Bản in : Al-qaeda linked group blamed for Jakarta blasts

Indonesian police confirmed on July 19 that regional terror outfit Jemaah Islamiyah is the culprits behind twin suicide blasts at Jakarta hotels, and said one of the bombers had been identified.

"We confirm that the attackers are from Jemaah Islamiyah because there are similarities in the bombs used," Indonesian national police spokesman Nanan Soekarna was quoted cited by the Jakarta Globe as telling a press conference the same day.

He said an exploded bomb left in a guestroom of the JW Marriott hotel, which was attacked along with the nearby Ritz-Carlton, resembled devices used in Bali attack and one discovered in a recent anti-JI raid on an Islamic boarding school.

"They are from the same school. We found similar tools, similar materials and similar methods," he added.

The daily said Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaida-linked militant network, has carried out dozens of bombings in Indonesia in the past decade including 2002 attacks in Bali that left more than 200 dead, mostly foreign tourists.

Police have identified one of the two suicide bombers who targeted the hotels during the breakfast period on July 17 when they were packed with foreign businessmen and diplomats.

"Following the preliminary results of facial reconstruction, both suicide bombers are male," he said, quelling speculation that a woman was involved.

Immediate reports after the attack said nine people were killed in the bomb blasts. Yet, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda on July 18 put the toll at eight, including four foreigners and the two suicide bombers.

The suicide bombings at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta on July 17 are the first of their kind since 2005./.

Source: Bản in : Al-qaeda linked group blamed for Jakarta blasts

Python swallows Indonesian man whole, with aftermath caught on video

Video of episode emerged after a search party glimpsed the shape of shoes in the belly of the python

Jakarta, Indonesia: It looks like a horror movie. As a villager slices open the belly of a python, a man's body emerges, after it had been swallowed whole by the giant snake the day before.

The video of the episode emerged after a search party in the remote Indonesian village of Salubiro, on the island of Sulawesi, glimpsed the shape of shoes in the belly of the python. After chasing the snake and killing it, the Indonesians sliced open the python, revealing the body of the villager, whose name was Akbar.

A graphic video clip of men cutting up the python to retrieve the victim's body was posted to YouTube.

Human-animal encounters are common in Indonesia, a tropical archipelago that contains Asia's largest swath of rainforest. Environmentalists worry that such encounters will only increase because of the country's rapid rate of rainforest destruction, which disrupts ecosystems and leads predators to seek new prey.

"As humans push further into wildlife, habitat conflict like this is more likely to occur as both humans and wildlife require space," said Farwiza Farhan, the chairwoman of Forest, Nature and Environment of Aceh, an environmental organisation.

Plantation workers like Akbar are often the most at risk. A 2013 report by Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of environmental organisations on the island of Sumatra, found that over 12 years, 60 per cent of tiger attacks in a region in Riau province had occurred in concessions where developers had recently cleared the forest.

The report found that the tiger attacks resulted in 27 human deaths, as well as eight dead tigers. Marauding elephants also regularly wander into villages in plantations throughout Sumatra, killing workers.

Sulawesi, a heavily forested island in eastern Indonesia, is much less developed than Sumatra, but it has undergone a major exp ansion of palm oil plantations over the last decade, which could make python attacks like the one that occurred this week more likely, experts said.

Wahdi Azmi, the director of wildlife studies on the veterinary faculty of Syiah Kuala University in Aceh province, called the recent attack "a rare case of a python eating a person — but also shows that we need to manage human wildlife interactions better by conserving the habitat."

Pythons are known to attack humans, and can kill them by suffocation, but this represents a rare case in which a python succeeded in swallowing its human victim.

"This is an unfortunate incident," he added.

According to Junaedi, a village official who briefed the news media on Tuesday, villagers had heard shouting the day of the attack but assumed it was simply someone hunting pigs, because no one had cried for help. The next day, a search party was sent, and the python was found.

Source: Python swallows Indonesian man whole, with aftermath caught on video

Indonesia to hold 2017 Sail Sabang int'l maritime event later this year

JAKARTA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia planned to hold a grand international sailing event of Sail Sabang later this year in waters around the nation's westernmost tip of Weh island in Aceh province's district of Sabang, expected to be catered by hundreds of yachters and delegations of several countries.

The grand tourism event of 2017 Sail Sabang was slated from November 28 to December 5, continuing the previous similar events held in eastern and central regions' waters, including in Bunaken, Tomini and Karimata in 2009, 2015 and 2016.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said the option to take Sabang was considered on the facts the district has remarkable coral reef, has been a favorite to yachters in world and is close to top maritime destinations of Langkawi, Phuket and Singapore.

"Sabang also hosted international yacht rally and race called Sabang Regatta several times, were highly praised by international yachters communities," Luhut said on the sidelines of a coordination meeting to prepare the event on Wednesday.

The senior minister said four main locations would be set to host the event themed "Sabang, the international hub of maritime tourism", comprised of Sabang Bay, Sabang Fair, Gapang Resort and 0 Km site.

President Joko Widodo was scheduled to attend the peak session in the event scheduled in Pasiran, Sabang Bay, the minister added.

Tourism Ministry's Deputy Minister for Destination and Tour Industry Development Dadang Rizki Ratman said yachters participating in Sail Sabang would come from Australia, Singapore and several European countries.

He added that the flag off of Sail Sabang would be conducted in Darwin, Australia in July. Before reaching Sabang, yachts taking part in the event would make stopovers in several Indonesia's destinations including in Kupang, Lombok, Banyuwangi, Karimunjawa, Belitung and Bintan.

"Some 100 yachts are expected to reach Sabang during the event period from Nov. 28 to Dec.5," Dadang said in the meeting.

He added that tall ship parade would be featured in the peak session, to be participated by tall ships from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Source: Indonesia to hold 2017 Sail Sabang int'l maritime event later this year

Bekasi KRL to change route via Pasar Senen to Jakarta Kota next month

Jakarta's commuter train (KRL) operator KAI Commuter Jabodetabek (KCJ) plans to redirect its Bekasi, West Java, to Jakarta's Kota Station route through Pasar Senen Station from Manggarai in April to reduce the density of passengers at Manggarai.

KCJ spokesperson Eva Chairunnisa said that some trips would be redirected through Pasar Senen and continue to Kampung Bandan Station and then on to Kota.

"This is the strategy to reduce density in Manggarai Station. The route remains the same [from Bekasi to Jakarta Kota], hence the passengers do not have to worry. We'll announce the route change before the departures," Eva said Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Manggarai station is the biggest transit station for the KRL in Greater Jakarta.

The operator was scheduled to announce the details of the plan to the public on Thursday, Eva added.

Currently Manggarai Station is being renovated with the intention of laying a double track system to separate intercity trains from the KRL line connecting Greater Jakarta. The station is also being prepared for connection to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. (wnd/dmr)

Source: Bekasi KRL to change route via Pasar Senen to Jakarta Kota next month

BWW Review: LEGENDA BALADA BALADI at GRJS Bulungan

Legenda Balada Baladi opened up in GRJS Bulungan, Jakarta from the 24th to the 26th of March 2017.

The musical tells a story about two young lovers, Jaka and Poet. Envious of the legends' stories such as Sangkuriang to Situ Bagendit, they set out to establish themselves as legends, and met the storyteller who made it happen, Anonym. After having their new stories written, they eventually met each other again in their new life. Little did they know, the legends' stories always end up in misery or sorrow, so with the help of a fellow friend, Jawara who with his mighty spells and chants made good and justice to the legends' stories, set out on a quest to find Anonym and defeat her once and for all.

Managed by Someday Project, this theatre community managed to bring three high school theatre extra-curriculars together; SEP Theatre from SMAN 78 Jakarta, Kuaterfilas, SMAN 112 Jakarta and Teater Delima from SMAN 85 Jakarta.

According to Fitria Rahmadani, the Director of Someday Project, although the actors from the many schools they managed ran through obstacles such as daily courses and parents' permission to rehearse, the cast and crew managed to do a splendid job on their 3 day run.

Legenda Balada Baladi itself is an ode reminder for the long forgotten legends' stories where there is always a moral behind every story that can be applied to everyday life. Through the vast growth of social and culture in Jakarta these days, the musical aims to give young people remembrance of the good moral embedded in the stories such as respect to parents, three magic words : sorry, please and thank you, and so on, as said by Fitria Rahmadani.

Someday Project itself doesn't only teach their students on the art aspect such as acting, dancing and singing, but it is important for them to learn soft skills such as theatre management, the art of music, design and marketing to support the whole show itself.

The community is also encouraging more and more young people to step out of their comfort zone and enjoy the life of theatre. According to one of the actors on the musical, Timothy Risto B. was excited to join theatre because he knows that getting involved in the theatre world needs process, and they all learn together to reach the same equal goal. It also helped boost his confidence in performing on stage. Fitria Rahmadani also said that being in theatre doesn't always require you to act, sing or dance. In fact, there are a lot of parts in theatre that could be explored to support the cast performing on stage.

I managed to catch Legenda Balada Baladi's 2nd show on Saturdayat 19.00PM (GMT +7.0) and the theatre was already packed with a lot of students and parents supporting their fellow friends and families on the production.

Legenda Balada Baladi made me reminiscue of my good old elementary days as a lot of the legends' stories were once told to me by a teacher a long time ago, so it is nice to recall those stories through acting, dancing and song.

It's amazing how a group of high school students managed to make meticulously detailed props, costume design, as well as pristine choreography moves and easy listening yet wonderful music. Huge props to the team behind the musical.

A great musical won't succeed with it's equally talented cast so it's best to talk about the people who stood out in Legenda Balada Baladi.

The dynamic duo Jaka and Poet stole the show immediately. Their presence truly brought the story together and as the pivotal characters of the musical, they did well in portraying two young lovers seeking for a way to be legends, and conquered all odds and met again in their second life after their stories were being retold by the author of the legends' stories, Anonym.

Jawara was a triple threat. With acting, singing and dancing on his belt, Timothy Risto B. managed to conquer the stage with his immense presence. Portraying as an individual with abilities close to the Gods, Jawara succeeded in defeating the storyteller Anonym, only by knowing that Anonym once was the love of his life, the feeling of disbelief and in denial kicked in, since Jawara was also given a new life such as Jaka and Poet. Timothy made justice to that scene I most remembered.

Anonym, the storyteller also made a graceful entrance to the show. Regina Christianto fits the role like a glove. As a poised storyteller with powerful prowess and a hidden secret in the past, she managed to take control of the musical as the individual who made all the stories happen.

The famed musical wouldn't be as is without these two running around. Buyung and Ta Liong (portrayed by Nabil Syahmil and Rizky Nurid Ananda respectively) was a fun addition to the cast. As contradicting Minangese and Chinese assistants to Jaka (or so called Malin Kundang on his next life), they both managed to make the whole theatre laugh with their comedic antics. Major props to the actors who made the musical more alive.

I have to say once again that it's amazing to see high school students pull up a production as big as Legenda Balada Baladi. Despite breath-taking performances from the cast, I do believe the script needs a little bit of improvement since I do feel it lost focus at some of the scenes. The orchestra played a great role in filling the scenes with a mix of traditional, classical and pop genres. I did hear a certain famous movie soundtrack being played amongst the array of songs performed by the orchestra, but judging from the original scores played throughoutthe musical it didn't matter that much.

Legenda Balada Baladi is on a mission to bring Indonesian legends back to life. With good morals and comedic antics embedded within the story, I can pretty much assure that the whole audience enjoyed the performance, and ended their experience with a purpose.

Related Articles From This Author Albertus Raynaldi
Source: BWW Review: LEGENDA BALADA BALADI at GRJS Bulungan

France’s Hollande in Singapore at start of Asian tour

About forty business leaders, mostly from small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as Secretary of State for Industry Christophe Sirugue and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian are accompanying him in Southeast Asia.

SINGAPORE: French President Francois Hollande arrived Sunday in Singapore, the first leg in the final foreign tour of his five-year term, and will go on to Malaysia and Indonesia.

The tour ending Wednesday in Jakarta is dominated by economic and defence issues and is aimed mainly at strengthening ties with a region with high economic potential, according to the presidential palace.

Hollande has made some 230 international trips since 2012 but has only one other major commitment abroad before his term ends in mid-May: the post-Brexit European summit in Brussels on April 29.

About forty business leaders, mostly from small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as Secretary of State for Industry Christophe Sirugue and Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian are accompanying him in Southeast Asia.

Hollande will meet French business leaders at the Asia-Pacific campus in Singapore of France's ESSEC business school, before holding talks later Sunday with his Singapore counterpart Tony Tan Keng Yam.

On Monday he will open a forum grouping 170 French start-ups with a presence in Singapore and make a speech on the regional and international situation to the prestigious Singapore Conference.

On Tuesday he travels to Malaysia, which has a continuing relationship with France in defence matters.

Hollande's tour ends Wednesday in Indonesia, where he will make the first visit by a French head of state since Francois Mitterrand in 1986.

The views expressed in the contents are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMT.

Source: France's Hollande in Singapore at start of Asian tour

Ten-month-old baby faces life-saving surgery to remove his own parasitic TWIN growing inside his belly

TWIN TRAUMA

Little Muhammad Abdalul Zikri Hakim's stomach swelled to the size of a small football leaving his parents terrified he had a tumour

A BABY will undergo delicate surgery to remove his TWIN after X-rays revealed it is growing inside his tiny body.

Little Muhammad Abdalul Zikri Hakim's stomach swelled to the size of a small football leaving his parents terrified he had a tumour.

Supplied

The parents of Muhammad Abdalul Zikri Hakim raced him to hospital when he belly swelled believing it to be a tumour

But when Indonesian doctors carried out a scan on the ten-month-old, they found the foetus growing inside his belly.

And to the horror of his mum and dad, the foetus is alive and is acting as a parasite inside Muhammad's body leaving him severely weakened and in need of life-saving surgery.

The skeletal outline of a foetus was visible inside the baby boy's abdomen, news.com.au reported.

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The doctors suspect Muhammad is suffering foetus in foetu, a rare condition that occurs in about one in 500,000 births.

It occurs when a foetus becomes enveloped by its twin in the womb.

The foetus survives, but becomes a parasite and remains that way long after its twin's birth.

Shocked medics on the idyllic island of Lombok said they had never witnessed the bizarre condition, which saw Muhammad's tummy swell enormously with dozens of blood vessels clearly visible.

Supplied

But when doctors examined the tot they realised his own twin was growing inside his stomach and acting as a parasite while remaining alive

Hospital chief Lalu Hamzi Fikri told ABC: "The tissues are dead tissues but the blood vessels remain alive.

"It's dependent on the main source or parent, which in this case is the baby."

As a result of hosting his parasitic twin, baby Muhammad is severely undernourished and there are concerns for his health in undergoing such major surgery.

A team of specialists, including an obstetrician, surgeon, radiologist, paediatrician, and anaesthetist, is now preparing to conduct the life-threatening operation.

Supplied

X-rays revealed the full horror of the condition, which will require medics to carry out delicate life-saving surgery

The hospital's obstetrician Agus Rusdi Hamid told the Jakarta Post that foetus in foetu was an abnormality that occurred mostly in baby boys.

He said the location of the foetus inside the baby's abdomen was a complicating factor, as doctors had to determine if it was attached to a vital organ.

ABC reported that doctors at the basic, holiday island hospital will perform the complicated surgery to remove the foetus.

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Source: Ten-month-old baby faces life-saving surgery to remove his own parasitic TWIN growing inside his belly

Indonesian police arrest militants setting up jihadi camp

JAKARTA, Indonesia –  Indonesia's counterterrorism squad says it has arrested four suspected Islamic militants who were trying to establish a jihadist training camp in eastern Indonesia and who likely had links with Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines.

National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the men were arrested in several locations on the island of Java on Thursday and were connected to four militants ambushed by police on the same day near Jakarta.

Amar said all eight were members of Jemaah Anshorut Daulah, a network of Indonesian extremist groups that formed in 2015 and pledges allegiance to Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

One of the suspects told police his role was to purchase rifles from militants in the Philippines and he had traveled there several times.

Source: Indonesian police arrest militants setting up jihadi camp

Indonesia counterterror police kill militant, arrest 3

Indonesian counterterrorism police have fatally shot a suspected Islamic militant and arrested three others near the capital, Jakarta.

Local police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the shootout occurred Thursday in Banten province when a counterterrorism squad ambushed four suspected militants on the outskirts of Cilegon city.

Prabowo told TVOne that police fired on the group after they tried to run down officers with a car.

(Read also: Suspected terrorist in Bandung captured alive)

Muslim-majority Indonesia has carried out a sustained crackdown on militants since 2002, when bombings on the tourist island of Bali by al-Qaida-affiliated radicals killed 202 people.

A new threat has emerged in the past several years from Islamic State group.  

Source: Indonesia counterterror police kill militant, arrest 3

Tobacco bill contradicts 14 laws: Expert

An expert has warned that the deliberation of the tobacco bill is not worth being continued because it contradicts several prevailing laws.

"Legally, the bill contradicts 14 existing laws," National Commission on Tobacco Control chairman Prijo Sidipratomo said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

Among the laws he said the bill contravened were Law No.36/2009 on Health and Law No.19/2013 on the Protection and Empowerment of Farmers.

Prijo further said doctors and health practitioners had rejected the tobacco bill. They had made a petition they had submitted to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

(Read also: Indonesia gives tobacco bill a shot)

Prijo said that if the tobacco bill was passed into law, there was likely to be an increase in the number of smokers in Indonesia. "It is stated in the bill that cigarette packs will only carry written health warnings like before." he added

Prijo said pictorial health warnings had in fact been regulated in the 2009 Health Law and Government Regulation No.109/2012 on the Security of Materials with Addictive Substances.

After expressing his rejection of the bill, President Jokowi finally agreed to discuss the tobacco bill with the House, for which he issued a presidential letter on the bill.  

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said the change in the government's stance toward the Tobacco Bill, as reflected in the presidential letter, occurred following a talk between representatives of the government and the House on Monday. However, the minister said, the government had not yet decided whether they agreed with the substance of the tobacco bill. (mrc/ebf)

Source: Tobacco bill contradicts 14 laws: Expert

Indonesia to file suit with WTO in late Mar against EU biodiesel antidumping duties: reports

The Indonesian government is preparing to file a suit against the EU's imposition of antidumping duties on Indonesian biodiesel at a World Trade Organization meeting scheduled for March 29-30, Southeast Asian media sources reported quoting Indonesian trade defence director Pradnyawati Pambagyo on Sunday.

The EU has imposed antidumping duties on Indonesian and Argentinian biodiesel in November 2013, which almost completely halted the flow of Indonesian biodiesel to the EU. Antidumping duties imposed on individual Indonesian biodiesel producers range between 8.8% and 23.3%, according to European Commission data.

Media reports quoted Indonesian government sources saying that the EU did not use domestic biodiesel values within Indonesia when calculating antidumping duties, causing the profit margin on biodiesel to appear inflated.

Indonesian officials were also spurred by a WTO ruling in March 2016 which ruled in favor of Argentina against antidumping duties imposed on Argentinian biodiesel by the EU, media reports added. Indonesian officials are said to be communicating with their Argentinian counterparts on their experience, according to the media.

The WTO ruling was propped up further when the EU General Court ruled on September 15, 2016 that antidumping duties against Indonesian and Argentine biodiesel imports should be annulled.

Indonesian trade ministry officials could not be reached for comment at press time on Tuesday.

The chairman of the Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association or Aprobi, Paulus Tjakrawan was also hopeful that the antidumping tariffs would be scrapped and exports would recover, Jakarta Post reported.

Indonesian media has reported Indonesian trade ministry statistics which show that the value of biodiesel exports plunged 96.5% from 2013 to $14.7 million in 2015. Exports climbed again in 2016 to $29.8 million, mostly because two Indonesian companies, Wilmar and Musim Mas were exporting biodiesel t o the US market.

Political developments in the US market are putting a question mark upon that flow as well, said Asian traders and producers previously.

Musim Mas also exports limited quantities of palm biodiesel to the EU, but pays antidumping duties on it, market sources add.

--Samar Niazi, samar.niazi@spglobal.com

--Edited by Irene Tang, irene.tang@spglobal.com

Source: Indonesia to file suit with WTO in late Mar against EU biodiesel antidumping duties: reports

Jet Airways Inks Code-Sharing Pact With Jetstar Asia

Jet Airways has signed a code-sharing agreement with Singapore-based airline Jetstar Asia for flights through Singapore. Jet Airways said the code-sharing pact will help it extend footprint to three new destinations - Darwin, Phuket and Penang. Jet Airways' flyers will gain "twin/tri-city itinerary options between India, and Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong", Jet Airways said. "Under this agreement, Jet Airways will place its marketing code '9W' on Jetstar Asia flights operating from Singapore to 11 destinations across in the Asia Pacific region: Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, Perth and Darwin in Australia, Jakarta, Denpasar Bali and Surabaya in Indonesia, Ho-Chi-Minh City in Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia and Hong Kong," Jet Airways added.

The pact will allow Jet Airways to offer seamless travel options to its guests from its ever-expanding and convenient bouquet of business and leisure destinations. "Most importantly, the latest codeshare will not only strengthen t raffic flows via Singapore, but will also offer guests the advantage of twin/ tri-city itineraries options through Singapore, either via Bangkok or Hong Kong, owing to codeshares on both sectors," Jet Airways said in a press release on Monday.

Jet Airways chief commercial officer Jayaraj Shanmugam said, "Jetstar Asia flies to some of the most popular leisure and business destinations across the Asia Pacific. With this codeshare agreement, our guests will now be able to conveniently tap into this extensive network to explore new and exotic destinations across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Australia via Singapore."

Source: Jet Airways Inks Code-Sharing Pact With Jetstar Asia

Two French journalists deported from Papua over alleged visa violations

By Nethy Dharma Somba in Jayapura

Indonesia's Tembagapura Immigration Office has banned two French journalists, Jean Frank Pierre, 45, and Basille Marie Longhamp, 42, from entering the country for the next six months for allegedly violating the 2011 Immigration Law.

"The activities of these two journalists were basically good. However, there was a lack of coordination with related institutions," said Tembagapura Immigration Office head Samuel Enock in Timika, Papua.

He further explained that the two French journalists were sponsored by the national airline Garuda to carry out journalistic investigation in Indonesia.

"However, they started their work before obtaining the necessary documents, which were still being processed. As a consequence, they are banned from entering Indonesia for the next six months," Enock said.

Pierre and Longhamp were deported from Timika to France via Jakarta on a Garuda flight on Friday.

Enock said the two journalists had not yet obtained journalist visas from the Indonesian Embassy in Paris before they started working.

"They took pictures while on a tourist visa. They also had not yet obtained a reporting permit, although both of them already had a permit from the Tourism Ministry and their activities were sponsored by Garuda," said Samuel.

Charged with violationThey were charged with violating Article 75 (1) of the 2011 Immigration Law.

The French journalists were taken into custody when they were about to take pictures of the Cartenz areas using a helicopter rented from Happi Live Aviation.

They also planned to take pictures in Asmat, Wamena, and Raja Ampat and Sorong in West Papua.

In 2014, Thomas Dandois, 40, and Valentine Bourrat, 29, were deported after being detained for carrying out journalistic activities while on a tourist visit.

Nethy Dharma Somba is Jayapura correspondent for The Jakarta Post.

Source: Two French journalists deported from Papua over alleged visa violations

Jakarta's Iconic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Spruced Up for 2018 Asian Game

Jakarta's iconic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, named after Indonesia's first president Soekarno and opened for the first time for the 1962 Asian Games, is being refurbished for another Asian Games next year.

The 90,000-capacity stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Asian Games in September and October. Renovation works on the complex are expected to continue until October this year.

The stadium is currently being fitted with a high-tech, "shadowless" lighting system and its field relaid with a special type of soft couch grass.

Save

Source: Jakarta's Iconic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Spruced Up for 2018 Asian Game

RPT-Homelands under threat, Indonesian tribes rally for land rights

(Repeating to add pictures to story.)

By Beh Lih Yi

JAKARTA, March 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Thousands of Indonesian indigenous people gathered on Sumatra island on Friday to call on the government to protect their land rights as fears grow some tribes could become extinct.

A sprawling archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is home to an estimated 50 to 70 million indigenous people, but many do not have formal title to the land their families have lived on for generations.

For decades they have been locked in bitter battles with logging, palm oil and mining companies that have been expanding into their homelands in the resource-rich Southeast Asian nation.

President Joko Widodo has pledged to improve their lives, but activists say his ambitious plans to boost infrastructure and energy production - including by building dams - mean more tribes are at risk of being displaced.

"Even though the government has nice policies on paper, we continue to face land grabs... and forced evictions throughout Indonesia," said Rukka Sombolinggi, deputy head of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago.

"We are willing to share, but development has to be done with our consent," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

More than 5,000 people from 2,000 indigenous communities convened in Tanjung Gusta village outside North Sumatra's provincial capital Medan. The gathering is organised by the alliance and held every five years.   Continued...

Source: RPT-Homelands under threat, Indonesian tribes rally for land rights

Indonesia c.bank keeps policy rate unchanged

JAKARTA, March 16 (Reuters) - Indonesia's central bank on Thursday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the fifth straight meeting, as expected, saying it will monitor global uncertainty and domestic risks, including inflation pressure.

Bank Indonesia (BI) left the 7-day reverse repurchase rate steady at 4.75 percent. All 20 analysts in a Reuters poll had forecast no change.

The central bank also kept unchanged its two other policy rates, which act as the floor and ceiling of the overnight interbank money market, at 4.00 percent and 5.50 percent, respectively.

The U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the second time in three months hours before BI's announcement.

BI last year cut its benchmark rate six times by a total of 150 basis points and relaxed some lending rules to lift economic growth.

It also switched its main policy rate to enhance the effect of rate cuts on market rates. Until August 2016, the main rate was the 12-month reference rate.

KEY DATA: Announcement date Rate (percent)* --------------------------------------- 16-Mar-2017 4.75 16-Feb-2017 4.75 19-Jan-2017 4.75 15-Dec-2016 4.75 17-Nov-2016 4.75 20-Oct-2016 4.75 22-Sep-2016 5.00 19-Aug-2016 5.25 21-Jul-2016 5.25 16-Jun-2016 5.25 19-May-2016 5.50 21-Apr-2016 5.50

* All announcements before Aug. 19 were during a transition period for the new benchmark (Reporting by Nilufar Rizki, Hidayat Setiaji and Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

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(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is auto–generated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.)

Source: Indonesia c.bank keeps policy rate unchanged

Warburg Dealmaker Spots Opportunities on Jakarta Roadside

Warburg Pincus's investment in the first billion-dollar Indonesian tech startup began with an American executive noticing green motorcycle helmets on the roads of Jakarta.

Jeffrey Perlman, the buyout firm's Southeast Asia head, had been traveling regularly to the Indonesian capital to oversee the firm's joint venture with mall operator PT Nirvana Development when he started to see more and more motorbike riders wearing green headgear emblazoned with the Go-Jek logo. He soon set up a meeting with Nadiem Makarim, a co-founder of the on-demand ride provider, and in August last year his firm participated in Go-Jek's $550 million financing round.

The path to the Go-Jek investment -- the largest-ever funding round for an Indonesian startup -- reflects Warburg Pincus's broader strategy in Asia. After more than two decades of dealmaking in China and India, the U.S. private equity firm, which closed a $13.4 billion global fund in 2015, has turned its attention to Southeast Asia with an initial focus on entrepreneurs in Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.

"We have seen how the businesses have evolved in China and India, and want to use that experience and knowledge as we see a lot of commonality in the growth of the companies in Southeast Asia," Perlman said in an interview in Singapore last week. "Capital is a commodity these days, which is why it's so important to be able to demonstrate the value we can bring to entrepreneurs."

Warburg Pincus has invested more than $60 billion across more than 40 countries, according to its website.

Lessons Learned

The New York-based firm had few investments in Southeast Asia before 2013. Since then, it has embarked on a flurry of activity, and in July it opened a Singapore office to further grow across the region. Warburg now has six investment professionals based in Singapore, with local consultants on the ground in other Southeast Asian countries.

With Asia increasingly becoming a big part of the firm's global strategy, accounting for about 35 percent of total new investment activity, Perlman said he wants to apply lessons learned investing in China and India to Southeast Asia as the firm starts to expand its attention to Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Warburg's investment in Chinese e-commerce operator 58.com illustrates how the firm has used experience in one place to find and execute deals in another, he said. With the firm invested in the so-called "Craigslist of China," 58.com further developed its website of jobs and rentals offerings, and in 2013 it listed in New York. Working with the Chinese company gave Warburg the expertise to source its 2012 investment in Quikr India Pvt, which has a similar business model, he said.

In addition, before Warburg Pincus bought a stake in Go-Jek, it invested in Ucar Inc., one of China's largest chauffeured car services.

Warburg Pincus also sees investment opportunities in the health-care and energy sectors in the region, he said. It favors industries like consumer retail, property, financial technology, according to Perlman, who joined the firm in 2006 in New York before relocating to Asia.

The firm's first deal in Vietnam was in 2013, when it agreed to invest as much as $325 million in the country's biggest shopping mall owner, Vingroup JSC, and its retail property arm. In November, it formed a hospitality joint venture with Vietnamese fund manager VinaCapital Group Ltd. and led a group that agreed to buy ARA Asset Management Ltd. in a deal valuing the Singapore company at S$1.78 billion ($1.3 billion).

Asia Logistics

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Warburg Pincus, which manages more than $40 billion of assets, closed a $2 billion China fund in 2016, its website shows. In the world's second-biggest economy, it has invested in companies including ANE Logistics, E-Shang Redwood and ZTO Express Cayman Inc. In India, it owns stakes in companies including Ecom Express, which provides logistics services to local e-commerce firms, as well as property developer Piramal Realty Pvt.

For Warburg Pincus, founded in 1966, logistics will remain a key focus, Perlman said.

The firm has invested across the entire logistics chain, from warehouses to parcel delivery, and sees the sector underpinning growth in all other industries. Warburg Pincus is also among shortlisted bidders for Singapore-based warehouse owner Global Logistic Properties Ltd., people with knowledge of the matter said last month.

"Logistics isn't sexy -- nobody really likes to talk about it," said Perlman, who declined to comment on any interest in GLP. "We think it is one of the most attractive sectors."

Source: Warburg Dealmaker Spots Opportunities on Jakarta Roadside

Indonesia to probe graft allegations implicating dozens of politicians

By Agustinus Beo Da Costa and Gayatri Suroyo

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's anti-corruption agency said it will look into allegations that dozens of politicians siphoned off money causing state losses of up to $170 million in what could be one of the Southeast Asian country's biggest graft scandals.Two public servants on trial for corruption linked to the procurement of electronic identity cards last week identified at least 37 people they said had benefited, according to an indictment document released by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Those identified included members of President Joko Widodo's ruling party, a cabinet minister and the speaker of parliament."The names that have been mentioned in court, we need an extra effort to double check and carry out a pre-investigation ... to find out the truth about those names," deputy KPK head Saut Situmorang told Reuters.

The corruption case dates back to 2009 and centers on the alleged mark-up of the procurement budget for the government's program for electronic ID cards.

Indonesian media have splashed the scandal on front pages, though President Widodo has urged the public to presume innocence until proven guilty.

"I want this to be processed correctly and I believe the KPK will be professional towards this case," he told reporters at the weekend.

The suspects, two home ministry officials, named members of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), including Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly, and Setya Novanto, the speaker of the lower house of parliament, according to the indictment.

Laoly denied any wrongdoing in televised comments. A PDIP official said the party was questioning the members internally and would be respectful of any legal process.

"Our secretary general has already checked with our members who are mentioned and we respect their replies but the valid facts will be heard in court if the case progresses," said Eva Kusuma Sundari.

Novanto said in a statement he would not respond to "rumors" about his involvement in the case.

"The contents of the indictment that mentions my name and others is absolutely wrong and all parties must look at the facts from the trial and...allow the judges to be independent and impartial," Novanto said. Novanto was reinstated as speaker in November 2016 after being accused of trying to extort $1.8 billion of shares from the local unit of U.S. miner Freeport McMoran Inc. He denied wrongdoing and the attorney-general later dropped an investigation. The constitutional court also ruled in favor of Novanto and parliament's ethics panel has also cleared him.

Widodo pledged transparent government when he took office in 2014, but graft remains hard to stamp out and in January the KPK detained a Constitutional Court judge on suspicion of bribery.

In a survey by global watchdog Transparency International this year, Indonesians perceived parliament as the most corrupt institution in the country.

Overall Indonesia ranked 90 out of 176 countries in Transparency's annual Corruption Perceptions index, on par with countries such as Liberia and Colombia.

($1 = 13,378 rupiah)

(The story was refiled to punctuate paragraph 8)

(Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ed Davies and Nick Macfie)

Source: Indonesia to probe graft allegations implicating dozens of politicians

Indonesia transfers US citizen to 'execution island'

An armed police officer outside the gate to the ferry port for the prison island of Nusa Kambangan. Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Indonesia has transferred a convicted US citizen to its so-called execution island, prompting fears among rights organisations that the government may be preparing another round of firing squads.

Human Rights Watch said Frank Amado, who faces the death penalty for drug trafficking, had been moved to facilities on Nusa Kambangan island, the site of previous recent executions.

Indonesian press is reporting six other foreign nationals on death row may have moved along with him, including Chen Weibiao, Xiao Jin Zeng and Lo Tin Yau, from China; Malaysian citizen E Wee Hock; Frank Nwaomeka from Nigeria; and Lai Siu Cheung Anika, from Hong Kong.

No US citizen has ever been executed by the Indonesian government.

"This is a worrying development. But we can't be entirely certain if these transfers are part of preparations for new executions, due to the lack of transparency that is just one of many problems with Indonesia's penal system," said Ricky Gunawan, director of the Community Legal Aid Institute, an organisation in Jakarta that has worked with Human Rights Watch to monitor Amado's case.

"The most recent executions were preceded by transfers to Nusa Kambangan, which is often called execution island here, but the government also sometimes moves prisoners there for other reasons.

"There are serious irregularities in Indonesia's death penalty system and we call for a halt to this round of executions with a view to implementing a new moratorium and then abolition."

After a halt on executions between 2009 and 2012, Indonesia has carried out three rounds of executions, the last of which took place in July 2016. Four of 14 death row prisoners were executed, and legal experts in the country are still unsure why the other 10 had their deaths postponed.

Human Rights Watch and Gunawan say Amado technically has one more appeal round available to him, but that in the past the Indonesian government has carried out the death sentence in similar situations.

These two groups are not working closely with the other death row prisoners reportedly transferred recently, but like many international organisations they call for a stop to all executions in the country.

Amado has said in previous interviews that he wasinvolved in the storing of shabu, a local name for a drug similar to crystal meth, but that since his arrest in 2009, he has seen that the Indonesian justice system is marked by abuse and corruption.

In 2011, US government representatives said they would not intervene in the case.

Neither the US embassy in Jakarta nor the Indonesian attorney general's office immediately responded to requests for comment.

Source: Indonesia transfers US citizen to 'execution island'

Anies brushes off allegations of graft related to Frankfurt Book Fair

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan has denied any involvement in alleged graft related to Indonesia's participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair two years ago, when he served as education minister.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) received a report from anticorruption activist Andar Mangatas Situmorang last week alleging embezzlement in the funds disbursed for the project, which were supervised by the Education and Culture Ministry. The Gerindra Party candidate served as education minister from 2014 until his dismissal in a Cabinet reshuffle last year.

Anies, who is competing with incumbent Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the Jakarta election runoff to be held on April 19, said on Saturday that the report was "a political joke" during the election campaign.

"It's funny; [the report] was filed just before the second round [of the Jakarta gubernatorial election]," said Anies during his campaign visit in Cikini, Central Jakarta, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

(Read also: Elections to define democracy's new course)

He added that Andar should further elaborate on the corruption accusation leveled against him, but vowed to respect the antigraft body's investigation to follow up the report.

KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah on Friday confirmed that the antigraft agency had received the report. "We will analyze the report to look for indications of corruption […] just like with all reports the KPK receives." (mrc/wit)

Source: Anies brushes off allegations of graft related to Frankfurt Book Fair

Facebook Messenger Day Rolls Out Globally: This Week in Social Media

Welcome to our weekly edition of what's hot in social media news.

To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention.

What's New This Week

Facebook Globally Launches Messenger Day: Facebook launched Messenger Day, a new way to share photos and videos "as they happen" in the stand-alone Messenger app. Like with Snapchat Stories and Instagram Stories, Messenger Day allows users to customize their photos and videos with thousands of frames, effects, and stickers and each post disappears after 24 hours. With Messenger Day, users also have the option to share their "day" with everyone or specific Messenger friends. Messenger Day was initially tested in a handful of countries and is now available globally with the latest versions of the Messenger app on both Android and iOS.

Facebook launched Messenger Day, a new way for users to share photos and videos as they happen in the stand-alone Messenger app.

Pinterest Rolls Out Pinterest Browser Button for Chrome: Pinterest rolled out a new Pinterest browser button which allows "any image on any website… [to] be a jumping off point for discovering ideas on Pinterest." For the first time, users can use Pinterest's visual search technology outside of Pinterest and across the web by simply hovering over an image and selecting the magnifying tool to "instantly discover visually similar ideas on Pinterest." There is also an option to zoom in to learn more about a specific item inside an image.

This new feature is currently only available for Chrome browsers and requires users to install the Pinterest Save Button browser extension, but more browsers are "coming soon."

Pinterest built its visual search technology into the Pinterest browser extension for Chrome.

Twitch Introduces Pulse: Twitch, a popular live-streaming video platform and community for video game, eSports, and music fans, unveiled a new social feature called Pulse. With Pulse, Twitch streamers and users can "post and engage with all of their followers and the greater Twitch community right from the Twitch front page" and offers "an always-on way to share clips, stream highlights, schedules, photos and more," even when a stream isn't currently live. Engadget reports that "Pulse builds off of [Twitch's] Channel Feed feature… [which allows] streamers to post updates to their own pages" and interact with followers and viewers on a regular basis. Twitch launched the Channel Feed as beta test a year ago and is expected to roll out to all users later this month.

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Pulse is available now to all Twitch users. To get started, Twitch provides a helpful guide on how to use Pulse and opt into the Channel Feed beta on its site.

Twitch Releases New Collections Feature: In addition to Pulse, Twitch released another new feature called Collections, which allows streamers to "show off and promote [their] best videos on Twitch." According to Twitch, "videos organized into collections will help your viewers find all the different types of content you share on Twitch more easily" and makes it simple to share your best content with a single link or a tab on your channel page.

The new Collections feature lets streamers show off and promote their best videos on Twitch.

Twitter Introduces Analytics for Twitter Moments: Twitter announced Moments analytics are now available to all Twitter users on the web. TechCrunch reports that Moments' publishing partners and brand advertisers will now be able to track their content's performance and gather key insights on "opens, likes, shares and more."

Our Take on Top News This Week

In this week's show from Friday, March 10, 2017, Erik Fisher and guests discuss the top news in social media. Topics include Facebook Messenger Day (3:26), Twitch's new social network (21:15), and Pinterest's new visual search features for Chrome (36:44). Subscribe to future shows here.

More News to Note

Facebook Relaxes Ad Placement Limit in Instant Articles: Facebook updated its monetization policies for Instant Articles. Now publishers and advertisers may place ads every 250 words instead of 350 through Facebook's Automatic Ads Placement feature. Publishers also have the option to manually place each ad into Instant Articles. Facebook confirms that this update will be available in the coming week and states that it will continue "to explore additional ad placements and formats within Instant Articles that drive revenue for publishers and performance for advertisers while maintaining a great reading experience."

Pinterest Makes Lens BETA Available in the U.S.: Last month, Pinterest introduced the upcoming Lens feature which offers Pinterest users to "a new way to discover objects and ideas from the world around [them] using the camera in [their] Pinterest app." This week, Pinterest announced that Lens BETA is now available to "all Pinners in the U.S. to try on iPhone and Android, with an updated visual model and new product enhancements." These enhancements include a new visual model that is better optimized for user generated camera images, the ability to tag objects within photos and new object lenses which gives Pinners "a way to discover more ideas." Lens BETA is available for both iOS and Android devices in the U.S.

Pinterest announced that Lens BETA is now available to all Pinners in the U.S.

Instagram Adds Geostickers to Instagram Stories: Instagram rolled out an early version of geostickers in Instagram Stories for New York City and Jakarta. There are now "more than a dozen new stickers" for each city, including unique stickers for select neighborhoods and landmarks that are "designed to match the vibe of the location it represents." Instagram plans to roll out more creative tools "soon," but hasn't yet confirmed when geostickers will be available for more destinations.

Instagram rolled out an early version of geostickers in Stories for New York City and Jakarta.

Foursquare Adopts New Leveling System for Superuser Community: Foursquare updated its Superuser program to include more opportunities for growth and advancement within the system and to make it easier for anyone to join. Foursquare's new system is rolling out "over the next few weeks." People who are interested in learning more about or joining the Superuser program can sign up online.

Facebook Debuts Facebook 360 App for Gear VR: Facebook is "making 360 photos and videos even more immersive and easier to discover" with the launch of its first dedicated virtual reality app, Facebook 360 for the Samsung Gear VR. This new app serves as a hub where users can explore "some of the most interesting and popular 360 content on Facebook from media companies, organizations and individual creators," as well as other 360 content shared, saved, or uploaded on the news feed. Facebook states that users can currently react to and post 360 photos and videos directly within the new Facebook 360 app, and more social features are "coming soon."

Facebook announced its first dedicated virtual reality app, Facebook 360 for Gear VR.

Vimeo Adds Support for 360 Videos: Vimeo announced that it now supports 360-degree video "in stunning high quality." Vimeo also rolled out lessons on "the fundamentals of 360" in its new 360 Video School, a curated 360 Cinema channel featuring "beautiful 360 video, hand-picked by Vimeo… and [streamed] in glorious 4K Ultra HD" and more. All embedded 360-degree videos from Vimeo will prominently display a 360 badge and compass and offer advanced viewer settings.

Vimeo adds support for 360 videos.

Google Splits Hangouts Into Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat: Google is "evolving Hangouts to focus on two experiences that help bring teams together and keep work moving forward: Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat." Hangouts Meet offers customers "a new video meeting experience" featuring "a light, fast interface and smart participant management" for up to 30 users. Hangouts Chat is "an intelligent communication app" that focuses on "bringing cross-functional teams together, discussing tasks that need to get done and sharing [their] work." Hangouts Chat offers teams dedicated virtual rooms for each project, threaded conversations, and deep integration with companion G Suite products like Drive and Docs.

Hangouts Meet is widely available now and "will gradually roll out to all G Suite customers over the next few weeks." However, Hangouts Chat is still being tested. Current G Suite customers can apply to try Hangouts Chat through Google's Early Adopter Program.

Google is evolving Hangouts to focus on two experiences that help bring teams together and keep work moving forward: Hangouts Meet and Hangouts Chat.

Tumblr Adds New Account Tab Icon: In a "helpful little update rolling out now," Tumblr added a new human being icon that takes users directly to their own Tumblr profiles. While this seems like a relatively minor change to the navigation bar, Tumblr considers it to be "a tap closer to customizing your appearance and to your own beautiful posts."

In a "helpful little update rolling out now," Tumblr added a new human being icon that takes users directly to their own Tumblr profiles.

Google Opens Data Studio Globally and Rolls Out New Features: Last month, Google announced plans to remove the five report limit for all users on Google Data Studio. This week, Google rolled out this update to more than 180 countries and enabled "more businesses to easily connect to data and create beautiful, informative reports that are easy to read, easy to share, and fully customizable." Google also added some features to help marketers better analyze and report their data. These new features include a new filter UI, the ability to segment data, and more.

Facebook Begins Flagging Disputed Articles and Stories Shared on the News Feed: Facebook started rolling out a "disputed news" tag to identify fake news stories shared or posted on the site in the U.S. Gizmodo reports that Facebook uses a "non-partisan third parties to assess the factual accuracy of stories reported as fake by users" and "the system seems to be as rigorous and transparent as anyone could hope for." The article further clarifies that posts, not entire websites, are flagged on an individual basis and will "continue to appear on the social network, albeit with links to debunkers from participating organizations like Snopes and Politifact."

Upcoming Social Media News Worth Following

Facebook Develops Advanced Measurement Tools: Facebook announced that it's "beginning a test of new advanced measurement tools focused on reach and attribution" that will allow the platform to "bring the insights from Atlas to more marketers, regardless of their size." According to Facebook, the tools were previously only available through its ad serving and measurement platform, Atlas, but will soon be available to more marketers through Facebook Business Manager.

WhatsApp Tests Revenue Model: Reuters reports that Facebook-owned WhatsApp is beginning to test a possible new revenue model for the messaging service with "a handful of companies that are part of the Y Combinator startup incubator." The new system would allow businesses to "talk directly to WhatsApp users for the first time" for a fee.

Facebook Tests Newly Redesigned City Guides: Facebook is testing "a redesigned surface on city Pages that showcases information about [a] city… in a way that is more personalized and relevant" to specific users. The goal of this redesign is to "help people get a better sense of their city, or a city they're visiting through their friends' eyes" by offering "suggestions for events and places to visit in numerous cities across the globe." The Next Web reports that City Guides were initially spotted on Facebook "earlier last year."

Facebook Tests Reactions in Messenger: Facebook Messenger is testing a new Reactions feature that would allow users to "add reaction emojis next to text in conversations." TechCrunch reports that the emojis include the current six reaction buttons for Facebook posts and a thumbs-down or dislike button. Facebook confirms it's testing this new feature with a small group of users before a wider rollout.

Twitter Tests "Sensitive Content" Warning for Profiles: Twitter is testing a new feature that flags users' profiles that might potentially contain "sensitive content." TechCrunch reports that a warning message that reads, "Caution: This profile may include sensitive content" will display until the user consents to view tweets from the flagged profiles. According to Twitter, this new feature functions similarly to the way other sensitive content on Twitter is flagged based on individual users' privacy and safety settings.

Google Announces New Cloud Video Intelligence API: Google announced the upcoming launch of a new machine learning API that will automatically recognize objects in videos and make them searchable. Not only will the API track metadata in videos, it will also allow creators to tag scene changes, extract text, and more. The new cloud-based technology is currently in private beta, but developers can sign up to participate online.

Google announced the upcoming launch of a new machine learning API that will automatically recognize objects in videos and make them searchable.

Microsoft Will Shut Down So.cl: Microsoft announced it will shut down the So.cl platform on March 15, 2017. Microsoft describes So.cl as a "unique community of creators" where users could "make, share and collect digital stuff [they] love" and participate in conversations around specific themes.

Microsoft will shut down the So.cl platform on March 15, 2017.

News From a Partner, IBM Marketing Cloud

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News From a Partner, Capzool:

Ready-made Posts for Your Social Media: Want to save 90% of the time/money spent on social media marketing? Try Capzool. With over 120,000 posts, and posts for every day of the year, you'll never be run down by social media again. The Post Request feature connects you to 5,000+ creators who make new posts tailored to your request. Step up your social media game! Try the free trial today!

Some Interesting Studies to Note:

2017 State of B2B Digital Marketing: DemandWave's 6th annual survey of nearly 200 B2B marketers identifies the most effective social media channels and tactics for generating leads. Those surveyed say that social media (95%), email (93%), and organic search (91%) are the most applied digital channels, and LinkedIn (89%) and Twitter (86%) are the most used platforms. The research reveals that email ranks as the top channel for driving leads (73%), followed by organic search (70%) and social media (55%). LinkedIn ranked as the top social network for driving leads, followed by Facebook.

2017 Digital Marketing Analytics Performance Report: TrackMaven's newest report explores how social media, blog, public relations, and website performance compare against industry averages based on 12 months of digital marketing data from over 700 leading businesses across 13 industries and 39 sub-sectors. According to these findings, Instagram is the "overall social media engagement winner for brands" and higher education, media and publishing, and sports and entertainment brands see the greatest public relations amplification overall.

The Impact of Organic Conversation on Web Traffic: This new study from Simply Measured examines the impact of earned, owned, and dark social media on web traffic activity. The study also offers insights and recommendations on how to drive more meaningful interactions on each major social media channel.

What do you think of Messenger Day? Have you tried the new Pinterest visual search features on Chrome? Please share your comments below.

Facebook Messenger Day Rolls Out Globally and other social media news for Mar. 11, 2017.

Source: Facebook Messenger Day Rolls Out Globally: This Week in Social Media

BTPN opens art space in South Jakarta

A close up of "Fermentation of Nose", a contemporary art piece by Heri Dono displayed in Latar, an art space situated within BTPN Sinaya's new office at the Menara BTPN building in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta on March 9. (JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri)

Private lender Bank Tabungan Pensiunan Nasional (BTPN) launched an art space in the Menara BTPN building in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

Named Latar, the art space is situated on the building's first floor -- inside the finance funding business unit of BTPN Sinaya's new branch office, which also opened on Thursday. Featuring artworks by selected artists, it is open to customers as well as the general public.

BTPN director Anika Faisal said that Latar, which was named based on the word pelataran (courtyard), had been created to help reawaken the public's interest in local arts. "This is a space for our customers to meet the artists. They may decide to buy or simply marvel at the art," she said.

Architect and curator Budi Lim said that the venue aimed at inviting people to learn more about the artworks. "From what I have observed, artworks are often seen only by curators and art enthusiasts in galleries or at exhibitions. I think this space provides a golden opportunity for the public to familiarize themselves with art," he said.

Read also: Forbidden Forest: Spooky new 'Harry Potter' exhibit to open

The interior of Latar. Among Heri Dono's artworks at the art space is the ceiling-hung "Flying Angels". (JP/Masajeng Rahmiasri)

"I hope that when people happen to be in this [Mega Kuningan] area, they will visit Latar to recharge their souls," he added, citing that art was a form of healing and guidance for the soul.

The art displays in Latar are scheduled for renewal every two months. The space currently features works by Heri Dono in a solo exhibition titled "Yellow Submarine", running until May 10. Heri is a contemporary artist whose works have been displayed in various local and international exhibitions, including Art Stage Singapore 2017 and Jakarta Ceramics Biennale 2016.

Budi said that Heri's work contained social guidance; the installation Fermentation of Nose called on people to be more critical of information, which is relevant to the current issue of hoaxes.

Latar is expected to host other kinds of art in the future, such as photography, design, craft, two- and three-dimensional installations, video, as well as performing arts.

Prior to the exhibition launch, the bank also hosted a talk show about self-healing through art and empowerment for its Sinaya customers. (kes)

Source: BTPN opens art space in South Jakarta

2 Malaysians leave NKorea after being stranded by travel ban

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Two Malaysian employees of the U.N.'s World Food Program who were stranded in North Korea because of a travel ban have left the country, the U.N. said Thursday. Nine other Malaysians are believed to still be stuck there after the two countries' diplomatic relations broke down over the killing of the estranged sibling of North Korea's leader.

The U.N. employees were among hundreds of ordinary citizens caught up in the escalating diplomatic battle.

The two arrived in Beijing on Thursday, said Jane Howard, the WFP coordinator for global issues. "The staff members are international civil servants and not representatives of their national government," she said.

When North Korea issued its travel ban earlier this week, Malaysia responded in kind, barring North Koreans from leaving its soil. The nine Malaysians still believed to be there are three embassy workers and their family members.

About 1,000 North Koreans are believed to be in Malaysia, until recently one of the few countries where North Koreans could travel without a visa.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government was "in the process of establishing the reasons and motives" behind North Korea's drastic measure. He reiterated that diplomatic relations will not be severed to keep the communication line open for negotiations.

Najib said he spoke on the phone to Mohamad Nur Azrin, the counselor at the Malaysian Embassy in North Korea, who told him that all Malaysians there are safe.

"I have given him my assurance that the government will do everything we can to ensure that they return home safely soon. The whole of Malaysia is praying for them," Najib said in a statement on Facebook. "The government will continue to work on reaching the best solution on this issue."

Malaysia has never directly blamed North Korea for the killing of Kim Jong Nam at the Kuala Lumpur airport Feb. 13.

In an attack caught on security camera footage, two women approached Kim as he waited for a flight and wiped something on his face. Malaysian authorities say the substance was VX nerve agent and the two attackers were recruited by a team of North Koreans. North Korea has denied any responsibility and accused Malaysia of being swayed by the North's enemies.

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The women, a Vietnamese and an Indonesian, have been arrested and charged with murder. They say they were duped into thinking they were taking part in a harmless prank.

On Thursday, dozens of Indonesian workers and activists protested the murder charge against the Indonesian suspect, Siti Aisyah, outside the Malaysian embassy in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta.

Men and women from a trade union and several Islamic groups called on the Indonesian government and the international community to investigate the killing of Kim Jong Nam and work to free Aisyah.

One of the speakers at the protest told the crowd it was impossible that a naive migrant worker such as Aisyah could be knowingly involved in the murder. Protesters waved green flags and held up banners such that read "Save Siti Aisyah" and "Siti Aisyah is only a victim of political conspiracy interests."

AP writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta contributed to this report.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: 2 Malaysians leave NKorea after being stranded by travel ban

Asian Games: Indonesia shrugs off graft, organisation woes

JAKARTA: Organisers of Indonesia's 2018 Asian Games insisted on Wednesday (Mar 8) preparations were on track after the build-up was hit by corruption allegations and concerns about faltering organisation.

With 18 months to go until the start of the world's biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, the flurry of early problems has sparked worries in a country with a chequered history of hosting international tournaments.

When Indonesia hosted the Southeast Asian Games in 2011, the event was marked by a major corruption scandal, delays in getting venues and infrastructure ready and a deadly stampede at the football final.

The latest graft case centres on allegations that two senior officials from the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and a man outside the organisation embezzled about US$700,000 from a fund aimed at promoting the games, local media reported.

Police stepped up the probe this week by questioning several KOI officials and plan to quiz Erick Thohir, who is head of the committee as well as president of Italian football team Inter Milan, as a witness in the case.

The Olympic committee, which is part of an ad hoc body set up to organise the games, insisted preparations were not affected by the allegations. "Everything is still being handled well, it's business as usual," KOI spokesman Raja Pane told AFP.

He said the officials under investigation - secretary-general Dody Iswandi and treasurer Anjas Rivai - had been suspended after being named suspects in the case late last year but would only be fired if convicted.

"We cannot just replace them if there hasn't been a verdict," said Pane. While he has not been accused of any wrongdoing, Thohir this week said he was ready to go to prison if convicted of any "mistake".

Fuelling concerns, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) warned Monday Indonesia faced "huge" challenges to get ready for the games, which will be held in the cities of Jakarta and Palembang, after a visit to assess preparations.

OCA director general Husain Al-Musallam raised concerns about a lack of coordination between bodies carrying out different tasks, such as those building venues, organising the lighting and sound systems.

Jakarta was awarded the games in 2014 after the original host Vietnam withdrew due to financial problems, but the late decision meant the Indonesians had four years to prepare instead of the usual six.

The 18th Asian Games will run from Aug 18 to Sep 2 next year. Indonesia last staged the event in 1962, in Jakarta.

Source: Asian Games: Indonesia shrugs off graft, organisation woes

IORA leaders sign Jakarta Concord

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Leaders of 21 member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) signed the Jakarta Concord as an outcome of the IORA Leaders' Summit held in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The document titled "Promoting Regional Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean" aims to lay the foundation and set the course for cooperation for the organization of Indian Ocean states in the coming years.

In the Jakarta Concord, the IORA states declared their commitment to promoting maritime safety in the region; enhancing trade and investment cooperation in the region; promoting the management and development of sustainable fisheries; enhancing disaster risk management in the region; strengthening academic, science, and technology cooperation; fostering tourism and cultural exchanges; Blue Economy; and empowering women in the economy.

During the IORA Leaders' Summit, President Joko Widodo affirmed that the Indian Ocean is the region of the future. "We believe that the Indian Ocean is currently developing into a key axis in the world," President Widodo stated in his opening remarks during the First Summit of the IORA at the Jakarta Convention Center, here, Tuesday.

The IORA leaders who attended the summit are President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Tun Abdul Razak, and Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, among others.

The presence of the IORA leaders and representatives at the Leaders' Summit demonstrates the strong commitment to forging international cooperation to seek various solutions and to utilize opportunities. The IORA states have also agreed on an Action Plan for 2017-2021 that outlines various activities related to the listed priorities for the coming years and comprises various short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives.

The action plan is a significant milestone in IORA's journey and becomes the first of its kind since the establishment of the association two decades ago. In addition, the members of IORA have agreed on a Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent extremism.

The declaration strengthens the commitment for cooperation in combating the threat of terrorism and violent extremism through cooperation and coordination, dialogue, exchange of information on best practices, as well as combating terrorist ideology and extremism.

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi stated that the declaration is a reflection of IORA's determination to maintain peace and stability and to promote a positive environment in the Indian Ocean. The IORA countries will also promote positive values, such as tolerance and diversity, as the norms for interaction in the region.

"I strongly believe that these documents, in particular the Jakarta Concord, will reinvigorate IORA's commitment to ensure peace and stability and to realize the Indian Ocean as the ocean of the future," Minister Marsudi emphasized.

Currently, the IORA is a dynamic organization of 21 member states: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Yemen.

In addition, IORA has seven dialogue partners: the US, the UK, Japan, Germany, Egypt, France, and the People's Republic of China. IORA is celebrating its 20th anniversary in March 2017. Indonesia, as the current chair of the IORA, is hosting the first ever IORA Leaders' Summit under the theme "Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean" on Mar 7.

The leaders' summit was preceded by a Committee of Senior Officials' meeting on March 5 and a Council of Ministers' meeting on Mar 6.

Source: IORA leaders sign Jakarta Concord

Papua and Montara oil spill raised with Julie Bishop in Jakarta talks

Jakarta: The sensitive topics of Papua and the impact of the worst oil spill in the history of Australia's offshore petroleum fields have been raised in talks with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said the "openness of Papua" had been discussed and revealed Ms Bishop had agreed to visit the province later this year.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attends the Indian Ocean Rim Association summit in Jakarta. Photo: Supplied

"We love to see other countries visit Papua to have a look at what is really going on," Mr Pandjaitan said.

The proposed visit comes as seven Pacific nations last week called on the United Nations to investigate allegations of widespread human rights violations in Indonesia's restive Papuan province.

Vanuatu's Justice Minister Ronald Warsal said various UN bodies had raised concerns about extrajudicial executions and beatings of West Papuan activists committed by Indonesian security forces.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry replied last week that Vanuatu's statement did not reflect the current situation in Papua, which had seen big changes under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, with infrastructure development boosted to improve the quality of life of the Papuan people.

Ms Bishop said she planned to return to Indonesia later this year for a range of reasons including the opening of the new Consulate General in Surabaya. 

"There hopefully will be an opportunity for me to visit Papua at that time," she said.

There has been a deep-seated mistrust of Australia's position on Papuan independence among some elements of Indonesian society ever since Australia's intervention in East Timor in 1999.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull emphasised that he had assured President Jokowi, as he is popularly known, of Australia's commitment to Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity during his visit to Sydney last month.

He said the 2006 Lombok Treaty, which recognises Indonesian sovereignty over Papua, was "the bedrock of our strategic and security relationship".

Meanwhile Mr Pandjaitan said he and Ms Bishop had also discussed the 2009 Montara oil spill, which fishermen and seaweed farmers from East Nusa Tenggara say devastated their livelihoods.

More than 13,000 seaweed farmers have launched a $200 million class action in the Federal Court in Sydney against PTTEP Australasia, a subsidiary of Thai state-owned oil company PTTEP.

The Indonesian Government is also planning to file a lawsuit against PTTEP Australasia in the Central Jakarta District Court.

"Australia as a very good partner can do something also to help the people of the area in eastern part of Indonesia especially in that Montara area," Mr Pandjaitan said.

Ms Bishop said the Australian Embassy was continuing to work with Indonesian authorities in relation to the oil spill.

"It will be a matter before the courts so there is a limit to what I can add to it," she said.

"But we most certainly had a very open and frank discussion about the matter and we will continue to work closely with Indonesian authorities to the extent we can."

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Source: Papua and Montara oil spill raised with Julie Bishop in Jakarta talks