, Sandiaga, CNN, CNN Indonesia, Central, IQAir, Skyscrapers, Getty, University of Nottingham, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Jakarta, Swiss, AFP, Greater Jakarta, Central Jakarta, Greater Jakarta Area, Jakarta –, Southeast Asia, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Borneo

☆ Indonesia upper house speaker says 'important' to discuss means to delay elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A worker walks on the roof of Indonesian Parliament Building in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 5, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The speaker of Indonesia's upper house of parliament said on Wednesday it was important for the country to discuss the means to delay elections in times of natural disasters, wars, or pandemics. Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, must hold national elections every five years, with the next vote scheduled for Feb. 14. Indonesia currently has no framework to delay an election and some politicians have called for the constitution to be amended to allow a postponement. "How do we hold elections in the case of unexpected events occurring, like big natural disasters, wars, revolts, or pandemics," Bambang Soesatyo, the upper house speaker, said in an annual address ahead of Indonesia's Independence Day.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Bambang Soesatyo, Bambang, Joko Widodo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Gayatri Suroyo, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia plans random emission tests on motorists as poor air chokes Jakarta
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JAKARTA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia's capital will force drivers to undergo emission tests, officials said on Monday, amid deteriorating air quality that has made Jakarta one of the world's most polluted cities. Jakarta has been consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities globally since May and last week topped global rankings compiled by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. "We will start in Jakarta and when it gets better, we will expand it to greater Jakarta," environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar told a press conference. President Widodo also advised companies to impose hybrid working and urged weather modification in Greater Jakarta, saying dry weather was contributing to pollution. "Also, keep monitoring the industrial sector and power plants mainly surrounding Greater Jakarta," he told ministers.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Sandiaga Uno, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Widodo, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty, Susan Fenton Organizations: Swiss, Jakarta, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Greater Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Indonesia delays China-funded rail project's trial run for passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An electric Multiple Unit high-speed train is seen during Hot Sliding Test in Tegalluar, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, May 19, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. A free, limited trial run for passengers, initially set for Aug. 18, has been postponed to early September, but no delay is expected to the full operational launch on Oct. 1, KCIC said on Tuesday. Safety checks were ongoing as of last Friday, according to transport ministry official Mohamad Risal Wasal. KCIC said internal trials had gone smoothly but the company was still working with the transport ministry on necessary operational certificates. Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antara, Al Farisi, KCIC, Mohamad Risal Wasal, Xi Jinping, Joko Widodo, Stefanno Sulaiman, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Initiative, Thomson Locations: Tegalluar, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, JAKARTA, China, Indonesian, Jakarta

On a quarterly, non-seasonally adjusted basis, GDP expanded 3.86%, compared with the poll's prediction of 3.72% growth. Meanwhile, exports contracted 2.75% in the second quarter on a yearly basis, in stark contrast to last quarter's growth of more than 10%. Myrdal Gunarto, economist with Maybank Indonesia, said he might raise his bank's full-year 2023 GDP growth outlook of 5.05%, but described the second quarter data as "a sign that economic activities had peaked". The better-than-expected data may spur monetary policymakers to shift their focus from growth to the current account, as strong domestic demand typically leads to rising imports, said Fakhrul Fulvian, economist with Trimegah Securities, who maintained his full-year 2023 GDP growth outlook at 5%. The government is targeting the same growth rate for 2023.

Persons: Eid, Joko Widodo's, Myrdal Gunarto, Myrdal, Fakhrul Fulvian, Radhika Rao, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska Nangoy, Gayatri Suroyo, Martin Petty, Sonali Paul Organizations: Asia's, Statistics, Reuters, Maybank, Trimegah Securities, U.S ., Bank, DBS Bank, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Statistics Indonesia, Maybank Indonesia, Indonesia, Bank Indonesia

☆ Indonesia buys drones worth $300 mln from Turkish Aerospace
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Indonesia has bought 12 new drones from Turkish Aerospace worth $300 million, its defence ministry said on Tuesday, the latest in a series of purchases aimed at modernising the country's ageing military equipment. Indonesia in February also bought 42 Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion, which will be disbursed in phases over several years. At 134.3 trillion rupiah ($8.89 billion), the defence ministry has the biggest allocation from the country's total budget this year, according to government data. The deal with Anakara-based Turkish Aerospace was finalised in February and the drones are expected to be delivered within 32 months of the signing. It also includes training and flight simulators, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Turkish Aerospace, Defence, Rafale, Anakara, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia

☆ Southeast Asia moves closer to economic unity with new regional payments system
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A new regional cross-border payment system recently implemented by Southeast Asian nations could deepen financial integration among participants, bringing the ASEAN bloc closer to its goal of economic cohesion. A unified cross-border digital payment system will "foster a sense of regionalism and ASEAN-centrality in managing international affairs," he added. How it worksBy connecting QR code payment systems, funds can be sent from one digital wallet to another. For instance, Malaysian tourists in Singapore can make a payment with Malaysian ringgit funds in their Malaysian digital wallet when making a transaction. Or, a Malaysian worker in Singapore can send Singapore dollar funds in a Singaporean digital wallet to a recipient's wallet in Malaysia.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Nico Han Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Analysts, U.S, ., Southeast, Risk Intelligence, Malaysian, Singapore, Bank of International Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, The Philippines, Southeast Asia, Malaysian, Switzerland

☆ Indonesia plans incentives for EV makers, sets up meeting with BYD, Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has been trying to attract EV makers to invest in the country, enticing them with its rich nickel reserves - the world's biggest - which can be processed into EV batteries. However, some automakers like China's BYD have instead chosen to invest in Thailand, the region's automotive hub. "Tomorrow we are going to finalise incentives that we are going to give to any EV investment in Indonesia," Luhut said, adding they were awaiting President Joko Widodo's approval. Indonesia has been wooing Tesla for years, hoping to host an Asian production hub for the American EV maker. Tesla has been in talks with Indian officials for an investment in an EV factory there.

Persons: Pandjaitan, Luhut, Joko Widodo's, Elon Musk, Tesla, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: CNBC Indonesia, Maritime Affairs, Natural, EV, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, China's, Chengdu, California, United States, American

[1/7] Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn during the Courtesy Call at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 14, 2023. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/PoolJAKARTA, July 14 (Reuters) - Foreign ministers of two dozen countries meet in Indonesia on Friday with U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine and North Korean missiles set to dominate roundtable talks in Southeast Asia's annual security gathering. In opening remarks to foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chairman Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the gathering aimed to seek solutions rather than exacerbate regional and global problems. LAVROV: WESTERN 'DOMINATION'The 10-member ASEAN hosts an East Asia Summit on Friday morning before holding a separate meeting with Blinken. China's Wang also met with Lavrov, and said the two sides would "strengthen strategic communication and coordination".

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prak Sokhonn, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Nancy Pelosi, Matthew Miller, Wang, Blinken, Sergei Lavrov, China's Wang, Lavrov, Myanmar's, Martin Petty, Michael Perry Organizations: Cambodia's, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, REUTERS, U.S, North Korean, Friday's ASEAN Regional Forum, ASEAN, State Department, ARF, enraging, Washington, Department, U.S . Navy, East Asia Summit, United Nations Security Council, Russian, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, China, Ukraine, North, United States, Russia, Taiwan, enraging Beijing, LAVROV, Australia, Japan, Britain, South Korea, Myanmar

☆ From multi-millionaire entrepreneur to Indonesia's minister of tourism — meet Sandiaga Uno
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Adek Berry | AFP | Getty ImagesWhen Sandiaga Uno was appointed Indonesia's minister of tourism and creative economy, it could not have come at a worse time. "I was the minister of tourism and with zero tourists," Uno told CNBC's Christine Tan, speaking at an event in Singapore last month. We have zero tourists, but then I realized, millions of people have lost their jobs … we were really in a very, very difficult time," Uno said. Indonesian President Joko Widodo told Uno: "'You know what to do,'" Uno recalled. But we have 280 million people — and this year, we're targeting 1.4 billion movement[s] of domestic tourists," Uno told CNBC.

Persons: Anis Baswedan, Sandiaga Uno, Adek Berry, Uno, CNBC's Christine Tan, let's, Joko Widodo, Uno —, —, Edwin Soeryadjaya, Forbes, Prabowo Subianto Organizations: AFP, Getty, Saratoga Capital, CNBC, George Washington University, Resources Locations: Jakarta, Singapore, Indonesia, Asia

☆ Southeast Asia's IPO market is an investor favorite amid global headwinds, Deloitte says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Firdaus Wajidi | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesSoutheast Asia's initial public offering market is showing promising signs despite a global IPO slowdown in the first half of 2023, according to a new Deloitte report. In the last six months, Southeast Asia's market saw 85 IPOs raising $3.3 billion in proceeds, versus the 73 IPOs in the same period last year which raised $3.1 billion. That's a 16% increase in the number of IPOs and a 5% increase in proceeds for the first half of 2023. Indonesia's rising starIndonesia raised 70% of the total IPO proceeds in Southeast Asia for the first half of 2023. Indonesia "looks set to have its best year ever in terms of listing proceeds with 44 IPOs in 2023 H1," said Deloitte.

Persons: Firdaus, — GoTo, Joko Widodo, Harita Nickel Organizations: Anadolu Agency, Getty, Deloitte, Nasdaq, EV, PT Merdeka Battery Materials, Pertamina Geothermal, Indonesia, Harita Locations: JAKARTA, INDONESIA, Jakarta, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, China

☆ Australia and Indonesia have signed a 'win-win' EV battery deal, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mining giants Australia and Indonesia have signed a "win-win" EV battery deal, said Sabrin Chowdhury, head of commodities analysis at BMI, a research unit of Fitch Solutions. Indonesian President Joko Widodo met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Tuesday during a three-day state visit to Australia. The two countries welcomed "new commercial deals between Australian and Indonesian business across the health, mining and digital economy sectors," according to a government press release. "[Indonesia] has a major aim to develop its EV manufacturing industry. "Lithium and nickel together, they're very important parts of EV batteries.

Persons: Sabrin Chowdhury, Joko Widodo, Anthony Albanese, Chowdhury Organizations: Mining, EV, BMI, Fitch Solutions, CNBC Locations: Australia, Indonesia, Indonesian

☆ Indonesia starts reparations programme for victims of its bloody past
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Ananda Teresia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, June 27 (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Tuesday launched an unprecedented reparation programme for victims of past human rights abuses by the state, a project critics fear will compensate only a small fraction of those who suffered. "Today we can start restoring the victims' rights," said Jokowi, who came to office in 2014 promising to take up the issue. The compensation will range from educational and health incentives to house renovations, and visas for victims in exile. Research by Indonesia's human rights commission, in cooperation with civil society groups, has estimated there are between 500,000 and 3 million victims and survivors of the 1965 bloodshed. "We will try our best to reach more victims," Anis said.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Suharto, Jokowi, Sri, Anis Hidayah, Anis, Maria Catarina Sumarsih, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Aceh, Papua, Sri Winarso

[1/2] A woman casts her ballot during regional elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Sleman, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia December 9, 2020. Antara Foto/Hendra Nurdiyansyah via REUTERS/File PhotoJAKARTA, June 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia's Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit seeking a change to the country's election ballot system, clearing a hurdle that could have complicated an election just eight months away. Indonesia is set to hold simultaneous legislative and presidential elections in February 2024. Responding to the decision, PDI-P legislator Arteria Dahlan said the party would abide by the ruling. Eight out of nine parties represented in parliament, including those allied with the ruling PDI-P, had denounced the petition.

Persons: Antara, Nurdiyansyah, Suhartoyo, Arteria Dahlan, Critics, Joko Widodo, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic Party of Struggle, Thomson Locations: Sleman, Yogyakarta province, Indonesia, JAKARTA

Of the nine factions in parliament, eight have opposed changing the system, which they say would be regressive and undemocratic. "The possibility of an election delay is high if the ruling is a closed system," said Bivitri Susanti of Indonesia's Jentera school of law, adding the election commission would need time to implement the necessary changes. Fajar Laksono, the court spokesperson, confirmed a decision on the voting system was expected on Thursday. The court case and talk of an election delay has added fuel to persistent speculation that allies of Jokowi want him to stay in power longer, a scenario he has officially rejected. A higher court overruled that and Supreme Court has accepted the party's appeal.

Persons: Fajar Laksono, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Jokowi's, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Kate Lamb, Martin Petty Organizations: Democratic Party of Struggle Party, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA

☆ Indonesia, Malaysia aim to fight 'discrimination' against palm oil
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The EU passed a law this year banning imports of commodities linked to deforestation, a move that is expected to hurt palm oil. Indonesia and Malaysia are the world's top two producers and exporters of palm oil, a commodity used in everything from lipstick to pizza. In a joint statement, the two leaders vowed to cooperate closely to address the EU's "highly detrimental discriminatory measures against palm oil". Indonesia is the biggest source of foreign labour for Malaysia, with many Indonesians working in palm oil plantations. Reporting by Rozanna Latiff in Kuala Lumpur, Ananda Teresia in Jakarta; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Anwar Ibrahim, Jokowi, Rozanna, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: European Union, EU, Malaysian, Ananda, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, EU, Brussels, United States, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta

The "Dana Desa" village fund introduced by President Joko Widodo in 2015 and valued at $4.7 billion this year has long been criticised as prone to corruption. "So it's reasonable if the use of the village fund is somewhat loose and anyone can do what they want with it." ILLEGAL ARMSIt is unclear how much of the $337 million in village funds allocated for the Papua region in 2023 is being diverted into arms. "I have never seen a project funded by the village fund, not at all," said Bernadus Kobogau, a tourism official in Intan Jaya. In Papua's highlands, village funds are treated like a "revolutionary tax", he said, commandeered either via intimidation and coercion, or given willingly by supporters of independence.

Persons: Dana, Joko Widodo, Phillip Mehrtens, Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo, Dana Desa, Faizal Ramadhani, Sebby Sambom, Bernadus Kobogau, Deka Anwar, Anwar, Latifah Anum Siregar, makan tuan, Stefanno Sulaiman, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Indonesia Corruption Watch, West Papua National Liberation Army, Free Papua Movement, Institute for, Democracy Alliance for Papua, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesian, Papua, New Zealand, Jakarta, Indonesia, Nduga, Intan Jaya, Nabire

☆ Indonesia's delayed China-funded rail project beset by fresh problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Stefanno Sulaiman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] An electric Multiple Unit high-speed train is seen during Hot Sliding Test in Tegalluar, Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, May 19, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. China-backed consortium PT KCIC, Mott MacDonald, Umbra, CDB and China's embassy in Jakarta did not respond immediately to requests for comment. PT KCIC was awarded the project in 2015 after lodging a cheaper proposal than a Japanese rival, with completion expected in 2019. The planned 45-minute train ride between Jakarta and Bandung compares with a car journey of two to three hours or the current three-hour rail trip. Locating the stations in central Jakarta and Bandung would have been too costly, ministry official Seto said.

Persons: Antara, Al Farisi, Joko Widodo, Teuku Rezasyah, Mott MacDonald, Mahendra Vijaya, Hario, PwC, Sutanto Soehodho, Seto, Stefanno Sulaiman, Devjyot Ghoshal, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Initiative, Padjadjaran University, Reuters, PT, China Development Bank, CDB, PT KCIC, KCIC, University of Indonesia, Thomson Locations: Tegalluar, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, REUTERS JAKARTA, China, Jakarta, Indonesian, Southeast Asia's, Independence, PwC, CDB, China's

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