Wingstop Celebrates the Opening of Its 900th Restaurant

Wingstop Celebrates the Opening of Its 900th Restaurant Tuesday, May 31st, 2016  

The 900th Wingstop, located in Indonesia, reflects the company's commitment to global expansion

Dallas, TX  (Restaurant News Release)  Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) has opened its 900th location worldwide as the company continues to execute its growth strategy. The 900th restaurant is located in Indonesia in the city of Surabaya. This will be Wingstop's 12th location in the country since the first Indonesia restaurant was established in June of 2014, and will also be the first Indonesia-based location outside of greater Jakarta.

Wingstop's Indonesia franchisee, PT Mega Mahadana Hadiya (Mahadya Group), was established in 2013 and operates several consumer retail concepts, including Carl's Jr., Caribou Coffee and a local supermarket chain and bakery brand. Mahadya Group was originally drawn to Wingstop because of the wide variety of flavors that Wingstop offers as well as the fresh, made-to-order quality of the chicken. This opening now makes Indonesia Wingstop's second largest international market behind Mexico, which has 37 operational locations.

"We are very proud to be a part of the growing international chain of Wingstop Restaurants. With restaurant nine-hundred opening in Indonesia, this tells the world that Wingstop is loved by the fourth largest country on the planet in terms of population," said Mehdi Zaidi, Chief Operating Officer F&B of Mahadya Group. "We are also entering a new market here in Indonesia, as this Wingstop will be the first outside of greater Jakarta. We believe this Wingstop in Surabaya will be successful because it is in an area with a high concentration of young people who are inspired by lifestyle trends such as food and music."

Wingstop currently operates 62 locations outside the U.S. and is focusing on the expansion of its international operations. Just days after the opening of the 900th location, another Indonesia Wingstop is set to open in Surabaya.

"I am very proud to see that our international network contributed to such an important company milestone," said Larry Kruguer, SVP and President of International Operations for Wingstop. "This opening in Indonesia is a reflection of our growth and expansion in our current portfolio of countries outside the U.S., and speaks to the potential of new market opportunities in the future."

The 900th Wingstop is located at Jl. Adityawarman No. 55, Unit P26 in Surabaya Town Square. To celebrate this opening, the 900th location will be offering guests a Buy One Get One promotion until June 3. To take advantage of this offer, guests should follow @wingstopid on Instagram and repost the Grand Opening photo.

About Wingstop

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Wingstop Inc. (Nasdaq:WING) operates and franchises 900 restaurants across the United States, Mexico, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates as of the end of the first quarter 2016. The Wing Experts menu features bone-in and boneless wings with 11 bold, distinctive flavors including Original Hot, Cajun, Atomic, Mild, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian, Garlic Parmesan, Hickory Smoked BBQ, Louisiana Rub and Mango Habanero. Wingstop's wings are always cooked-to-order, hand-sauced and tossed and served with a variety of freshly-prepared sides including Wingstop's hand-cut, seasoned fries. Wingstop has grown domestic same store sales for 12 consecutive years through 2015, was named the "Best Franchise Deal in North America" by QSR magazine in 2014, was ranked the 2015 #5 Top Growth Chain by Nation's Restaurant News and was recognized as "Best Wings" by Food and Wine in 2014. For more informati on visit www.wingstop.com or www.wingstopfranchise.com. Become a fan of Wingstop by visiting facebook.com/Wingstop or twitter.com/Wingstop.

Contact: Kimberly Balega 214-208-1751 kbalega@wingstop.com

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Source: Wingstop Celebrates the Opening of Its 900th Restaurant

Indonesia stocks lower at close of trade; IDX Composite Index down 0.81%

Investing.com – Indonesia stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the , and sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Jakarta, the lost 0.81%.

The best performers of the session on the were Indo Kordsa Tbk (JK:), which rose 25.00% or 1125 points to trade at 5625 at the close. Meanwhile, Maskapai Reasuransi Indonesia (JK:) added 19.81% or 1575 points to end at 9525 and Saranacentral Bajatama Tbk (JK:) was up 14.79% or 21 points to 163 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Tembaga Mulia Semanan Tbk (JK:), which fell 10.00% or 1000.00 points to trade at 9000.00 at the close. Multifiling Mitra Indonesia (JK:) declined 9.88% or 32 points to end at 292 and Provident Agro Tbk (JK:) was down 9.66% or 40 points to 374.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Jakarta Stock Exchange by 186 to 106 and 92 ended unchanged.

Shares in Maskapai Reasuransi Indonesia (JK:) rose to all time highs; rising 19.81% or 1575 to 9525. Shares in Provident Agro Tbk (JK:) fell to 52-week lows; losing 9.66% or 40 to 374.

Crude oil for July delivery was up 0.30% or 0.15 to $49.48 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in August fell 0.48% or 0.24 to hit $50.12 a barrel, while the August Gold contract fell 0.20% or 2.45 to trade at $1214.25 a troy ounce.

USD/IDR was down 0.08% to 13630.0, while AUD/IDR rose 0.78% to 9878.70.

The US Dollar Index was down 0.10% at 95.62.

Disclaimer: Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. All CFDs (stocks, indexes, futures) and Forex prices are not provided by exchanges but rather by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual market price, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Therefore Fusion Media doesn`t bear any responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data .

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Source: Indonesia stocks lower at close of trade; IDX Composite Index down 0.81%

Australia insists alleged cyanide-coffee murderer will not face death penalty

Indonesia police seems unaware of an assurance received by Australia that a permanent resident charged with murdering her friend with cyanide-laced coffee will not face the death penalty if found guilty.

Jessica Kumala Wongso is accused of murdering friend Wayan Mirna Salihin in Indonesia. Photo: Twitter

Wayan Mirna Salihin, allegedly poisoned with cyanide in Jakarta. Photo: Facebook

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Jakarta: Australia insists an Australian permanent resident charged with murdering her friend with cyanide-laced coffee will not face the death penalty in Indonesia if found guilty, despite police now claiming it is up to the judges.

Jessica Kumala Wongso, a former Ambulance NSW employee, has been charged with the premeditated murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, with whom she had studied in Australia.

The allegations that Ms Wongso spiked her friend's Vietnamese iced coffee at an upmarket cafe in Jakarta have gripped Indonesia, with TV talk shows endlessly debating the likelihood of her guilt.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan agreed to allow the Australian Federal Police to assist with investigating the case after receiving an assurance that the death penalty would neither be sought or carried out.

"After the guarantee, approval was given and now we have started cooperating with the AFP," Jakarta police chief detective Krishna Murti told Fairfax Media in February.

Last week prosecutors finally announced the case would proceed to trial after the case dossier had been returned to police at least four times due to a lack of evidence.

Jakarta police spokesman Awi Setiyono said it would be up to the judges what punishment would be imposed if Ms Wongso was found guilty, with the death penalty the maximum sentence for premeditated murder.

Asked about Indonesia's agreement with Australia that the death penalty would not be invoked, Mr Awi said: "It is impossible to give such a guarantee because no one can intervene with the judges."

When Fairfax Media told Mr Awi that chief detective Krishna said the Indonesian Attorney-General's office had guaranteed the death penalty would not be sought, Mr Awi said: "Even the president cannot say that, let alone Krishna Murti. Look, it is not certain that she will get the death penalty, the trial hasn't even started. Just wait and we will see what the judges decide."

However Fairfax Media understands the Australian government has a ministerial-level, written undertaking that Ms Wongso will not face the death penalty.

"The Indonesian Government has given an assurance to the Australian Government that the death penalty will not be sought nor carried out in relation to the alleged offending," a spokesperson from the Australian Attorney-General's Department told Fairfax Media after Mr Awi's claims.

"Australian Federal Police continue to assist the Indonesian National Police with its investigation."

Ms Wongso had studied with Ms Salihin at Billy Blue College of Design in Sydney and Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne.

Chief Detective Krishna said in March Ms Wongso had police records from her time in Australia, believed to be traffic violations.

He said AFP documents were included in the dossier of the case.

"Basically we have been assisted, there is (new) development about the suspect's profile, relations between the perpetrator and the victim etc, that's what we looked for," chief detective Krishna said in March.

"Why did we do that? Because the suspect refuses to talk, she remains quiet, all questions that were asked were diverted to different answers. It's up to her. She has the right to deny."

Ms Salihin died after meeting Ms Wongso and another friend at the Olivier Cafe in Grand Indonesia Mall on January 6.

She took a sip of the of the coffee that Ms Wongso had reportedly ordered for her and began to suffer convulsions after complaining to a waiter about the taste.

Ms Salihin died on the way to hospital.

Such is the notoriety of the case that Vietnamese iced coffee has reportedly become the drink of choice for ghoulish tourists who have flocked to Olivier Cafe after her death.

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The story Australia insists alleged cyanide-coffee murderer will not face death penalty first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Australia insists alleged cyanide-coffee murderer will not face death penalty

Jakarta airport's new terminal opens in June

The modern Terminal 3 Ultimate, part of the capital's main Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang city, goes fully operational from next March, serving international flights from other carriers including Air France, China Airlines and Dutch carrier KLM. It is expected to become the only arrival and departure point for international passengers in future.

The 4.7 trillion rupiah (US$345.61 million) terminal will be able to handle 25 million passengers a year, adding to the airport's current capacity of 52 million.

"The terminal is our answer to passengers' dreams for an airport that has a large capacity, which is more comfortable and has better facilities and services," Haerul Anwar, a spokesman for state airport operator Angkasa Pura II, told The Straits Times.

Spanning 422,804 sq m, the new terminal is slightly larger than Changi Airport's Terminal 3. It boasts 10 gates for international flights and 18 for domestic ones, two four-star hotels, meeting rooms, duty-free shops, retail outlets, restaurants and multi-storey carparks.

There will be skytrains to shuttle passengers between all three terminals, and commuter trains to take them to the city in less than an hour.An automated baggage handling system featuring at least 13 conveyor belts, 206 check-in counters, and 38 self check-in and 12 bag drop counters, are expected to lead to swift clearance and shorter queues. Officials hope that with the opening of the new terminal, Soekarno-Hatta would be able to rival Changi as well as Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), and lure international passengers to choose Jakarta as a transit point.

Haerul disclosed that airlines would be given discounts on landing fees to offset the "refuelling costs which are 20 to 24 per cent higher t han our neighbours' ".

He said the airport authority also intended to "showcase our deep culture and heritage and local talents to attract travellers", adding that art exhibitions, cultural shows and local dances will be held regularly.

Analysts, however, remained sceptical about the ambitious plans to take on Changi and KLIA.

"It will take our airport 20 years to reach Changi Airport's standard. These improvements are just the first step towards a long journey," said former lawmaker and aviation analyst Alvin Lie.

Indonesia's aviation industry sorely lags behind other countries', with a dismal air safety record, flight delays, poorly skilled workers and sloppy maintenance, said Dudi Sudibyo, a senior editor of aviation magazine Angkasa.

Transport Ministry spokesman Hemi Pramuharjo said the new terminal was part of efforts to spruce up 29 international and 236 domestic airports across the country.

He told The Straits Times: "The demand for air transport is growing. The airport needs a makeover. We want to upgrade the facilities and optimise the integration of the aviation system."

Source: Jakarta airport's new terminal opens in June

Saina hopes to grab first title of season at Indonesia Open

JAKARTA: Saina Nehwal will continue her quest for a maiden title this season to boost her confidence ahead of the Rio Olympics when she begins her campaign at the USD 900,000 Indonesia Open Super Series Premier starting with the qualifiers here tomorrow.

After missing a few tournaments due to a nagging ankle injury, Saina recovered well to notch up a consistent run of form, reaching the semifinals in a slew of events, including the India Open, Malaysia Open and Asian Championship.

En route to Indian women's team's bronze medal winning feat at the Uber Cup, Saina won all the matches in the league stage but lost to Thailand's Ratchanok Intanon and China's Li Xuerui in the knockouts.

Saina, who had won the Indonesia Open title in 2009, 2010 and 2012, will hope to come up with a better show against the top shuttlers and grab her fourth crown when she opens her campaign against Chinese Taipei's Pai Yu Po on Tuesday.

However, P V Sindhu, has decided to give it a miss as she will be training after a hectic schedule last month.

In men's singles too, K Srikanth and Ajay Jayaram decided to skip the event, while P Kashyap is undergoing physiotherapy after being operated for an injury.

H S Prannoy too will miss the event as he is still recovering from a toe injury.

In qualifiers, B Sai Praneeth and RMV Gurusaidutt too will miss out and national champion Sameer Verma will be the only Indian competing in men's singles after he was promoted to the main draw.

Rio-bound shuttlers, including 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa will be up against the Indonesian pair of Febriana Dwipuji Kusuma and Ribka Sugiarto, while Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy will face Philippines' Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Alvin Morada in men's doubles.

Source: Saina hopes to grab first title of season at Indonesia Open

High, normal speed trains projects can run simultaneously: VP Kalla

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Jakarta-Bandung high speed and the Jakarta-Surabaya normal speed railway trains projects can run simultaneously, depending on the situation and conditions, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla (JK) said here on Friday (May 27).

"Depending on (the situation that may emerge) later, it is important the Jakarta-Surabaya train journey time should be shortened (from eight) to five hours," Jusuf Kalla, better known as JK, pointed out.

According to him, Indonesia has conveyed a proposal of cooperation to Japan requesting the latter to renovate the eastern and western railway lines (from Jakarta to Surabaya), where trains can at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour currently to 150 kilometers per hour.

At 150 kilometers per hour, the Jakarta-Surabaya train, which usually needs about eight hours to reach its destination, can make that journey in five hours.

"Actually, with the current level of facilities and locomotives (such high speed) can be achieved, (but) there are thousands of crossings without barriers, or with barriers not properly constructed," JK noted.

Therefore, the vice president added, the proposal to Japan will be made for constructing better infrastructure, wherein railway crossings can be avoided through new flyovers and underpasses. This will ensure that road traffic is not affected to give way to a train.

On January 21, 2016, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) conducted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Jakarta-Bandung fast train project.

The Jakarta-Bandung fast train project will be built by PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China, a joint venture between China Railway International Co. Ltd and a consortium PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PBSI), that groups four state companies -- PT Wijaya Karya, PT KAI, PT Jasa Marga and PT Perkebunan Nusantara VIII.

(Reported by Azizah Fitriyanti/Uu.B003/INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Source: High, normal speed trains projects can run simultaneously: VP Kalla

Rising Indonesian Designers Present 'Modest With Style' for Ramadan 2016

One of these events you shouldn't miss this weekend is the Muslim Fashion Festival (Muffest). The event, held at Plaza Selatan, Istora Senayan, Jakarta, offers more than 250 ready-to-wear labels by Indonesian and international designers.

Four rising Indonesian modest-wear designers, Anandia Putri, Jenahara Nasution, Restu Anggraini and Ria Miranda, launched their special collections for the season in a fashion show themed Modest With Style on Friday night (27/05).

"Modesty in fashion is highly advisable, especially during the month of Ramadan," Restu said. "Therefore, we're presenting our special collections that allow our customers to dress both modestly and fashionably for the holy month."

Each designer presented 10 looks in the show.

Anandia stole the show right from the start with the new collection of her ready-to-wear label I.K.Y.K.

The collection, themed Hana ("One" in Korean), features loose-fitting tunics, culottes, skirts and jackets made of light and breathable materials, such as cotton and linen. With precise tailoring, these pieces fitted nicely on the models and allowed them to move freely on the catwalk.

"We're usually very busy during Ramadan and Idul Fitri," said the self-taught fashion designer. "Therefore, it's necessary for us to dress comfortably for the whole day."

Restu presented her collection, themed Serenity, in the show.

"It's a special collection to celebrate Idul Fitri," said the designer who won the ANZ Australia-Indonesia Young Fashion Designer Award in 2015.

Restu's collection is consists of a series of caftans in adorable hues of aquamarine, lime green and lilac.

The caftans, made of layered chiffon in contrasting colors, fluttered beautifully as the models sashayed on the catwalk last night.

Jenahara's new collection, themed Minaret, is dynamic and fresh. Made of simple blouses, flowing outerwear, flared skirts and Palazzo pants, her collection exudes relaxed elegance of youths in the 1980s.

"It's something simple and practical that you can wear both day and night," said the daughter of senior Indonesian fashion designer and actress Ida Royani (Jenahara).

Ria finalized the show with her collection themed Seashore.

The collection consists of blouses, dresses, caftans and tunics in soft pastel hues. Beautiful illustrations of algae, fishes and seashells adorn her items.

"I was inspired with the beauty of the seashore in Raja Ampat, West Papua, during my recent vacation," Ria said.

All their collections are now available at Muffest and Blibli.com. Their prices range between Rp 399,000 and Rp 1,399,000 ($29-$103).

Muffest will end on Sunday. For more information, visit www.muslimfashionfestival.com.

Source: Rising Indonesian Designers Present 'Modest With Style' for Ramadan 2016

Government keeps up pressure on Gafatar

Despite being banned and dissolved, the Fajar Nusantara Movement ( Gafatar ) remains a serious threat in the eyes of the government. Three of the movement's top leaders have recently been detained on charges of blasphemy and treason.

Founded in January 2012, Gafatar is not a religious organization, but more akin to a cult movement that tries to seek an alternative pathway to the divine for its estimated 55,000 followers throughout the country by synthesizing the teachings of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Although often labeled an Islamic-sect, Gafatar promotes a rural communal life that focuses mostly on social and economic programs. Gafatar organizes its own schooling system, and so most of its follower's children do not join ordinary schools. It is headquartered in Jakarta with branches in all of the country's 34 provinces.

The government officially banned the group in March this year following the issuance of joint decree SKB No. 93/2016 by the Attorn ey General's Office ( AGO ), the Home Ministry and the Religious Affairs Ministry. The ban was issued in order to prevent ex-Gafatar members from spreading the movement's doctrines, which are deemed to represent a deviation from Islam.

The decree prohibits Gafatar's former leaders and followers from arranging activities to spread its teachings to the public. Its former leaders and members are also prohibited from arranging or participating in any activities that can deviate from "true" Islamic values.

It also obliges all former leaders as well as regular members to uphold public peace and order. Any violation of the decree comes with a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Three of Gafatar's top leaders — Ahmad Musadeq, Mahful Muis Tumanurung and Andi Cahya — have been detained by the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department ( Bareskrim ) since Wednesday on blasphemy and treason charges. Mahful and Andi have been registered as directors of the Gafatar central office and Ahmad Mussadeq has been labeled the organization's spiritual leader.

"The detention is for the sake of the three individuals," said National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar at his office on Thursday. "It is to protect them from negative reactions from locals who oppose their teachings".

Boy emphasized that the detention was also intended to make sure that the investigation ran effectively.

The police will detain the three Gafatar leaders until June 13, according to the warrant letter.

The head of Bareskrim's general crimes division, Brig. Gen. Agus Adrianto, signed the letter and said the police had detained the three following complaints from locals, citing a local named H. Muhammad Tahir Mahmud who filed a report on Jan. 14 accusing the three men of blasphemy.

Agus said the police had questioned witnesses in Banten, East Java, Kalimantan and Yogyakarta, and declared the three leaders blasphemers b ased on the statements.

He added that the police had also confiscated evidence comprising several documents, holy books and brochures promoting the Gafatar organization.

But legal representatives for the three Gafatar leaders quickly rejected the police's explanation, condemning the arrest as illegal.

Fati Lazira from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute ( LBH ) said the police had never offered up any real evidence during the process.

According to Fati, none of the police's investigators came to the houses of the three leaders to actually search for evidence.

He questioned the argument that detaining the three was for the sake of an effective investigative process, saying that Ahmad, Mahful and Andi had always complied with the police's requirements.

"They have always cooperated during the process. How can the process be ineffective if the three individuals are cooperating?" Fati asked.

"It is clear to us that the detention is merely to satisfy public demand. It is subjective and baseless," he said.

Gafatar came into spotlight early this year after newspapers in Jakarta and Yogyakarta reported that several missing persons had joined the group. Some of the members sold their assets to move to Kalimantan to run self-sufficient farms.

A violent mob attacked one of Gafatar's farms in Mempawah, West Kalimantan, in mid-January and intimidated other members in East Kalimantan, forcing them to return to their hometowns and abandon the farms.

The government later dissolved the organization and forced the members to join "reeducation camps".____________________________________

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Source: Government keeps up pressure on Gafatar

Best prosecutors prepared, Jessica's lawyers say she's innocent

The Jakarta Prosecutors' Office has said it will prepare the best prosecutors for the trial of murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso, after the office accepted the suspect's case dossier prepared by the police on Thursday -- two days before the initial 120-day investigation period was set to expire.

Meanwhile, defense lawyers have insisted their client is innocent. Hidayat Bostam, one of the Jessica's lawyers, said police investigators had weak evidence because CCTV records failed to confirm that Jessica was the one who poured poison into the coffee cup of the victim.

"There is no movement of Jessica's hand that [would indicate] she poured poison into Mirna's coffee cup. There is also no eyewitness testimony," said Hidayat as reported by tempo.co.

He referred to an event at a Central Jakarta café in which Jessica, Wayan Mirna Salihin and another female friend shared a table on Jan. 6, for coffee. Mirna died soon after the meeting on her way to a hospital from drinking cyanide-laced coffee.

Jessica was taken by police to the Jakarta Prosecutors' Office on Thursday and then would be detained at Pondok Bambu female detention center, East Jakarta, while waiting for her trial.

Hidayat expressed his optimism his legal team could prove his client was innocent. "Mirna told me it was not her who murdered Mirna," Hidayat said. "We cannot talk much about the case outside court. But we're preparing our ammunition to win the trial," he added.

"We will be ready to face trial. We will prepare our best defense," Hidayat said.

Meanwhile, head of Jakarta Prosecutors' Office Hermanto stressed that prosecutors had prepared Jessica's legal documents before they declared the case dossier complete. He expressed hope that the trial at the Jakarta District Court would be held as soon as possible.

"After we finalize the legal documents, we will bring the case to court. We don't want to waste time," said Hermanto on Friday.

Hermanto realized Jessica's case had been highly publicized, therefore the prosecutors' office would assign its best prosecutors for the court hearing.

Jakarta Police said they had prepared 37 pieces of evidence, including CCTV records at Olivier café in Central Jakarta, clothes worn by Jessica during the incident, information from the Australian Federal Police about Jessica and Mirna's lives while living in Australia and testimonies by various experts. Jessica is accused of premeditated murder, with the maximum sentence of the death penalty.

Jakarta Police's general crimes director Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti said its investigators had worked very hard to complete the case dossier of Jessica based on advice from the prosecutors. "This is what we got [Jessica's completed case dossier], including the investigation results from the Australian Federal Police, with mutual legal assistance," Krishna said. ( bbn )

Source: Best prosecutors prepared, Jessica's lawyers say she's innocent

Child sex offenders in Indonesia to face execution or chemical castration

Crackdown on those found guilty of child sex offences could affect cooperation between Indonesian authorities and the AFP in a hotspot for Australian paedophiles.

Jakarta: Child sex offenders could be executed or chemically castrated in Indonesia under a crackdown following the brutal gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.

Indonesia, especially Bali, is a blackspot for Australian paedophiles - in 2014 it eclipsed Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia to become the number one destination for Australian child sex tourists.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo this week announced a regulation - effective immediately - that would allow judges to sentence child rapists to death or order that they be chemically castrated.

He said additional punishment could include publicly announcing the sex offender's identity and requiring those on parole to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Australian man Robert Andrew Fiddes Ellis is currently awaiting trial in Bali for allegedly sexually abusing at least 15 girls aged between seven and 17.

But Bali prosecutor Alit Swastika said Ellis would not be affected because the new regulation could not be applied retrospectively.

"No such law existed when Robert committed the crime," he said.

The 69-year-old man, who is suspected of being part of an international paedophile ring, allegedly groomed street kids by showering them with love and gifts before sexually abusing them in the bath.

Peter Duncan Walbran. Photo: Am Sandford

"If the girls spent the night there, then she will be given a couple of millions rupiah [about $200]. If they stayed longer, they might even be given a motorbike," Luh Putu Anggraeni, from child protection organisation Lentera Anak Bali told Fairfax Media earlier this year.

The new regulation has implications for the Australian Federal Police, who share intelligence with their Indonesian counterparts on child sex tourism.

AFP guidelines require senior AFP officials to take into account a series of factors before providing assistance in potential death penalty scenarios. These include whether the information is favourable to the defendant, the nationality of the person involved, the person's age and personal circumstances, the seriousness of the suspected criminal activity and the likelihood that the death penalty will be imposed.

Ministerial approval is required in any case in which a person has been arrested or detained for, charged with, or convicted of an offence which carries the death penalty.

The new punishments for child sex offenders in Indonesia follow national outrage over the brutal gang rape and murder of Yuyun, a 14-year-old girl from Bengkulu in Sumatra.

Seven boys under 18 were imprisoned for 10 years, a sentence many thought was too light.

"We all mourn the tragic death of [Yuyun]. Catch and severely punish the perpetrators. Women and children must be protected from violence," Mr Joko tweeted after Yuyun's death.

On Wednesday Mr Joko said extraordinary crime needed to be handled in an extraordinary way.

AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin (centre), Deputy Commissioner Mike Phelan (left) and Deputy Commissioner Leanne Close (right). Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

He increased the minimum sentence for child sex offenders to 10 years and gave judges the discretion to order the death penalty, authorise chemical castration, name perpetrators and monitor those on parole with electronic devices.

"(This) will give room for judges to issue the heaviest sentence on perpetrators of sexual offences on children," Mr Joko said. "We hope this regulation will provide a deterrent effect ... and bring down the number of sexual offences committed against children."

Paedophile Australian school teacher Peter Dundas Walbran was extradited to Indonesia in October 2011, following a request from Jakarta's Law and Human Rights Ministry.

Walbran was sentenced to three years' jail on Lombok in 2012 for offences that shocked investigators, including the repeated rape and abuse of children over a period of nine years.

He was deported back to Australia in 2014 but was last year found working at a school in Thailand.

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The story Child sex offenders in Indonesia to face execution or chemical castration first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Child sex offenders in Indonesia to face execution or chemical castration

Australian lawmaker links trade dispute with asylum seekers

Australia's deputy prime minister was slammed as "ignorant" Thursday, May 26 after suggesting that Jakarta deliberately sent asylum-seeker boats as payback for Canberra halting live cattle exports to Indonesia.

According to Parliamentary Library figures, 4940 asylum seekers arrived by boat in 2010-11, increasing to 7983 in 2011-12 and 25,173 in 2012-13 - a number which Mr Joyce says is directly linked to the export ban.

Deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce drinks a beer at the Burpengary Tavern in the federal seat of Petrie in Brisbane on Tuesday May 10.

Mr Turnbull, on the campaign trail with Mr Joyce in Rockhampton on Thursday said the cattle ban, instituted in response to a report highlighting cruelty in Indonesian abattoirs, "did enormous damage to the cattle industry across Australia" and "was an incredible affront to Indonesia".

The comments have proven awkward for the Coalition, with Finance Minister Mathias Cormann keen to avoid the issue on a radio interview with Olivia Leeming on 2GB this morning.

Joyce attempted to clarify his comments on Thursday.

'Indonesia was and remains committed to being a part of the regional solution to the common challenge we are facing of people smuggling'.

When debate host Chris Uhlmann questioned Mr Joyce's suggestion that Indonesia was responsible for the rise in arrivals, Mr Joyce said it was "absolutely the case we created extreme bad will" with the decision to halt live cattle exports.

He insisted that what he really meant was that the ban made it hard to talk to Jakarta about the issue of asylum seekers.

The Donald Trump of Austria, Norbert Hofer, just lost the electionTheir failure means that for the first time since 1945, the two parties are having to watch the second round from the sidelines. The victory held off Hofer, of Austria's Freedom Party , from becoming the European Union's first far-right head of state.

"This is politics of the worst kind", he said.

When asked about the comments, Mr Cormann said there was nothing he could add to the clarification Mr Joyce had offered this morning.

Former Indonesian former minister Dr Marty Natalegawa responded strongly to Mr Joyce's "patently false" remarks, telling Fairfax Media they represent "at best" an over-analysis of the subject.

Indonesia's foreign affairs ministry lablled the comments as "simply not true".

Joyce refused to answer directly, only reiterating that banning live exports had generated a lot of "bad will" with Indonesia.

"I'm not saying that this caused the Indonesians to start sending people across, I never suggested that", he said.

"What it does is it compromises the relationship that we have with one of our most important trading partners and it just shows that here we are with this very toxic debate towards refugees and asylum seekers and we have a desperate deputy prime minister who tries to link that with the live animal export trade".

Under pressure: Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce at the Regional Leaders' Debate in Goulburn.

"I think that our capacity to have a strong working relationship with Indonesia is affected by them relying on us to be reliable suppliers". "You do realise that you're suggesting the Indonesian government unleashed the boats in response?"

Source: Australian lawmaker links trade dispute with asylum seekers

Indonesia Will Now Punish People Who Sexually Abuse Children With Chemical Castration

Indonesia will now punish people who sexually abuse children with chemical castration, or in some cases even death, as the Pacific island nation struggles to deal with the aftermath of several high-profile incidents of sexual violence against kids.

As CNN reports, sexual violence against children and teenagers has long been commonplace in Indonesia, and it's been surgingof late, capped by an April incident in which a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered by a group of teenagers. The naked body of the victim was found tied up in a forest on the island of Sumatra. At least seven attackers have been sentenced to ten years in prison.

#Sumatra: 12 Indonesian teens gang rape, murder 14-year-old girl https://t.co/ml1EBbITIs @Emirates247 pic.twitter.com/OhZKMeSK58

— Lyndsay Farlow (@LyndsayFarlow) May 12, 2016

In an earlier case this month, three men raped and murdered a woman near the capital city of Jakarta.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, while declining to give specifics on the number of sex crimes against children in Indonesia, announced Wednesday that something must be done to curb the problem of sexual violence. Specifically, he announced a new law that allows criminals who commit sex crimes against children to be chemically castrated, or in some cases even put to death. Offenders who have already served their sentences can be required to wear ankle-monitoring bracelets.

"Sexual violence against children, as I have said, is an extraordinary crime. We hope that this law will be a deterrent for offenders and can suppress sexual crimes against children. These acts threaten and endanger children, and they destroy the lives and development of children for the future."

Presiden Joko Widodo Mengenalkan Ekonomi Indonesia Kepada Ratusan Pengusaha Korea Selatan https://t.co/8woQLL9OTk pic.twitter.com/5SrEQVKvJF

— Media Indonesia (@mediaindonesia) May 16, 2016

In chemical castration, the offender is given a course of antiandrogen drugs, such as cyproterone acetate or the birth-control drug DMPA. In theory, chemical castration reduces libido and sexual activity, thereby preventing the offender from offending again – IF he is cooperative with the treatment (chemical castration is not a one-time thing; the offender must routinely receive injections of the chemically-castrating drugs).

According to a 2013 National Institutes of Health report, chemical castration is undeniably effective in keeping sex offenders from repeating their crimes.

"Chemical castration… reduces circulating testosterone to very low levels, and also results in very low levels of recidivism despite the strong psychological factors that contribute to sexual offending."

However, according to a 2012 report in The Guardian, chemical castration only goes so far when it comes to those who sexually abuse children.

"[Chemical castration is not] a total cure: pedophiles' sexual behavior is governed not only by hormones but also by fantasies so they will still be drawn to children."

Nevertheless, chemical castration is used as a punishment for sex offenders in disparate places throughout the world, including Poland, South Korea, the Czech Republic, and in some states in the U.S.

In both Florida and California, for example, offenders who sexually abuse children are required to undergo chemical castration after their second offense. In Iowa, an offender can be sentenced to chemical castration on his first offense, if a judge deems his crime severe enough.

Back in Indonesia, Joko Widodo's regime has responded to surging crime in the nation with an equally heavy-handed criminal justice approach. After a four-year period without any executions, Widodo has brought back the firing squad in Indonesia, and in 2015 13 drug traffickers were put to death by firing squad. Another round of executions by firing squad is scheduled for this year.

Do you think that chemical castration should be mandatory for people who sexually abuse children, as it will soon be in Indonesia?

[Image via Shutterstock/Robert Hoetink]

Source: Indonesia Will Now Punish People Who Sexually Abuse Children With Chemical Castration

Louisville joins 'resilient cities' initiative

Downtown Louisville and the Louisville skyline. showing the Ohio River, Clark Memorial Bridge, Kennedy Bridge and the Big Four Bridge. April 4, 2015(Photo: Michael Clevenger/The Courier-Journal)Buy Photo

On Wednesday, Louisville will join Buenos Aires, Jakarta and 99 other cities globally to better prepare for anything from terrorism to climate change to the potential collapse of key industries.

The nonprofit group 100 Resilient Cities and Mayor Greg Fischer plan to make the announcement that will allow Louisville to hire a new "chief resilience officer," who will be tasked with developing strategies to help Louisville survive future disasters, slow-moving or otherwise.

Resilience is one of the latest buzzwords, seen in fields as diverse as ecology or urban planning. It has to do with the ability to survive or bounce back from disaster, whether fast-moving like a hurricane or slower-moving, such as crime or violence, said Andrew Brenner, spokesman for the 100 Cities group, which was started and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation in New York.

"We are trying to provoke cities into thinking about long-term and short-term simultaneously,"  he said.

More than 30 cities will be identified Wednesday, rounding out the group's 100 chosen since 2013 to be part of an international network that can tap the expertise of its partners in government and industry, Brenner said. Each city has unique challenges, he added.

For Louisville, inequality, heat, pollution and flooding "are certainly among the priorities that will start our conversations together," he said.

Fischer said in a written statement that entrance into the network will help Louisville fight the challenges of environmental sustainability, as well as the economic challenges that impact many low-income and disadvantaged citizens.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

GLI opposes 'regulatory' approach to trees

The new chief resilience officer will report directly to the mayor, said his spokesman Chris Poynter, adding that details on hiring and integration into city government are yet to be worked out.

The mayor in a written statement called the selection an honor that will "give us the tools to support a better today, tomorrow and for future generations to come. Our application recognized Louisville's commitment to addressing environmental issues that disproportionately impact low-income and minority neighborhoods. It will also examine income inequality in our city," Fischer said.

He said it gives the city a chance to "work with the best in the private, government, and non-profit sectors ... to respond to the resilience challenges ahead."

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

Fischer launches 'Cool502' to fight urban heat

Brenner said the new staff position would be funded for up to two years and would work with the community to develop a resilience strategy.

The city has no shortage of various reports and recommendations on a variety of issues, including urban heat, tree loss, transportation and overall vision. Brenner said 100 Cities recognzes that residents of some cities might suffer from "planning fatigue."

"We are focused on nimble action and a road map with tangible partnerships to help cities in our network" achieve their goals, he added.

Reach reporter James Bruggers at (502) 582-4645 and at jbruggers@courier-journal.com.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL

Fischer unveils $1.4B transportation plan

Read or Share this story: http://cjky.it/1VhQLJq

Source: Louisville joins 'resilient cities' initiative

Toyota, Uber to explore ridesharing partnership

Thomson ReutersThe logo of Toyota is seen at a showroom in Jakarta

(Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said on Tuesday it will partner with on-demand ride company Uber to explore ridesharing and will make a strategic investment in the company.

As part of the partnership, Toyota would create new leasing options in which car purchasers can lease their vehicles from Toyota Financial Services and cover their payments through earnings generated as Uber drivers.

Toyota is making the strategic investment through its unit Toyota Financial Services Corporation and Mirai Creation Investment Limited Partnership.

(Reporting by Radhika Rukmangadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)

Read the original article on Reuters. Copyright 2016. Follow Reuters on Twitter.

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Source: Toyota, Uber to explore ridesharing partnership

China group in KL to bid for high-speed train project

The group is offering preferential terms on loan facilities to outbid the Japanese and undertake the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur rail project.

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of businessmen, led by China's national railway operator China Railway Corp (CRC), is in Kuala Lumpur to bid for the high-speed rail project linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Caixin reported that the team left for Kuala Lumpur on May 23 to meet with Malaysian government officials to lobby for the project that involves constructing a 350-kilometre track.

The team led by Sheng Guangzu, general manager of the CRC, includes representatives from state-owned infrastructure developer China Railway Construction Corp Ltd, China Railway Signal & Communication Corp and several banks, an employee of the CRC told Caixin.

A Japanese consortium led by the East Japan Railway Company is also bidding for the project. European companies including Germany's Siemens and Spain's Talgo have signalled interest in the project too.

The proposed railway line is expected to cut travel time between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to 90 minutes, from more than 6 hours. The project might cost between USD10 billion and USD15 billion, the Strait Times reported in April.

The Singapore government preferred "the Japanese to provide the rolling stock and signalling systems because of its tested technology," the Straits Times report said. But Malaysia, which will pay a bulk of the construction costs, was in favour of the Chinese proposal, it reported.

Caixin quoted sources from the China bidders as saying they viewed Japan as their main rival.

The report said the China group was willing to offer preferential terms on loan facilities. It quoted a Japanese source as saying that Japan's ambassador to Malaysia had informed Tokyo that unless the government supported the Japanese consortium to offer more attractive funding options they would lose the tender.

The strength of the Chinese bid lay in the financing model it proposed, the CRC employee told Caixin. He did not give details of the payment options or interest rate offered. The bid is backed by the Chinese government, which is eyeing the project to boost the export of Chinese bullet train technologies, the CRC employee said.

Chinese firms could complete construction in two years, a timeframe much shorter than what Japanese companies required, the report quoted Lee Der Horng, a professor of civil engineering at the National University of Singapore, as saying.

China has secured contracts for two major high-speed rail projects: one linking Jakarta to Bandung in Indonesia and the other connecting Moscow to Kazan in Russia.

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

Source: China group in KL to bid for high-speed train project

Volcano erupts in western Indonesia, killing 6 people

Mount Sinabung, a highly active volcano, began a series of new eruptions on Saturday blasting up to two miles into the sky with ash tumbling westward down the slopes for three miles into a river.

In late 2014, the residents of Gamber village were asked to evacuate due to the unacceptable risk from lava flows, dense ash and falling volcanic rock. Dead and injured animals were lying on the ground, around them scorched homes and smoky vegetation.

Soldiers were also seen setting up roadblocks and people were carrying their belongings and leading farm animals to safety.

Officials had earlier said six people died after the volcanic eruption.

"If Mount Sinabung continues to erupt, the volcanic ash could reach Peninsular Malaysia after May 25 or 26", he said in a statement yesterday.

Gembar and three other villages are a 2.5 mile red alert zone areound the magma mount declared in October 2014, when almost 5,000 people were evacuated during earlier eruptions a nd 14 people perished.

An agency spokesperson said nine people had been affected by the hot clouds, and three remained in a critical condition.

The volcano is now still spewing ash, which is detrimental to rescue operations, but on Sunday security personnel even had to block some villagers from returning to collect their abandoned belongings.

Mount Sinabung is among the country's most active volcanoes.

Rescue teams have found survivors and are looking for others, searching homes and farms in the remote Gamber village.

According to The Jakarta Post, the Gamber village of Karo regency in North Sumatra, was declared a red zone when Mt Sinabung erupted at 4:48 p.m. on Saturday.

The victims were farming within the "red zone" when they were consumed by pyroclastic clouds.

Indonesian soldiers and villagers conduct search and rescue operations at Gamber village. The volcano in western Indonesian unleashed hot clouds of ash on Saturday, killing sever al villagers, officials said.

Source: Volcano erupts in western Indonesia, killing 6 people

Indonesia stocks higher at close of trade; IDX Composite Index up 0.67%

Investing.com – Indonesia stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the , and sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Jakarta, the rose 0.67%.

The best performers of the session on the were Tirta Mahakam Resources Tbk (JK:), which rose 26.60% or 25 points to trade at 119 at the close. Meanwhile, Minna Padi Investama Tbk (JK:) added 15.85% or 130 points to end at 950 and Smr Utama Tbk (JK:) was up 15.60% or 34 points to 252 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Sekar Bumi Tbk (JK:), which fell 10.00% or 60 points to trade at 540 at the close. Bayu Buana Tbk (JK:) declined 10.00% or 130 points to end at 1170 and Binakarya Jaya Abadi Tbk PT (JK:) was down 9.76% or 145 points to 1340.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Jakarta Stock Exchange by 162 to 100 and 110 ended unchanged.

Shares in Tirta Mahakam Resources Tbk (JK:) rose to 3-years highs; gaining 26.60% or 25 to 119.

Crude oil for July delivery was down 1.18% or 0.57 to $47.84 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in July fell 1.03% or 0.50 to hit $48.22 a barrel, while the June Gold contract fell 0.10% or 1.30 to trade at $1251.60 a troy ounce.

USD/IDR was down 0.13% to 13592.5, while AUD/IDR fell 0.03% to 9817.80.

The US Dollar Index was up 0.06% at 95.35.

Disclaimer: Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. All CFDs (stocks, indexes, futures) and Forex prices are not provided by exchanges but rather by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual market price, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Therefore Fusion Media doesn`t bear any responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data .

Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.

Source: Indonesia stocks higher at close of trade; IDX Composite Index up 0.67%

5 Ways To Find The Best Apartment

Many people who live in big cities like Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya prefer to stay in apartments.

There are two main reasons for this. First is that land is getting scarce, which means land and home prices in the big city areas are. The other reason is that more and more apartments are being developed in the middle of big cities. With the development of these apartments come payment systems that offer convenience for upper-middle income individuals.

So how do you get in on the action and find yourself the right apartment? Lifull Rumah has come up with a list of all the necessary things to watch out for when you're looking for the right apartment.

Start off by determining two or three different areas you want to live in. Find a list of apartments in those areas. An easy way to find such a list is by going through property portal sites like Lifull.id, which is part of the number one property site in Japan ( Home's ) for the buying and selling of property.

On this website, you can find all the information you need for apartments for sale. You can find details on things like pricing, facilities being offered and even the type of rooms you can get.

Once you're done looking them up, go and do on-the-field surveys of the apartments you like so that you can make sure that they fit according to your criteria. This will also allow you to better determine which apartment you want.

Here are the five important things you need to keep in mind as you go about examining these apartments.

1. Pay attention to the condition of the public facilities and the transportation options located near the apartment.

Check and examine the shops, the public transportation, the parks, the hospitals, the schools, the offices and the gyms in close proximity to the apartment. Be sure they are all well-maintained and in good condition.

If you're going to be living in an apartment, you need to consider whether or not you can tolerate being near clubs, cafes or concert areas. Will the loud noises coming from these places affect your lifestyle?

Be sure to check out the traffic conditions. How heavy is congestion during rush hours? Make sure there are alternative routes for avoiding traffic.

2. Pay attention to the shape and condition of the apartment itself.

Find out the age of the building. Is it in need of repair or renovations? You should be aware of how well the apartment managers maintain the place. How responsive are they to calls for help for your problems? How secure is your apartment? How do people get in and out of the apartment complex? Are there security cameras and guards?

3. Pay attention to the simple things in your apartment that can improve your living experience there.

Does your apartment have a balcony that can allow you to enjoy the view or the daily sunrise and sunset? You wouldn't want another building to be blocking your view, not would you want your apartment to be facing the wrong way.

4. Pay attention to all the maintenance fees you need to pay routinely.

When getting their apartments, people don't usually think of such things as city taxes, property taxes, utility bills, building maintenance fees, sanitation fees and security fees. Find out just how much you have to pay each month. You should also know which fees are already included when you buy your apartment.

5. Pay attention to how many vehicles you're allowed to have at the apartment. This way, if you have guests over, they have a place to park. Some apartments may charge extra for the parking facility.

These are the five most important things to consider when finding the right apartment. Now it's time to apply these tips to your apartment-hunting process. Take a look at Lifull.id for more information on all the things you need to know when finding your dream apartment. No matter what the property type you're looking for, it will be at Lifull Rumah.

Source: 5 Ways To Find The Best Apartment

Volcano Erupts in Western Indonesia, Killing Six Villagers

Associated Press

Updated May 22, 2016 3:07 a.m. ET

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Rescuers have found more bodies after a volcano erupted in western Indonesia, raising the death toll to six, an official said Sunday.

Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province blasted volcanic ash as high as 2 miles into the sky Saturday, said National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He said ash tumbled down the slopes as far as 3 miles westward into a river.

The mountain had been dormant for four centuries before reviving in 2010, killing two people. An eruption in 2014 killed 16 people.

All the victims of Saturday's eruption were working on their farms in the village of Gamber, about 2.5 miles away from the slope, or within the danger area. Video images showed dead farm animals covered in dust.

Mr. Nugroho said soldiers, police, and rescuers from disaster-management agencies, as well as volunteers and villagers, were searching for more possible victims.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 ac tive volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

—Copyright 2016 the Associated Press.

Source: Volcano Erupts in Western Indonesia, Killing Six Villagers

Indonesian volcano erupts, killing 3

JAKARTA, Indonesia — A volcano in western Indonesia unleashed hot clouds of ash Saturday, killing three villagers and injuring four others.

Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra province blasted volcanic ash as high as 2 miles into the sky, said National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. He said ash tumbled down the slopes as far as 3 miles westward into a river.

Clouds of ash rise from Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra, Indonesia, on Saturday. The Associated Press

The 8,530-foot-high mountain had been dormant for four centuries before springing to life in August 2010, killing two people and forcing 30,000 to flee. An eruption in February 2014 killed 16 people.

All the victims of Saturday's eruption were working on their farms in the village of Gamber, about 2.5 miles away from the slope, or within the danger area. Video images showed dead farm animals covered in dust.

Mount Sinabung is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

Source: Indonesian volcano erupts, killing 3

Indonesian minister optimistic tax amnesty bill debate to go smoothly

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro said he is optimistic debate on the tax amnesty bill would go smoothly that tax amnesty policy would be implemented soon.

"What is important is that it would become law . Tomorrow or next month does not matter," Bambang said here on Friday.

The minister said he hoped the policy could be implemented even if only for six months as funds expected to be repatriated from abroad are needed to help finance investment to boost economic growth.

Many rich Indonesians are believed to have large funds stashed away in banks abroad to evade tax.

Bambang said if the bill proposed by the government was rejected by the Parliament, the government has to intensify tax collection and expand tax base.

"There has to be a solution. We would go after tax payers," he said.

With more political parties joining the ruling coalition, there would be less opposition expected to the tax amnesty bill.

Golkar, the seco nd largest faction in the parliament is expected to come in line with the government leaving only Gerindra and PKS in the opposing side.

House Speaker Ade Komarudin, who is from the Golkar faction, has said he hoped debate on the bill could be wrapped up before the revised draft of the state budget is passed into law.

"We have discussed with the Vice President, and we agreed on the schedule before the draft revision of the state budget is passed into law," he said earlier.

The Parliament put off debated on the bill when it was submitted earlier by the government saying there were things that need to be consulted with the government.

The lawmakers were split over whether to approve or to reject the bill. The controversy was also sharp in the public.

The Indonesian labor union threatened to stage a massive demonstration against the bill.

However, a tax observer accused many non governmental organizations of being penetrated by foreigners leading a c ampaign against tax amnesty bill.

"The NGOs should be aware of the importance of the bill for the economy and the welfare of the people," Darussalam from the Tax Center said.

He said tax amnesty policy is in line with the long term program of reform in tax policy and it is important to strengthen self financing in the countrys development program.

The bill was proposed following shortfall in tax collection in the first months of the year.

Data at the finance ministry showed that by April 16 , tax revenues totaled only Rp98 trillion or Rp7 trillion lower than in April last year.

Based on the trend, tax revenues are predicted to fall Rp300 trillion short of the yearly target.

Cumulatively, tax revenues in the first four months of the year totaled Rp283 trillion or 20.8 percent of the whole years target of Rp1,360 trillion.

In the same period last year tax revenues totaled Rp309 trillion or 23.8 percent of the target.(Uu.H-ASG/H-YH)

Source: Indonesian minister optimistic tax amnesty bill debate to go smoothly

Jakarta to Start Construction of Eight Overpasses, One Underpass in 2016

The city administration plans to build overpasses in West, Central and South Jakarta. The underpass will be built at Pluit Junction in North Jakarta.

The construction projects, with a total budget of Rp 1.4 trillion ($102 million), are set for completion in 2017. It is not yet known whether the funds will come from the city's annual budget or from the state budget.

Other than these nine projects, the capital is also expected to see the construction of two elevated roads in Semanggi, South Jakarta, to help ease traffic ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.

Source: Jakarta to Start Construction of Eight Overpasses, One Underpass in 2016

Indonesian minister says evidence against international school staff is strong

Indonesia's chief security minister says he will show the ambassadors of four countries - including Australia - solid evidence against teachers and cleaners accused of sexual abuse at a prestigious international school.

Indonesia's chief security minister says he will show the ambassadors of four countries - including Australia - solid evidence against teachers and cleaners accused of sexual abuse at a prestigious international school.

Canadian teacher Neil Bantleman and Indonesian teacher's aide Ferdinant Tjiong had their prison sentences for sodomy at the Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal in February this year.

The shock decision attracted international ire because it was at odds with that made by the Jakarta High Court, which acquitted the men in 2015.

Chief Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan said he had asked the Jakarta Police to brief him on the case after ambassadors had complained.

He said he would invite the ambassadors from Canada, Australia, the US and Britain to see the evidence.

"We will invite the respected ambassadors because they insisted that we were wrong," Mr Panjaitan said.

"We try to deal with the JIS case seriously, we don't want to be accused on baseless grounds. In a short time we will invite the four ambassadors who complained about the case to see the evidence so they will believe in our law and trust our credibility. We don't want to be repeatedly accused of (mishandling cases). We are not a banana republic."

US Ambassador to Indonesia Robert Blake's statement at the time was remarkable in its forthright condemnation.

"We are shocked and disappointed by the decision announced by the Supreme Court to sentence two international school teachers," he said.

"In August 2015, the Indonesian High Court found that there was not sufficient evidence to support the teachers' conviction. It is not clear what evidence the Supreme Court used to overturn the High Court's decision. The outcome of the legal process will impact international views about the rule of law in Indonesia."

The Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, was more measured but said in February he hoped the teachers would be acquitted in line with the Indonesian High Court decision.

"As a founding member of the board of the school we have a significant involvement in the Jakarta Intercultural School and will be following this case closely," he said at the time.

The high-fee school, now Indonesia's largest international school, used to be called the Joint Embassy School, after its Australian, British, American and then-Yugoslavian partners.

Mr Panjaitan said after checking with the Jakarta Police and the Attorney-General's Office and reading the report into the case he was convinced the investigation had been professional.

"I would like to invite them (the ambassadors) and show (them the report)," Mr Panjaitan said. "After we make the presentation we will see what they say."

Asked if he was aware the international community was following the case, Mr Panjaitan said: "I don't care, you know I trust my own people, we have strong evidence so we'll prove it. We will show them this is the strong evidence from the government of Indonesia. Why do we have to care so much about the critics when we have strong evidence?"

The teachers' legal team have said they will lodge a judicial review to ask the Supreme Court to review and examine how the law had been implemented.

They said a medical document from a hospital in Belgium said one of the alleged victims had never contracted a sexually transmitted disease as had been claimed.

The legal team also claims a medical examination of one of the alleged victims in Singapore showed no signs of sexual abuse.

But Mr Panjaitan questioned the need to go as far as Belgium for evidence.

"We have independent doctors, forensic experts, specialists on genetic diseases," he said.

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The story Indonesian minister says evidence against international school staff is strong first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Indonesian minister says evidence against international school staff is strong

Relentless Promotions to Lure Foreign Investors

Indonesia, the world's 4th most populous nation, is Southeast Asia's largest economy. No doubt, its large domestic market is highly attractive, especially to foreign investors.

President Joko Widodo when visiting Digital Media City in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo source: Cabinet Secretary website/Anggun)

Jakarta, GIVnews.com – The ongoing economic reforms introduced under the current leadership of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is boosting the image of Indonesia as one of the world's most attractive investment destinations. Indonesia's current economic policies are viewed as being on a firmer footing.

Of late, the country is on the list of the top 10 most attractive countries for foreign investments. The other countries are China, the US, India, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Thailand, the UK and Japan.

With such encouraging pictures, President Jokowi and his ministers are moving ahead with their relentless efforts to lure foreign investors to come to Indonesia.

During his three-day visit to South Korea, which ended on Wednesday (18/5), not only that the President addressed a business forum attended by 100 South Korean and Indonesians businessmen, he also visited several major firms in the 'creative economy' sector. He told reporters that Indonesia needs to form partnerships with Korean companies to develop its creative economy as soon as possible, thejakartapost.com reported.

South Korea is Indonesia's strategic trading partner while more than 2,200 South Korean firms now have investments in Indonesia.

Another example of the government's seriousness was the visit to Hong Kong conducted by the Investment Coordinating Board (BKM) Head Franky Sibarani.

On Tuesday (17/5), while in Hong Kong, Franky Sibarani held a working dinner at the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong in cooperation with the consulate general and UOB Bank.

In the meeting which was attended by Hong Kong's top business executives, Franky Sibarani made presentation about Indonesia's infrastructure projects until 2019. They included the building of 15 new airports, 163 new seaports, 35,000 MW power generation, 2,024 railways and 621 miles of toll roads. He also explained about the government's ongoing economic reforms to cut red tape in obtaining business permits, according to a report by Detik.com.

In response, four Hong Kong investors told Franky Sibarani that they have interest in expanding their businesses to Indonesia. They include producers of machines for manufacturing, textile, property and infrastructure projects.

Others in the Hong Kong meeting showed their interest in the agricultural, maritime and tourism sectors.

Last September, in his talks with visiting Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive CY Leung, President Jokowi requested the latter to boost their investments in Indonesia.

BKPM will take follow up measures to push Hong Kong investors to materialize their plans.

Source: Relentless Promotions to Lure Foreign Investors

Indonesia uneasy over ‘anti-communism’ policing by military

JAKARTA, 19 May 2016: 

Indonesia's military elite are openly stoking public anxiety about communism, gays and other 'foreign influences', a drive critics say is aimed at seizing a greater role in civilian affairs of the world's third-largest democracy.

However, the military's crackdown on suspected communist activity and ambitions to create a massive civilian defence force are beginning to create unease within president Joko Widodo's administration.

Widodo last week publicly rebuked the military after it detained a handful of Indonesians suspected of spreading communist ideology, the first public resistance by the president to the military's growing influence in everyday life.

"The president has firmly and clearly told the military and police chiefs to bring their forces to order," cabinet secretary and presidential aide Pramono Anung told reporters.

Under Widodo, the military has joined the nation's fight against drugs, terrorism and corruption, areas previously reserved for the police.

But a line was crossed this month when soldiers briefly detained two student activists in eastern Indonesia for wearing red T-shirts emblazoned with a picture of a hammer and sickle inside a coffee cup.

It was the latest in a string of military and police raids against suspected left-wing radicals.

"The reason the local military command gave (for the detentions) was that the men were spreading communism through T-shirts," said Abdon Nababan, head of the organisation to which the two activists in North Maluku province belong.

"We protested because military soldiers cannot arrest, interrogate and confiscate property of civilians."

A local military spokesman declined to comment on the detentions.

Security forces have also recently begun seizing leftist books from citizens in an apparent attempt to prevent a feared revival of communism.

Armed forces spokesman Tatang Sulaiman said the military is working within the law.

"If we find groups spreading communist ideology…or materials that can influence the thinking of the public, then we will act according to the law. Our role is to help the police."

The crackdown has coincided with Widodo's order for an investigation into an anti-communist purge of 1965, a move that irked some within the military elite.

Historians say at least a half-million people were killed in violence that began in October 1965, after suspected communists killed six generals in an attempted coup against then president Sukarno.

Successive governments have refused to apologise or accept that death toll.

Indonesia back then had the largest non-ruling communist party in the world, and it was supported by China.

Under the authoritarian Suharto who took over from Sukarno, the party was dissolved and all leftist materials and symbols – even Chinese characters on signs and in the media – were banned.

Critics heard echoes of that era in the central Javanese city of Yogyakarta, where an anti-communist group that included children of military and police officials recently prevented the screening of a workers' rights movie deemed too left-leaning.

"The event was not at all about communism. It was a film about workers," said Suarjono, an organizer of the screening.

For the military, memories of 1965 are still raw.

"Who was it that rioted and killed military generals at the time? It was the PKI (the communist party)," defence minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told Reuters in an interview. "Don't look for justification. I don't like that."

"We tried to eradicate them (communists) in the past so it's possible they want to get revenge," Ryacudu said.

"Definitely, there is a connection with 1965," he said when asked about the recent increase in suspected communist activity.

Ryacudu said the military hoped to establish nearly 900 training centres this year for a civilian defence corps known as "Bela Negara" (defend the country).

Its mission is to defend against "proxy wars" waged by communists, gays, religious militants and other "foreign influences", who want to divide the country and degrade its moral and nationalist values, the military says.

The training centres will teach millions of students, doctors, civil servants and others survival skills, first aid, and Indonesian history – but no weapons training.

"Bela Negara is a direct response to the threats we face from proxy wars," said Hartin Asri, a military officer in charge of the programme.

The Indonesian military has a history of being involved in civilian affairs dating back to independence from the Dutch in 1947.

Under a doctrine known as dwifungsi (dual function), the military was granted power over civil and political affairs to promote nationalism and development.

The doctrine was largely jettisoned after Suharto fell from power in 1998, but it still has adherents in the military.

"There are efforts within the senior ranks of the military to create this sense of paranoia that suggest that Indonesian nationalism needs to be re-ignited," said Sidney Jones, a Jakarta-based security expert.

"The military genuinely believes it has the solution to getting Indonesia back on track."

Source: Indonesia uneasy over 'anti-communism' policing by military

REC Solar Panels Used In Floating Solar Demonstration

The REC Peak Energy solar panels installed on many rooftops in Australia are so tough they can also be used in floating solar farm applications.

Floating solar farms are becoming increasingly popular around the world. In addition to preserving land, floating solar panel arrays help to reduce the growth of algae in dams and minimise evaporation rates.

Indonesia is a new and emerging solar market and while it has plenty of rooftops, land suitable for larger scale solar installations is at a premium.

REC and installation partner PT Kas Green Energy have installed a small floating solar installation pilot project at the Electricity & Renewable Energy Museum (Museum Listrik dan Energi Baru – MLEB) in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta.

The panels have been mounted on Hydrelio pontoons. The lightweight, UV-resistant floats are easy to deploy, dismantle and are 100% recyclable. Constructed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), Hydrelio pontoons can used on drinking water reservoirs.

The 5 kilowatt installation features 20 REC Peak Energy Series panels, which are expected to generate 6.7 MWh of electricity annually and avoid an equivalent of 5.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

"Stringent tests have confirmed REC's Peak Energy solar panels to be suitable for deployment at floating solar installations. The high standards of reliability, performance and quality are consistent with the rooftop and ground-mounted installations," said Torgeir Ulset, REC's Vice President for Sales and Marketing in Asia-Pacific.

" With a reliable power output and high quality standards, adopters of floating solar installations can be assured of the long-term performance of their REC solar panels. Therefore, REC extended its product and performance guarantee to floating applications."

REC says its Peak Energy Series panels can be used in many freshwater applications; including water treatment facilities and chemical plants, irrigation storage ponds, dam reservoirs and aquaculture installations.

REC solar panels have been a popular choice for Australian residential and commercial solar installations since Energy Matters introduced the modules to the local market in 2010. The high-efficiency modules feature in Energy Matters' Platinum range of solar power systems for domestic applications.

Source: REC Solar Panels Used In Floating Solar Demonstration

Indonesia to probe Lion Air, Indonesia AirAsia ground handling ops

JAKARTA - Indonesia's transportation ministry on Wednesday said it plans to suspend the in-house ground handling operations of budget carriers Lion Air and Indonesia AirAsia at two of the country's biggest airports while it investigates possible handling errors.

Ministry spokesman Hemi Pamuraharjo at a briefing said the airlines have until Tuesday to hire other handling services before its investigation begins. He said, without elaborating, that the possible errors involved passenger handling.

The suspension will apply to Lion Air at Jakarta's main airport and to AirAsia in the resort island of Bali, he said, declining to disclose the duration of the investigation.

Lion Air is Indonesia's biggest budget carrier, while Indonesia AirAsia is an affiliate of Malaysia's AirAsia Bhd, Asia's biggest low-cost carrier.

Local media reported this week that Lion Air and Indonesia AirAsia allowed passengers on two international flights to disembark at domestic terminals, and that airport security officials had to redirect the passengers for immigration checks.

Flight numbers the ministry identified as involving possible passenger handling errors matched those in the media reports.

Lion Air declined to comment on the reports when contacted by Reuters. In a statement on Wednesday, Director Edward Sirait said the airline would continue to operate normally. "We urge our passengers not to worry about this decision because all of our operations are running norm ally," he said.

Indonesia AirAsia was not immediately available for comment.

Source: Indonesia to probe Lion Air, Indonesia AirAsia ground handling ops

JACK StudyAbroad Has Record Growth, Helps More Students Study Overseas

SINGAPORE, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- What began as student recruitment into Singapore's education system in 2005 has grown into an agency that employ's the second largest team in the country with the sole purpose of matching students to their dream universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160517/368542

JACK StudyAbroad Has Record Growth, Helps More Students Study Overseas

JACK StudyAbroad has built its success steadily, and its extraordinary achievements over the last six years have enabled the agency to announce that it is opening branch offices in Hanoi, Vietnam and Jakarta, Indonesia. With its dedicated team, it is no wonder why JACK StudyAbroad is the fastest growing agency in Singapore.

With its expansion and the guidance it offers students and their parents, it's been said that JACK StudyAbroad is the "new star" in Southeast Asia. It's free services have given students the ability to study in Singapore and then continue their higher education overseas, which provides them with the opportunity to earn degrees that will secure them a solid future within their desired career.

Alongside providing expert guidance in overseas education, the agency also organizes helpful seminars for students and their parents. One such event took place on 7 May 2016, and gave over 200 students and parents the tools they needed to, as the seminar was titled, 'Succeed in UK/Australia Medical School Application at the First Attempt'.

Guest Speaker Dr. Christopher Nordstrom, MBBS BSc (hons) MRCP PgCERT FHEA and an expert in medical school admissions practises, provided comprehensive advice on the application process alongside techniques for scoring higher on aptitude tests and alternatives into medicine should the student still be unable to make the grade.

Students who have heeded Nordstrom's advice have been accepted into some of the world's best medical schools, and parents benefit with a better understanding of the processes through which their children must go. The collaboration between JACK StudyAbroad and its partners has the students' best interests and education at heart.

Their dream is JACK StudyAbroad's dream, and it is no wonder why the agency has become one of the most established brand names in the region. Its dedication to helping students achieve their overseas higher education goals is what has placed and will keep this extraordinary education agency on the map.

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SOURCE JACK StudyAbroad

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Source: JACK StudyAbroad Has Record Growth, Helps More Students Study Overseas