Indonesia

  • World NewsBali eyes wealthy tourists, while considering a ban on backpackers

    Bali eyes wealthy tourists, while considering a ban on backpackers

    Travellers visiting Bali on a budget may have to haul their backpacks elsewhere if one Indonesian government official gets his way. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who serves as the country’s Maritime and Investment Coordinator Minister, has put forward a controversial proposal to ban backpackers from Bali once the hugely popular tourist island re-opens. His comments are captured in a Bali Sun…

  • World NewsIndonesia converting motorbikes to electric, aims for all e-vehicles

    Indonesia converting motorbikes to electric, aims for all e-vehicles

    A new program is launching today in Indonesia to convert normal petrol-fueled motorbikes into electric vehicles to try to make Indonesian transportation more eco-friendly. Indonesia’s Energy Ministry announced the plan to make a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation and they have already converted 10 motorbikes. The plan intends to convert 90 more motorbikes by November for a total of…

  • Covid-19 NewsThursday Covid Update: High of 20,920 new cases and 160 deaths

    Thursday Covid Update: High of 20,920 new cases and 160 deaths

    A record high of 20,920 new Covid-19 cases and 160 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. In the latest and most severe wave of Covid-19, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has recorded 664,442 Covid-19 cases. Over the last 24 hours since the last count, the CCSA recorded 17,926 recoveries. Thailand now has 213,910…

  • World NewsIndonesia extends Covid-19 disease control measures for another week

    Indonesia extends Covid-19 disease control measures for another week

    Covid-19 restrictions in Indonesia are being extended to August 2 as the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to rapidly spread. Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced the extension yesterday, adding that the government will gradually adjust restrictions. Since the start of the pandemic last year, Indonesia has reported 3.1 million Covid-19 cases and 83,279 coronavirus-related deaths. With a recent spike in…

  • World NewsIndonesia now Asia’s Covid-19 epicentre as daily cases exceed India

    Indonesia now Asia’s Covid-19 epicentre as daily cases exceed India

    Indonesia has become the epicentre of Covid-19 in Asia as the daily case count has exceeded India’s. The country reported 56,757 new cases and 982 coronavirus-related deaths yesterday, surpassing India’s count of 39,072 new cases and 544 deaths. With the highest number of daily cases, the archipelago country of 270 million people is now the new Covid-hotspot in Asia, and…

  • World NewsCovid-19 crisis unfolding across several Asian nations

    Covid-19 crisis unfolding across several Asian nations

    Just as the US and Europe are gradually emerging from the devastation brought by Covid-19, the pandemic is wreaking havoc across Asia. Earlier this week, Indonesia overtook India as the epicentre of the virus, reporting over 54,000 new infections and 991 deaths in a single day. Just a month ago, daily new infections were averaging 8,000. Indonesian officials are concerned…

  • World NewsIndonesia surpasses India as Asia’s Covid-19 hotspot, with over 54,000 new cases

    Indonesia surpasses India as Asia’s Covid-19 hotspot, with over 54,000 new cases

    New daily infections in Indonesia have surpassed India’s recent daily numbers, giving the country the dubious honour of being Asia’s new Covid-19 hotspot. The highly-contagious Delta variant is wreaking havoc in Indonesia, with health officials concerned that it is spreading rapidly across Java and Bali, which have been plunged into partial lockdowns. However, according to a Thai PBS World report,…

  • World NewsBali to deport 4 tourists for not wearing masks, breaking disease control orders

    Bali to deport 4 tourists for not wearing masks, breaking disease control orders

    Four tourists in Bali are being deported after they apparently did not follow local disease control measures during their stay on the resort island in Indonesia. Some didn’t wear face masks while the other, who was infected with Covid-19, apparently left a quarantine hotel during her mandatory isolation period. Covid-19 has been on the rise in the Southeast Asian country,…

  • World NewsOver 350 vaccinated medical workers in Indonesia infected, dozens hospitalised

    Over 350 vaccinated medical workers in Indonesia infected, dozens hospitalised

    Hundreds of healthcare workers in Indonesia have tested positive for Covid-19, despite being vaccinated, with dozens hospitalised. According to a Reuters report, over 350 medical staff, all of whom have received the Sinovac vaccine, have been confirmed as infected. Most are asymptomatic, but dozens have been hospitalised with high fever and low oxygen levels. The infected healthcare workers are in…

  • World NewsBTS meal closes Indonesian McDonald’s amid Covid-19 fears

    BTS meal closes Indonesian McDonald’s amid Covid-19 fears

    McDonald’s in Indonesia was the site of a BTS-inspired frenzy that forced them to close at least 13 stores for fears of a Covid-19 outbreak. The world-famous Korean Pop band partnered with the world-famous American burger joint to make a BTS meal deal that had rabid K-Pop fans swarming the restaurants. After yesterday’s release of the BTS meal deal, 5…

  • World NewsIndonesian submarine salvage efforts called off

    Indonesian submarine salvage efforts called off

    After the tragic search for Indonesia’s missing submarine ending in finding it had sunk with no survivors April 21, the government has officially ended attempts to salvage the sub. The KRI Nanggalla 402 was engaging in live torpedo trainings but disappeared in April with 53 crew members aboard. Days of frantic searches and hopes for survivors came to a close…

  • World NewsBali officials run out of patience with badly-behaved tourists

    Bali officials run out of patience with badly-behaved tourists

    The Indonesian holiday island of Bali has lost patience with misbehaving visitors, with several tourists being deported for their high-jinks. Singapore’s Channel News Asia has been documenting the activities likely to get you kicked out of Indonesia – don’t say you haven’t been warned. Bali locals are not in the mood for jokes as their country continues to do battle…

  • World NewsSoutheast and South Asia struggling with rapid Covid-19 spread

    Southeast and South Asia struggling with rapid Covid-19 spread

    With outbreaks in many countries throughout the region, and India in a Covid-19 crisis, the World Health Organisation and other health bodies are urging action in South and Southeast Asia. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have joined the call to action to aid the Earth’s most populous region, and the pandemic now ravaging it. The…

  • World NewsYouTubers in Bali may be kicked out of Indonesia after face mask prank

    YouTubers in Bali may be kicked out of Indonesia after face mask prank

    2 YouTubers in Bali, Indonesia may be getting kicked out of the country after posting a video of one of them breaking local mask-wearing regulations. The local government has seized Josh Paler Lin and Leia Se’s passports and are facing deportation as a result of posting the video, which shows them entering a grocery store with Se being turned away…

  • World NewsThailand and Bali race for Southeast Asia’s 1st digital nomad visa

    Thailand and Bali race for Southeast Asia’s 1st digital nomad visa

    The popularity of the digital nomad lifestyle has been skyrocketing and with Covid-19 teaching many businesses that telecommuting works, it will only increase. Now, Thailand and Indonesia are in a slow-motion race to lure these lucrative travellers with the first digital nomad visa in Southeast Asia. Currently, many people work online from their beach houses and tropical Villas on Thai…

  • World NewsSearch teams zero in on suspected location of missing Indonesian submarine on last day of its oxygen supply

    Search teams zero in on suspected location of missing Indonesian submarine on last day of its oxygen supply

    Search teams say they are focusing on an area where the missing Indonesian submarine could be located. The area of interest is about 40 kilometres north of Bali, where oil has been found on the surface of the water. The head of the Indonesian military’s central information unit says the oil is near a dive point and where an object…

  • World NewsSearch continues for missing Indonesian submarine with 53 crew on board

    Search continues for missing Indonesian submarine with 53 crew on board

    Officials in Indonesia are continuing to search for a submarine that disappeared while on a routine exercise on Wednesday, with 53 crew members on board. The Indonesian military has issued a warning about unverified information and speculation after the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine went missing. It’s understood the vessel is expected to run out of oxygen within hours. Military spokesman Achmad…

  • World NewsIndonesian submarine with 53 crew on board missing off Bali coast

    Indonesian submarine with 53 crew on board missing off Bali coast

    The Indonesian navy is scouring the waters off Bali after losing contact with one of its submarines, with 53 crew members on board. The country’s defence ministry says the submarine was due to carry out scheduled torpedo exercises, when it requested permission to dive yesterday morning. “After permission was given according to the procedure, the submarine lost contact and could…

  • Transport NewsTravelling from the UK? Here’s some details on restrictions….

    Travelling from the UK? Here’s some details on restrictions….

    As the summer holiday is just around the corner, many in the UK are wondering if and how they will travel abroad during the Covid pandemic. Despite it being against the law to travel abroad for holiday and leisure in the UK, those who need to travel may want to know what requirements certain countries have in order to enter.…

  • World NewsIndonesia to introduce new GeNose Covid-19 test for foreign visitors to Bali

    Indonesia to introduce new GeNose Covid-19 test for foreign visitors to Bali

    The Indonesian government says that from next month, it will allow the use of the GeNose Covid-19 detector for foreign visitors to the island of Bali. This will replace the previous requirement for a negative PCR test or antigen rapid test obtained within 2 days of arrival. From April 1, foreign visitors will be able to take the GeNose Covid-19…

  • World NewsMalaysia joins calls to hold emergency ASEAN summit over Myanmar political situation

    Malaysia joins calls to hold emergency ASEAN summit over Myanmar political situation

    Malaysia is joining calls to hold an emergency ASEAN summit to discuss the political turmoil in its neighbouring country of Myanmar. Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin says he supports Indonesia’s president who originally proposed the emergency meeting. Muhyiddin says the continued use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians was unacceptable, and urged Myanmar’s military leadership “to change its course and choose…

  • World NewsNorth Korea severs ties with Malaysia over “unpardonable” US extradition

    North Korea severs ties with Malaysia over “unpardonable” US extradition

    The reclusive country of North Korea has confirmed a severing of diplomatic ties with Malaysia after its one-time ally agreed to extradite a North Korean citizen to the US. According to the Bangkok Post, Pyongyang has described the extradition as an “unpardonable crime”, accusing Malaysia of responding to US pressure with blind obedience. The country’s foreign ministry has announced that…

  • World NewsIndonesian police may have found officer missing since 2004 tsunami in mental health facility

    Indonesian police may have found officer missing since 2004 tsunami in mental health facility

    Officials in the Indonesian province of Aceh believe they may have found a police officer who has been missing since the Indian Ocean tsunami struck 16 years ago. The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami was one of the world’s worst recorded natural disasters, killing around a quarter of a million people in several countries around the Indian Ocean. Aceh was the…

  • World NewsIndonesia designates 3 areas of Bali as Covid-19 ‘green zones’ to welcome foreign tourists

    Indonesia designates 3 areas of Bali as Covid-19 ‘green zones’ to welcome foreign tourists

    In a move that Thai officials may watch with some interest, the governor of Bali, Indonesia, has designated 3 areas of the province as Covid-19 “green zones” to welcome international tourists. The popular tourist destinations of Ubud, Sanur, and Nusa Dua, have all been labelled “green zones” as Indonesia takes tentative steps towards re-opening its borders. Bali governor, Wayan Koster,…

  • Thailand NewsTop travel destinations grapple with re-opening during the pandemic

    Top travel destinations grapple with re-opening during the pandemic

    Tourism, not only in Thailand, but all over the world, was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Hotels shut down. Tour companies closed. Airplanes grounded. Millions lost their jobs. Before diving into Thailand’s tourism situation, here’s a quick look at what’s going on in some of the world’s top tourist spots… DUBAI Dubai, with its huge chunks of expats and…

  • Covid-19 NewsWorld Tourism hotspots re-opening – success or failure? | VIDEO

    World Tourism hotspots re-opening – success or failure? | VIDEO

    The world of tourism has been turned upside down, not just in Thailand but around the world. Globally, it’s certainly the hardest hit industry from the coronavirus pandemic, shutting down hotels, tour companies, grounding aeroplanes and putting millions out of work. Before we look at the latest situation, and predictions for Thailand, let’s take a quick tour of some of…

  • World NewsMount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, erupts

    Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s most active volcano, erupts

    The most active volcano in Indonesia, Mount Merapi, erupted yesterday, shooting rocks and a cloud of ash into the sky and streaming a river of lava down the side. Local residents within 5 kilometres of the volcano evacuated the area due to the risk of lava flows reaching the roads. Officials say the sounds from the eruption could be heard…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Stray car on runway, Indonesian quake, 300 baht tourist fee | January 15

    Thailand News Today | Stray car on runway, Indonesian quake, 300 baht tourist fee | January 15

    A man has driven his car onto the runway at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport while allegedly under the influence of illicit substances. AOT officials are now trying to figure out how the man was able to breach airport security and drive onto the airport runway. Airport security vehicles were seen escorting the car off the runway, passing by waiting planes. The…

  • Thailand NewsThailand News Today | Chinese vaccine, Thailand ‘drug hub’, Covid update | January 13

    Thailand News Today | Chinese vaccine, Thailand ‘drug hub’, Covid update | January 13

    Confusion reigns over the effectiveness of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine due to be rolled out in Thailand next month. Thailand has ordered 2 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine. The rollout of this particular vaccine among high-risk groups in Indonesia will start this week. However, questions now hang over the vaccine’s efficacy rate, originally reported as 78% in trials…

  • World NewsIndonesia rolls out Covid-19 vaccinations, president gets first dose

    Indonesia rolls out Covid-19 vaccinations, president gets first dose

    Indonesia is rolling out its mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign with President Joko Widodo as the first in the country to get jabbed with China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine. Indonesia approved the vaccine for emergency use earlier this week. It’s the first large-scale use of the Sinovac vaccine outside of China. Thailand has also made an agreement to purchase the 2 million…