Indonesia morning news for March 16

Indonesia morning news for March 16
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Indonesia morning news

Indonesian Transportation Minister Tests Positive for Covid-19
Budi Karya Sumadi, Indonesia’s transportation minister, has tested positive for the Covid-19, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno said on Saturday.
— Jakarta Globe

Covid-19: Anies Baswedan Officially Announces School Closures
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced school closures for two weeks, starting on Monday, March 16, as an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s COVID-19 tally exceeds 100 with 21 new confirmed cases
Indonesia announced 21 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday afternoon, bringing the total of recorded people infected with the new disease to 117.
— The Jakarta Post

8 Indonesians Test Positive for COVID-19 in Singapore
The Indonesian Embassy announced the country’s eighth confirmed positive case of coronavirus or COVID-19 in Singapore on Sunday.
— Tempo.co

Jokowi and His Ministers Undergo COVID-19 Tests
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his ministers on Sunday underwent medical checks for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Sunday, following a finding that one of his ministers, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, tested positive for the virus.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia advances pre-employment card program to tackle pandemic impacts
The government is set to move up the disbursement of training funds for workers through the pre-employment card to late March as part of its broader efforts to cushion the economy from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— The Jakarta Post

Budget deficit of 2.5 percent of GDP relevant to times
The policy to widen the budget deficit to 2.5 percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP) is relevant to the latest developments, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
— Antara News

Coronavirus: Trade Ministry to Temporarily Ban Mask Exports
The Trade Ministry will temporarily suspend the export of face masks amid escalating fears of the spread of the coronavirus.
— Tempo.co

Rupiah falls to 16-month low as investors dump risky assets
The rupiah has fallen to a level unseen since November 2018 as fears over COVID-19 have prompted investors to dump risky assets amid the rout on global markets.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi’s plan to use B40 biodiesel by 2021 difficult to realize: Experts
Experts have expressed doubt about President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s plan to increase the palm oil content in biodiesel to 40 percent on a mass scale by next year from 30 percent at present.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia to relax restrictions to speed up imports, exports amid virus threat
The government has prepared a non-fiscal stimulus package that aims to ease current restrictions and accelerate export-import activities, targeting business sectors battered by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
— The Jakarta Post

Government allocates $8b to stimulate economy as businesses, workers suffer from COVID-19 impacts
The government announced on Friday that it would allocate Rp 120 trillion (US$8.1 billion) from the state budget to stimulate the economy by providing tax incentives and subsidies for workers, businesses and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia and Philippines move to revive nuclear ambitions
Without much fanfare, Indonesia and the Philippines appear to be moving to revive dormant nuclear energy plans through recently-proposed regulatory changes.
— Nikkei Asian Review

COVID-19 quick response team to guard archipelago’s 135 entry points
The quick response team in charge of handling the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic will defend 135 points of entry to Indonesia as a preventive measure against the further spread of the virus in the country.
— Antara News

Low premium may mean poorer services in national health insurance
Clients of the national health insurance may rejoice at the Supreme Court’s ruling annulling a sharp increase in the premiums they had to pay, but hospitals say the decision could hurt their already dire financial situation with many bills unpaid.
— The Jakarta Post

East Sumba Rejects Yacht Carrying 10 Foreign Nationals to Dock
The Waingapu port authority in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara has rejected a yacht carrying 10 foreign nationals to dock in the waters of East Sumba District as precautionary measures to prevent the entry of coronavirus or COVID-19.
— Tempo.co

Luhut: Netherlands Committed to Support Indonesian Tourism
The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the delegations from the Kingdom of the Netherlands had stated their commitment to supporting Indonesian tourism.
— Tempo.co

COVID-19; Regional Heads Urged to Postpone Overseas Trips
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has urged regional heads, deputy regional heads, chiefs and members of regional legislative assemblies across Indonesia to postpone their overseas trips to avoid contracting coronavirus or COVID-19 infection.
— Tempo.co

Anies Baswedan Closes Recreational Areas over Coronavirus
Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan decided to shut down the recreational and entertainment places for the next two weeks in a bid to prevent the coronavirus transmission from spreading further in the capital.
— Tempo.co

COVID-19 Patient Escapes from Persahabatan Hospital
A patient who tested positive for the new coronavirus or known as COVID-19 escaped the isolation room of Persahabatan Hospital (RSUP) in East Jakarta.
— Tempo.co

Australian surfers trapped at Indonesian port still in limbo over coronavirus fears
Twelve Australians have been trapped on their boat at an Indonesian port for a second day, blocked from disembarking their surf charter over coronavirus fears.
— 9 News

Govt seeks help from universities, research agencies in running COVID-19 tests
The Health Ministry is allowing universities and research agencies to run lab tests for COVID-19, as instructed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
— The Jakarta Post

Shopee to export Indonesian small businesses’ products to the Philippines
E-commerce firm Shopee plans to export millions of Indonesia-made products to the Philippines by the end of March as it seeks to strengthen its footing in Asia despite risks from the COVID-19 pandemic.
— The Jakarta Post

Corona by the beach: Extra days off, cheaper tickets have Indonesians thinking vacation
When the coronavirus outbreak began affecting the global economy, including the tourist industry in Indonesia, the government made the decision to provide incentives for businesses and extra days off for potential travelers.
— The Jakarta Post

PPATK chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badarrudin dies aged 62
Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) chairman Kiagus Ahmad Badarrudin died on Saturday morning at Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post

Two Sanglah Hospital nurses placed in isolation after developing fever, cough
Two nurses working at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, have been placed in the hospital’s isolation ward after showing symptoms of COVID-19.
— The Jakarta Post

Bank Danamon, Investree eye SMEs in new loan channeling agreement
Publicly listed private lender PT Bank Danamon Indonesia signed on Thursday a loan channeling agreement with financial technology (fintech) platform PT Investree Radhika Jaya.
— The Jakarta Post

COVID-19: Jokowi to oversee construction of Galang Island quarantine facility
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is scheduled to visit Galang Island in Batam, Riau Islands, to oversee the construction of a health facility specializing in treating COVID-19 patients.
— The Jakarta Post

State-owned companies promise higher dividends, stock buyback to help economy
State-owned companies have come to the rescue against the backdrop of a crashing domestic stock market and cash-strapped state budget by promising share buybacks and disbursing higher dividends earlier to cushion the economic impacts of COVID-19.
— The Jakarta Post

Govt to sell Jiwasraya assets, including Jakarta mall, to pay back creditors
The State-Owned Enterprises (SEO) Ministry plans to sell State-owned insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya’s assets, including a shopping mall and a collection of mutual funds in an effort to pay clients’ claims.
— The Jakarta Post

BTN to pay Rp 20.9 billion in dividends despite profit plunge
State-owned Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) announced on Thursday a plan to distribute Rp 20.9 billion (US$1.43 million) in dividends to its shareholders despite profits plunging last year.
— The Jakarta Post

Shell doubles capacity at Bekasi lubricant plant
Dutch oil company Shell is doubling the production capacity of Indonesia’s largest foreign-owned machine lubricant facility to capture a bigger slice of the domestic market.
— The Jakarta Post

COVID-19 has forced Bintan’s travel agent to lay off workers: govt
China’s new coronavirus outbreak that the WHO has declared a global pandemic, has crippled the business of Star Jet, a travel agent on Bintan Island, Riau Islands Province.
— Antara News

COVID-19: Indonesia finally begins contact tracing of patients who tested positive in Singapore
An Indonesian Health Ministry official confirmed that the ministry had received information from Singaporean authorities regarding Indonesian citizens being treated for COVID-19 in the city-state, saying that authorities at home had started tracing the patients’ close contacts.
— The Jakarta Post

‘We don’t want people to panic’: Jokowi says on lack of transparency about COVID cases
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has admitted that he was deliberately holding back some information on COVID-19 cases to prevent the public from panicking.
— The Jakarta Post

COVID-19: West Java reports six confirmed cases, one death
West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has announced that six West Java residents have tested positive for COVID-19, including one who died in Cianjur regency whom the Health Ministry had previously claimed was not COVID-19 positive.
— The Jakarta Post

Jokowi Appoints Luhut as Ad Interim Transportation Minister
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appointed Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan as Ad Interim Transportation Minister, replacing Budi Karya Sumadi who is being treated for COVID-19.
— Tempo.co

Regions Push for Social Distancing as Central Gov’t Prioritizes Avoiding Panic Amid Pandemic
The Jakarta provincial government has decided on Saturday to close all schools in the city for two weeks and postpone the student’s final exams in its latest efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital, Governor Anies Baswedan said on Saturday.
— Jakarta Globe

COVID-19: North Sumatra traces residents who attended virus-stricken religious gathering in Kuala Lumpur
Health authorities in North Sumatra are tracing some 350 residents of the province who attended a mass religious gathering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia so they can observe them to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
— The Jakarta Post

Trade Minister ensures adequate food stocks thru August
Trade Minister Agus Suparmanto assured that food stocks are adequate through August 2020, as rice stocks have reached 3.5 million tons and are expected to increase with the additional production of 2.2 million tons.
— Antara News

Habitat loss pushes Sumatran tiger out of forests, into conflicts with humans
Habitat loss and conflicts with humans continue to pose a threat to the Sumatran tiger, especially in South Sumatra, where four remaining natural habitats are shrinking because of deforestation, according to the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) Indonesia program.
— The Jakarta Post

Cities Turn to Online Learning to Prevent Covid-19 Spreading Among Students
More cities and provinces now follow Jakarta’s step to shut down schools in an attempt to slow down the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in their region.
— Jakarta Globe

MV Colombus allowed to call at Semarang Port
A Bahama-flagged cruise liner MV Colombus, carrying onboard 1,044 tourists, called at the Tanjung Emas Port in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang on Friday.
— Antara News

RSPI in Jakarta confirms recovery of two other COVID-19 patients
Prof. Dr Sulianti Saroso Infection Disease Hospital (RSPI) in Jakarta announced the recovery of two patients, who had contracted the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.
— Antara News

Netherlands resolute in facilitating Indonesian tourism development
The Kingdom of the Netherlands has echoed its commitment to assisting the development of Indonesian tourism, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated.
— Antara News

Jakarta limits food sales in retail stores to avoid panic buying
Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan on Sunday said the provincial government has decided to limit food sales in retail stores to avoid panic buying amid the full-alert status of COVID-19 pandemic.
— Antara News

COVID-19; 174 Jakartans Under ODP, 152 Others Under PDP
As many as 174 Jakarta residents are considered as “persons under monitoring” (ODP) and 152 others as “patients under surveillance” (PDP) for the coronavirus or COVID-19 as of early Sunday, according to the Jakarta Administration website.
— Tempo.co

Jokowi observes clean-up activity with disinfectant spray at Istiqlal
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was present at the Istiqlal Mosque on Friday to witness the clean-up process through the use of disinfectant solution to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
— Antara News

Two million bottles of carbolfuchsin prepared for disinfecting mosques
The Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) has readied two million bottles of carbolfuchsin to disinfect mosques across the country as part of the precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus, or COVID-19.
— Antara News

Coronavirus-free Certificates Given to World Dream’s Crew Members
Indonesian Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto on Saturday handed over health and coronavirus-free certificates to 188 crew members of the World Dream cruise ship who had completed their 14-day quarantine in Jakarta’s Sebaru Kecil Island.
— Tempo.co

Return of Diponegoro kris holds historical significance for Indonesia
The return of Prince Diponegoro’s kris, a dagger with a waved blade, is quite meaningful for Indonesia owing to its high historical value.
— Antara News

MUI condemns Hindu extremists’ acts of terror against Indian Muslims
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and several Muslim organizations in Jakarta released a petition which strongly condemned the acts of terror and crimes against humanity that the Hindu extremists have repeatedly committed against minority Muslims in India.
— Antara News

Malaysian-flagged fishing boat detained in Malacca Strait
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has arrested a Malaysian-flagged fishing boat for poaching in Malacca Strait.
— Antara News

SWI Reveals 388 illegal Lending Fintech Entities
The Investment Alert Task Force (SWI) has uncovered 388 illegal peer-to-peer lending fintech (financial technology) entities in February and March that brought the total number to 508 since January.
— Tempo.co

Jakarta Focuses Coronavirus Spread Surveillance on South Region
The Jakarta provincial administration focused its preventive measures against coronavirus transmission on South Jakarta given the highest risk of the virus spreading in the region based on the disease distribution map.
— Tempo.co

Bondowoso floods submerge 316 homes
Floods submerged 316 homes located in two villages in Mount Ijen area, Bondowoso District, East Java Province, on Saturday, according to the Bondowoso Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) .
— Antara News

Papuan female figure praises military, police for helping residents
Female figure of Kamoro tribe in Papua’s Mimika District Agustina Yatanea has praised security agencies for extending humanitarian aid to the people of Tembagapura Sub-district.
— Antara News

Daarut Tauhid Islamic boarding school closed anticipating COVID-19
The leader of Daarut Tauhid Islamic Boarding School, Abdullah Gymnastiar (Aa Gym), has shut the school anticipating the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the Indonesian Government strives to handle the rising number of patients.
— Antara News

Police name eight suspects in Adonara tribal clash
The East Flores Police have named eight as suspects in a tribal clash that claimed six lives in Adonara Island, East Nusa Tenggara.
— Antara News

BI wants 50,000 merchants in East Nusa Tenggara to use QRIS payments in 2020
Bank Indonesia (BI) wants 50,000 merchants in East Nusa Tenggara to use the digital Indonesian Standard Quick Response Code (QRIS) payment system by the end of this year.
— The Jakarta Post

Jayapura youths praise military for evacuating Tembagapura residents
The Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) Chapter in Sentani Sub-district, Jayapura District, Papua Province, has praised the Indonesian military and police for having performed humanitarian duties to evacuate people who fell prey to acts of terror by armed criminal group in Tembagapura District.
— Antara News

Agus Inherits Democratic Party Chairmanship from Father
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono was appointed chairman of the Democratic Party by acclamation on Sunday to succeed father and former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
— Jakarta Globe

Residents’ participation vital in Jambi peatland restoration: BRG
The Peatland Restoration Agency (BRG) has called on the public to support its efforts to restore peatland areas in the province of Jambi, where land clearing and fires cause trillions of rupiah in environmental damage and impact people’s livelihoods.
— The Jakarta Post

Mediation fruitless in Yogyakarta church office dispute
The Gunungkidul Investment and Integrated Service Agency in Yogyakarta has not issued a building permit (IMB) for the regional classis office of the Javanese Christian Churches (GKJ) in Grogol I village, Bejiharjo, Gunungkidul regency, amid protests from residents despite a 2018 court ruling that supported the office’s establishment.
— The Jakarta Post

 

 

Feature photo Greenpeace

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo focuses on International Day of Forests, March 21.

 

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

 

 

About Indonesia morning news.

Indonesia morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Indonesia English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Indonesia English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Indonesia daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Indonesia news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.15am Jakarta time.

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Justhine De Guzman Uy completed a Bachelor of Arts Major in Mass Communication at New Era University, Quezon City, the Philippines in 2016

After graduation she worked at the Philippine Broadcasting Service performing transcription and business news writing, before moving to Eagle Broadcasting Corporation where she worked as a news editor, translator and production assistant.

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