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Gold sales soar as rupiah depreciates
State-owned mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) has said its gold sales jumped significantly in the first half of 2018 as a result of the weakening rupiah.
— The Jakarta Post

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.
— Business World

‘This is Indonesia’: Asian Games race-walker collapses after 50km of heat, smog
Indonesia’s Hendro said it was a “miracle” to even finish the 50km race walk in Jakarta’s brutal pollution, heat and humidity on Thursday (Aug 30) after he was carried from the finish line on a stretcher.
— Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia Bans Malaysian Poultry over Bird Flu Scare
Indonesia imposes a ban on fresh poultry products from Malaysia from entering the local market. The prohibition is based on the bird flu outbreak in Malaysia.
— Tempo

McKinsey: In Indonesia, ecommerce is the modern-day Industrial Revolution
Though ecommerce as a concept had been ideated in the U.S. and exported overseas, the country in itself would have done well even without it, as it already had the means to shop and consume in ways that were alien to most across the world.
— Freight Waves

Jack Ma to Attend Asian Games Closing Ceremony, Alibaba Confirms
Alibaba Group CEO Jack Ma will attend the 2018 Asian Games closing ceremony at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium, Jakarta, on September 2. The e-commerce giant confirmed the news.
— Tempo

Asian Games – Tohir denies allegation of fraud in pencak silat
Chairman of Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC), Erick Tohir, has denied the allegation that there was cheating by the referees and judges in the Pencak Silat events of Asian Games 2018.
— Antara

Boeing, PTDI collaborate to enhance aerospace growth
Boeing and Indonesian aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore collaborative areas of opportunity to include manufacturing technology, certification, as well as support and maintenance of vertical lift products.
— The Jakarta Post

China-Indonesia Military Ties in Focus With Defense Industry Meeting
This week, Indonesia and China held the latest iteration of their defense industry talks. Beyond the engagement itself, the development also put the focus on the ongoing defense ties between Jakarta and Beijing, which have been moving along slowly in spite of the significant challenges that remain for both sides.
— The Diplomat

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim meets Jokowi, talks strengthening bilateral ties
Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim has expressed hopes for Indonesia and Malaysia to further strengthen bilateral relations during his cordial meeting with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at Bogor Palace on Thursday.
— The Jakarta Post

Sports Ministry Support IDR100 Million of Village Fund Utilized for Sports Facilities
The Ministry of Sports fully supports the efforts of the Ministry of Village, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration to build sports facilities in each village.
— Netral News

80 questioned in Depok graft case against Nur Mahmudi
The police have questioned 80 witnesses in a graft case involving former Depok mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail and former city secretary Harry Prihanto as suspects related to a Jl. Nangka road-widening plan, a 1.5-kilometer stretch of road in the West Java town.
— The Jakarta Post

Post-Islamism what? Sandiaga confused by PKS campaign slogan
Vice presidential candidate and businessman Sandiaga Uno admitted that he had no clue what the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was talking about when it portrayed him as a santri di era pos-Islamisme (a pious Muslim in the era of post-Islamism).
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia Condemns Planned Prophet Muhammad-Themed Cartoon Contest
The Indonesian government condemned the plan to implement the Prophet Muhammad-themed cartoon contest to be carried out by a member of the Dutch Parliament, Geert Wilders.
— Netral News

Telkom drops plan to issue Komodo Bond
State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom finance director Harry M Zen has said the company postponed its plan to issue Komodo Bond, initially to collect US$1 billion due to global economic fluctuation.
— The Jakarta Post

World`s Top Coffee Producers to Hold Expo in Makassar
The International Coffee Day Exhibition (HKI) which is centered in Makassar City, South Sulawesi, will be joined by the world`s top 10 coffee-producing countries. The exhibition will be held from October 15 to 17, 2018.
— Tempo

Tax DG Ready to Swap Information with Other Nations by September
The Finance Ministry`s Tax Directorate General ensures all preparations have been completed before the implementation the automatic exchange of information (AEoI). The program is set to kick off in September this year.
— Tempo

Police Find Three Hectare Cannabis Field in Aceh
Aceh Regional Police again found a 3-hectare cannabis field in the Tampeng Paya Dua mountain range, Pulo Village, Lamteuba Settlement, Seulimum Sub-district, Aceh Besar.
— Netral News

Minister of Communications and Information Aims Indonesia to Have 10 Unicorns by 2020
Minister of Communication and Information, Rudiantara aspires Indonesia to have 10 unicorn startup companies by 2020.
— Netral News

32,129 Earthquake-Damaged Houses in Lombok Have Been Verified
Data collection and verification of houses damaged due to the Lombok earthquake continue to be carried out in seven districts/cities in Lombok and Sumbawa Islands.
— Netral News

Indonesia, Namibia agree to jointly combat illegal fishing
Indonesia and Namibia have agreed to jointly combat the practice of “illegal fishing” that is rife in the maritime area of the two states.
— Antara

BNPB: Here are Seven Choices for Earthquake-Resistant Modern Buildings
Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Data Center, Information and Public Relations Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that up to now there are as many as seven earthquake-resistant modern building constructions.
— Netral News

PM Prayut presents contribution to Indonesia for relief efforts from Lombok earthquake
The Prime Minister, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, presented a contribution of three million baht to the Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Ahmad Rusdi, as a token of support and sympathy from the Thai government and the people of Thailand to those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Indonesia’s Lombok Island on July 29th and August 5th, 2018.
— NNT

Judge Merry warned over bribery: Supreme Court
Spokesperson for the Supreme Court (MA) Suhadi claimed that his side had warned judge Merry Purba seven times over the potential of bribery in the case he was handling.
— Antara

Inter-regional trade can control inflation: BI
Bank Indonesia (BI) representative of West Sumatra has encouraged the implementation of strategic food commodity trade among the regions as an effort to control inflation.
— Antara

Investments begin to flow into Labuan Bajo
Regent of Manggarai Barat, Agustinus Ch Dula, said investment climate is conducive in the district as indicated by investment beginning to flow into Labuan Bajo.
— Antara

Morrison to meet Indonesia’s Jokowi, treaties under way
When Scott Morrison meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo today at the sprawling presidential palace in the hill station of Bogor, he will be reaping the benefits of a relationship on a historic high.
— The Australian

Free trade ‘agreement’ between Australia, Indonesia only one page long
The “agreement” on free trade between Australia and Indonesia that Prime Minister Scott Morrison hopes to sign this week is just one page long, and was still being negotiated late into the night on the eve of his visit to Jakarta.
— Canberra Times

The chance to urge religious freedom in Indonesia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is visiting Indonesia this week on his first international trip as Australia’s leader. The two governments will announce a new trade deal and Australia is keen to show this as a deepening of ties between the two nations.
— The Interpreter

Refugees in Indonesia don’t want to get on boats. They want basic rights
This week, home affairs minister Peter Dutton again reiterated the false claim that “there are 14,000 people in Indonesia waiting to get on to boats now”.
— The Guardian

Bulgaria, Japan & Indonesia: Streets that spell style
Indonesia’s sprawling capital, home to 10 million people is considered a big hub for traditional fashion and also a production unit for export garments.
— Economic Times

Islamic Edict Threatens to Derail Indonesian Immunization Efforts
As Indonesia’s health ministry undertakes a huge campaign to immunize 70 million children against rubella and measles, critics say those efforts have been complicated by an edict issued by the country’s top Muslim clerical body, Indonesian Ulema Council, declaring some of the vaccine’s ingredients as forbidden by Islam.
— VOA

As Bali reclamation project dies, activists seek conservation status
Hundreds of people in Bali are celebrating a key victory against a multi-billion-dollar land reclamation project that would have destroyed vast swaths of mangroves on the resort island.
— Mongabay

Freeport McMoRan and Indonesia Reach Agreement on Stake, or Did They?
After years of struggle and negotiations there now seems light at the end of the tunnel for the Indonesian government and US mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc.
— Indonesia Investments

Ministry of Transportation is Focusing to Increase Sea Toll Productivity
Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Transportation of Republic of Indonesia hoped the sea toll can be used to spark economical movement of eastern Indonesia’s product to western Indonesia.
— Indonesia Shipping Gazette

Grab to invest US$250m in Indonesian startups over next three years
Grab will invest US$250 million (RM1.025 billion) in Indonesian startups over the next three years through its newly launched innovation arm, as the ride-hailing firm aggressively pushes to cement its position in the Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
— Retail News Asia

Ma’ruf Amin: Jokowi’s Islamic defender or deadweight?
The image was incongruous: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who wants his presidency defined by Indonesia’s rapid economic development and modernisation, stood awkwardly before the media on 10 August with his newly announced vice-presidential candidate, Ma’ruf Amin, a 75-year-old conservative Islamic scholar clad in traditional sarung and sandals.
— New Mandala

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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