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US guarantees to not sanction Indonesia for purchasing Sukhoi
US Defense Secretary James Norman Mattis has made assurance that Indonesia will not be sanctioned with an embargo for purchasing weapons system equipment from Russia, including Sukhoi Su-35 jet fighters.
—Antara

Indonesia, Australia hope to announce economic partnership on Friday
The leaders of Indonesia and Australia hope to announce on Friday the completion of negotiations on an economic partnership pact aimed at boosting trade between the neighbors, foreign ministry officials said.
— Reuters

Pertamina to reduce imports: New president director
Indonesia`s state-owned oil company PT Pertamina will focus on reducing imports, refinery construction, and implementation of Biosolar B20 program, newly inaugurated President Director Nicke Widyawati said here on Wednesday.
— Antara

Govt Explains Reason of Nicke Widyawati`s Naming as Pertamina CEO
The Deputy of Mining Business, Strategic Industry and Media, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Fajar Harry Sampurno, explained the reason for choosing Nicke Widyawati as the new Pertamina President Director.
— Tempo

Indonesia detains Polish man in conflict-prone Papua region
Indonesian security forces have detained a Polish man in the troubled Papua region on suspicion of links to separatists.
— Associated Press

KPK Arrests Medan Court Judge Merry Purba
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has put anti corruption judge of the Medan district court Merry Purba in detention cell on charge of graft.
— Tempo

Indonesian government to build 74 thousand quake-proof houses
The government will send 400 engineers to accompany people in Lombok to build some 74 thousand earthquake-proof houses to replace those destroyed in the recent earthquake on the eastern island, President Joko Widodo stated.
— Antara

Gov’t Raids Miner Suspected of Destroying Orangutan Habitat in West Kalimantan
Nickel miner Laman Mining is suspected of illegal bauxite mining operations, disrupting orangutan habitat in West Kalimantan’s Tulak River forest.
— The Jakarta Globe

Jokowi, Prabowo share stage, group hug at Asian Games
In a rare moment in the lead up to the 2019 presidential election, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and his political nemesis, Prabowo Subianto, ended up having a group hug while celebrating the victory of a pencak silat athlete during the Asian Games in Jakarta on Wednesday.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia tour prices rise as Vietnam enters Asiad semis
As soon as the final whistle blew in Vietnam’s victorious Asian Games quarterfinal game, Indonesia tour prices rose.
— Retail News Asia

Asian Games: Flood of bonuses await Indonesian medalists
The cash-strapped government has allocated over Rp 178 billion (US$12 million) in cash bonuses to be awarded to Indonesian athletes who win medals at the ongoing Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, as well as their coaches.
— The Jakarta Post

What’s Next for Indonesia’s Submarine Program?
This week, reports surfaced about the fact that Indonesia had allocated funding for the procurement of another submarine.
— The Diplomat

BRI, BCA unveil new digital banking products
In a bid to expand their customer base, state-owned lender Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and private lender Bank Central Asia (BCA) have invested in new digital banking products.
— The Jakarta Post

Jakarta scraps 10 programs in revised budget
The city administration has eliminated 10 programs in the revised 2018 budget through the general regional budget amendment policy (KUPA) and temporary regional budget priority and ceiling amendment (PPAS), with an eye to increasing the draft budget to Rp 83.2 trillion, an official has stated.
— The Jakarta Post

AIIB lends $692 million to Indonesian infrastructure
The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which started operations in January, 2016, has cumulatively approved US$691.5 million in loans for four infrastructure projects in Indonesia, thereby making the country the second-largest borrower among its 66 members.
— The Jakarta Post

Pollycarpus, Convicted Killer in Munir Murder Case, Freed Today
Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a convicted murderer of human rights defender Munir, fulfilled his parole term today, August 29.
— Tempo

Jusuf Kalla Comments on Pollycarpus Release
The convicted murderer of human rights activist Munir, Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, was fully freed today, August 29, after serving 14 years prison sentence.
— Tempo

BPH Migas Reveals Causes of Solar Fuel Smuggling
The Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) said that the smuggling of diesel fuel, locally known as solar, is still happening in a number of districts.
—Tempo

BNN Seizes Illegal Drugs Ordered by Salemba Prison Inmates
The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and BNN Banten Province on Monday, August 27, confiscated crystal meth and ecstasy pills in Tangerang, Banten.
— Tempo

Asian Games Closing Ceremony Tickets Fully-booked: Erick Thohir
All 40,000 tickets to watch the 2018 Asian Games closing ceremony are booked. Tickets for the event, which would take place on September 2, were sold in 24 minutes after sales they went on sale yesterday, August 28.
— Tempo

President Jokowi Reviews Village Fund Utilization in Sleman Regency
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo performed a working visit to Yogyakarta Special Region, Wednesday (08/29/2018). The President directly reviewed the use of village funds.
— Netral News

How Agriculture Ministry Anticipates Rampant Circulation of Fake, Bootleg Garlic Seeds
The Ministry of Agriculture is moving quickly to anticipate the rampant circulation of fake and bootleg garlic seeds.
— Netral News

Fires and haze return to Indonesia as peat protection bid falls short
Fires on peatlands on Indonesia’s Borneo and Sumatra islands have flared up again this year after relatively fire-free dry seasons in 2016 and 2017.
— Mongabay

Grab to invest US$250m in Indonesian startups in race against Go-Jek
Grab, which holds 65 per cent of Indonesia’s ride-hailing market, will invest US$250 million in Indonesian startups over the next three years through its newly launched innovation arm, as it aggressively pushes to cement its position in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
— Channel NewsAsia

VP urges Pertamina to increase domestic investment
Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called on state-run oil firm PT Pertamina to boost its domestic investment by encouraging the development of oil drilling installations.
— Antara

Indonesia committed to maintaining regional peace: Defense Minister
Indonesia remains committed to maintaining world peace through developing state defense architecture to create security, peace, and stability and improving regional welfare as an integral part of its national interests, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu stated.
— Antara

Hyundai to ship China-made cars to Southeast Asia amid erratic sales recovery
Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) plans to ship China-made cars to Southeast Asia, its China joint venture and two people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as a plunge in Chinese sales has left much of its massive local manufacturing capacity idled.
— Reuters

Indonesia’s push to nationalize energy assets could chill foreign investment
Indonesia is pushing to nationalize more of its oil and gas assets as it tries to reduce imports and boost government revenue amid emerging market turbulence that has staggered Southeast Asia’s biggest economy.
— Reuters

Indonesia’s 2018 crude palm oil output to climb to 40-42 mln T -industry body
Indonesia’s 2018 crude palm oil output is set to climb by 4-6 million tonnes from last year to 40-42 million tonnes, said an official from an industry association.
— Reuters

Indonesia to extend Freeport’s mining permit for one month -energy minister
Indonesia will extend the special mining permit for PT Freeport Indonesia for another month to September, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan told reporters on Wednesday.
— Reuters

Forbidden smoke
Smoking is a normal part of everyday life for the men of Aceh. Smoking is an inseparable aspect of Acehnese culture, practiced at almost every traditional and social event or festival. However, for women, smoking is considered culturally inappropriate.
— Inside Indonesia

Earthquakes cause a 26% setback in bookings to Indonesia
Research undertaken by ForwardKeys, which analyses over 17 million flight booking transactions a day, reveals that the recent earthquakes in Indonesia have been responsible for a 26% setback in bookings to the destination since the second major earthquake this year, on August 5th.
— Travel Daily News

Australian universities to set up campuses in Indonesia under new free trade deal
Australian universities are expected to get the green light to start setting up campuses in Indonesia under a new free trade deal.
— The Guardian

Grain growers, cattlemen big winners in free trade deal with Indonesia
The free trade agreement with Indonesia is set to give grain growers new avenues into their biggest wheat market and put cattle producers in northern Australia on their strongest footing since Labor’s snap ban on live exports in 2011 devastated the industry.
— Financial Review

Senior journalist, press activist Leo Batubara dies at 79
Former Indonesian Press Council deputy chairman and press activist Sabam Leo Batubara died on Wednesday in a workplace accident at the age of 79.
— The Jakarta Post

Feature photo Indonesian National Search and Rescue Service

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

Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

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