Indonesia

  • Economy NewsIndonesia unveils three month plan to boost trade and cultural ties with Thailand

    Indonesia unveils three month plan to boost trade and cultural ties with Thailand

    Indonesia kickstarted a three month long series of activities in Thailand, aimed at bolstering trade, cultural ties, and tourism, and enhancing people-to-people diplomacy. Announced at the Indonesia Fair: Know Indonesia Better event, Ambassador Rachmat Budiman revealed the comprehensive plan, curated by the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. The event which took place over the weekend at the Central Court in Central…

  • World NewsInternational motorcycle gang and Indonesian drug syndicate nabbed in Thailand crackdown

    International motorcycle gang and Indonesian drug syndicate nabbed in Thailand crackdown

    An international motorcycle gang and a major Indonesian drug gang, both of whom had fled to Thailand, have been apprehended in a sweeping operation by the Thai Immigration Bureau (IB). The series of arrests also included the capture of a notorious human trafficking network operating in the Sa Kaeo province. The Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Police Lieutenant…

  • World NewsIndonesian teen’s father marries her childhood friend

    Indonesian teen’s father marries her childhood friend

    There’s a good way and a bad way for your stepmom to be your best friend. A 19 year old Indonesian woman, suffered mixed emotions as her father recently married her childhood friend. The bride and she were once close playmates, while their fathers worked alongside each other. In an initial display of joy on social media, Silwa Nabela Dwianadini,…

  • World NewsBrave mum battles giant crocodile: The canal clash of kalimantan, Indonesia (video)

    Brave mum battles giant crocodile: The canal clash of kalimantan, Indonesia (video)

    In a shocking encounter, a 38 year old mother of two survived an unimaginable ordeal by fighting off a giant crocodile that dragged her into a canal. The terrifying moment occurred on the morning of July 27, at around 8am, in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Falmira De Jesus, a palm tree planter by profession, was busy fetching water from the canal to…

  • World NewsIndonesia urged to emulate Thailand’s EV dominance

    Indonesia urged to emulate Thailand’s EV dominance

    A prominent business executive, known for his roles as president of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) and the chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), advocates cooperative efforts between Thailand and Indonesia to establish a robust and resilient supply chain within Southeast Asia that caters to the global EV market. In the early part of this…

  • World NewsIndonesia probes potential leak of election system verdict

    Indonesia probes potential leak of election system verdict

    Indonesia‘s Coordinating Minister for Politics, Legal and Security, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, has called for an investigation into a potential leak involving a Constitutional Court verdict that could alter the country’s parliamentary election system. This comes after former deputy justice minister, Denny Indrayana, claimed that the court had repealed the current “open-list proportional representation” system for Indonesia’s parliamentary elections. Indrayana stated…

  • World NewsIndonesia adopts cool roofs to combat heatwaves and reduce energy costs

    Indonesia adopts cool roofs to combat heatwaves and reduce energy costs

    A low-cost, sustainable solution to the increasing heatwaves in Southeast Asia is being implemented in Indonesia through the use of “cool” roofs. These roofs have a special coating applied to them that reflects sunlight and reduces the amount of heat absorbed by a building, resulting in lower indoor temperatures. In Indonesia, the Cool Roofs project, led by architecture lecturer Beta…

  • World NewsIndonesian shamans scam victims with ‘magic money’ schemes, face murder charges

    Indonesian shamans scam victims with ‘magic money’ schemes, face murder charges

    Shamans posing as spiritual figures in Indonesia have swindled fearful citizens out of their life’s savings, leaving them destitute and shamed. Scammers promising to turn small investments into substantial riches have been widely circulated on social media sites like Facebook, reaching over 1.4 million viewers. This has led to a rise in fraudulent activities involving shamans which, in turn, has…

  • World NewsMyanmar peace plan progress lacking, says Indonesia’s president

    Myanmar peace plan progress lacking, says Indonesia’s president

    Despite having agreed to implement a peace plan with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) two years ago, Myanmar’s ruling military has made no significant progress, according to Indonesia’s president. Speaking on the second day of the ASEAN leaders’ meeting in Labuan Bajo, President Joko Widodo stressed the need for the bloc’s unity in deciding the next steps to…

  • World NewsIndonesia’s president condemns attack on ASEAN officials in Myanmar

    Indonesia’s president condemns attack on ASEAN officials in Myanmar

    Indonesia‘s President Joko Widodo, today, condemned an attack in Myanmar on ASEAN officials delivering humanitarian aid but did not provide further details of the occurrence. Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, allied with the anti-junta militias, the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), stated that it was not aware of any attack. The PDF in Taunggyi District, Shan State, where the attack reportedly…

  • World NewsIndonesia’s efforts to kick-start peace process in Myanmar

    Indonesia’s efforts to kick-start peace process in Myanmar

    Indonesia has been discreetly engaging with Myanmar’s pro-democracy shadow government, the ruling junta, and ethnic minority armies for several months, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. As this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia aims to kick-start a peace process and reduce violence in the region. In an interview, Marsudi revealed Indonesia’s behind-the-scenes efforts to…

  • World NewsSpeedboat carrying 78 people sinks in western Indonesia, leaving nine missing

    Speedboat carrying 78 people sinks in western Indonesia, leaving nine missing

    A speedboat accident in western Indonesia has left at least 11 people dead, with a further nine individuals still missing. The vessel, the Evelyn Calista 01, was carrying 72 passengers and six crew members when it sank on its journey between Tembilahan, a town in the Indragiri Hilir Regency in Riau province, and Tanjung Pinang city in a neighbouring province…

  • World NewsBrazilian teen faces death by firing squad for smuggling cocaine into Bali

    Brazilian teen faces death by firing squad for smuggling cocaine into Bali

    Prosecutors demanded death by firing squad last week for a Brazilian teenager who was caught with 3 kilogrammes of cocaine in her luggage upon arrival in Bali, Indonesia, in January. According to Newsflash, prosecutors want to see 19 year old Manuela Vitoria de Araujo Farias executed by a firing squad for her crimes if found guilty, which is the maximum…

  • World NewsRussian tourist to be deported from Bali for naked pic on sacred mountain

    Russian tourist to be deported from Bali for naked pic on sacred mountain

    A Russian man is to be deported from Indonesia after posting a photo of himself on social media standing on a sacred mountain in Bali with his pants around his ankles. Mount Agung – an active volcano – is the highest point in Bali and is especially sacred to Hindus, who believe it to be a replica of Mount Meru,…

  • World NewsBali to ban foreigners from renting motorbikes

    Bali to ban foreigners from renting motorbikes

    Governor of the Indonesian island of Bali, I Wayan Koster, said that foreigners will soon be banned from renting motorbikes and scooters on the island. He said he will request all motorbike rental shops to ban foreigners from using their services. The governor has had enough of foreign tourists violating traffic rules… “As tourists, act as tourists, using the vehicles prepared…

  • World News‘Discipline’ vs science: 5.30am school start in Indonesia

    ‘Discipline’ vs science: 5.30am school start in Indonesia

    The early bird catches exhaustion. Starting school early in the morning has been found in numerous studies to result in a lack of sleep and decreased focus among students. In 2014, a landmark study suggested that school should never start before 8.30am. Additionally, a 2017 study found that starting classes at 10am led to a 20% improvement in the national academic…

  • World NewsMan threatens to release sex tape, woman cuts off his penis

    Man threatens to release sex tape, woman cuts off his penis

    An Indonesian man’s short-sighted demand for sex may have cost him his ability to ever have sex again. On Saturday the man’s girlfriend allegedly cut off his penis in a fit of rage after he insisted on sex. The woman was apparently annoyed at her boyfriend earlier, so turned him down for sex. He persisted and threatened to release a…

  • World NewsASEAN to rescue trafficking victims from Chinese gangs

    ASEAN to rescue trafficking victims from Chinese gangs

    Thailand is a key destination country for migrant workers, human trafficking, and forced labour. Many IT jobseekers who end up in Thailand look to ASEAN to rescue trafficking victims recruited by Chinese gangs as slaves in cybercrime factories. ASEAN is now to help rescue these trafficking victims reeled in with promises of high-paying jobs overseas which turn out to be…

  • World NewsTear gas used again in Indonesian football stadium

    Tear gas used again in Indonesian football stadium

    Indonesian police apparently have not learned their lesson about the use of tear gas in football stadium crowds. Yesterday they used a water cannon and tear gas to disperse a large crowd of football fans trying to get into a sold-out match. Officials decided to bar spectators after security concerns. The game was between PSIS Semarang and Persis Solo. Fans…

  • World NewsPapua militants release video of kidnapped NZ pilot

    Papua militants release video of kidnapped NZ pilot

    New footage has been released by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), showing that New Zealand pilot, Philip Mehrtens, who was kidnapped last week, is alive and well. The video is the first proof of life since he was reportedly taken captive by Papua insurgents in the remote region of Nduga on Feb. 7. Last week, in the Indonesian…

  • World NewsUnlucky car smashed during fight between two lions

    Unlucky car smashed during fight between two lions

    You know that feeling when someone smashes into your car and you just KNOW they don’t have insurance? That was definitely the case for an unlucky car owner in Indonesia whose car got caught in the middle of a fight between two lions. The incident took place in Taman Safari Indonesia II Park in Prigen, East Java. It’s a popular…

  • World NewsNZ pilot taken hostage by Indonesian separatists in Papua

    NZ pilot taken hostage by Indonesian separatists in Papua

    In the Indonesian region of Papua, separatist fighters took a New Zealand pilot hostage and set fire to a small commercial plane after it made a landing in a remote highland area. The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and stated that the pilot would not be released until the Indonesian government acknowledged the independence…

  • Crime NewsMolestation charges for Indonesian woman luring boys with PlayStation

    Molestation charges for Indonesian woman luring boys with PlayStation

    A disturbing arrest was made for molestation in Indonesia after a woman was accused of exchanging sexual favours with young boys in exchange for access to PlayStation games. The incident took place in Jambi, the largest city of the province of the same name, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The woman was taken into custody by police on charges of…

  • World NewsJD.com to quit Thailand, and Indonesia

    JD.com to quit Thailand, and Indonesia

    China’s largest online retailer JD.com is to quit Thailand, and Indonesia next month, a big blow to its overseas expansion plans. The move follows the trend of Big Tech firms cutting costs as the domestic Internet market slows down. JD Central in Thailand and JD.ID in Indonesia, JD’s joint ventures in the countries, announced the closures on their websites, reported…

  • World NewsIndonesian couple’s suicide note requests no investigation

    Indonesian couple’s suicide note requests no investigation

    An apparent double suicide in Indonesia is raising eyebrows as the deceased left a surprising suicide note. The couple was found dead, fully clothed in bed and holding hands after allegedly poisoning themselves. In what appears to be a suicide note the couple left behind, they asked that their death not be investigated. According to police in Ciputat, South Tangerang…

  • World NewsIndonesia could bring Myanmar junta to justice after taking over ASEAN chair next year

    Indonesia could bring Myanmar junta to justice after taking over ASEAN chair next year

    Indonesia could bring Myanmar’s junta leaders to justice after the country takes over as the chair of ASEAN. A group of Indonesian legal experts may have found an impact on the fate of the junta that seized power in Myanmar. The experts made the case to amend a law that was enacted back in 2000 which restricts punishment for human…

  • World NewsJakarta aims to bring more Thai tourists

    Jakarta aims to bring more Thai tourists

    With tourism in recovery across Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta is bidding to bring more Thai people next year. The head of the Marketing and Attraction Division under Jakarta’s Department of Tourism and Creative Economy espoused the draw of Indonesia’s largest city for international tourists and businesspeople to visit. Jakarta has always been the heart of Indonesia, the…

  • Thailand NewsWhat next for Bali as Indonesia bans sex?

    What next for Bali as Indonesia bans sex?

    In a Draconian overhaul of the country’s criminal code, Indonesia criminalized sex outside marriage. The reforms include a ban on cohabitation between unmarried couples and would apply to both Indonesians and tourists. This angered rights activists and prompted protests in Jakarta. However, the reactions in Bali range from scepticism to concern. Santi Aprilia, an Indonesian housewife, told the Guardian… “These…

  • World NewsSex outside of marriage to carry one year jail sentence in Indonesia

    Sex outside of marriage to carry one year jail sentence in Indonesia

    Sex outside of marriage will result in a one-year jail sentence if lawmakers get their way tomorrow in Indonesia. In some of the most Draconian measures introduced in the Southeast Asian nation for decades, lawmakers are set to ratify changes to its criminal code tomorrow. Critics predict will send Indonesia back to the Dark Ages. The Semeru volcano erupted in…

  • World NewsIndonesian earthquake death toll reaches 268 with 151 still missing

    Indonesian earthquake death toll reaches 268 with 151 still missing

    The death toll from the latest Indonesian earthquake has risen to 268, with 151 still reported missing. The quake which hit the island of Java, has injured 1,083 people according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The quake hit the city of Cianjur on Monday afternoon, with one woman saying her home started shaking like it was dancing. According to…