The Indonesian export coal ban is causing fuel prices to rise across the world, a move that could soon disrupt energy requirements for some of the largest economies across the world.

Indonesia banned coal export to meet its own power demands

Indonesia's navy has rescued more than 100 Rohingya asylum seekers who have been adrift on a sinking boat off the country's western coast, bringing them to a temporary place.

Indonesia yields after international calls as it rescues over 100 Rohingya refugees

Indonesia rescues over 100 Rohingya refugees adrift sinking boat

Around three years after the deadly crash, Indonesian government has finally lifted the ban on the Boeing 737 MAX, the transport ministry of the country said on Tuesday. &nbsp;

In the crash, all 189 people on board this kind of aircraft, which was operated by domestic carrier Lion Air, had died. &nbsp;

After another deadly mishap in March 2019, which involved similar aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines, aviation authorities around the world grounded this plane.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-local-omicron-variant-transmission-case-reported-in-indonesia-440748" hreflang="en">First local Omicron variant transmission case reported in Indonesia</a>&nbsp;

The new development comes as the aircraft has returned to service in the United States and Europe some time ago.&nbsp;

It also follows lifting of grounding orders in countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia and Ethiopia. &nbsp;

In a statement, the ministry said that the lifting of the ban was effective immediately. It also follows the evaluation of changes to the system of the aircraft by regulators. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/plane-crashes-in-california-no-survivors-440733" hreflang="en">Plane crashes in California, no survivors</a>

The airlines must also follow airworthiness directives and check the 737 MAX planes before flying them again, it said.&nbsp;The government will also inspect the planes. &nbsp;&nbsp;

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia chief executive Irfan Setiaputra told Reuters that it has no plans to reintroduce the aircraft to its fleet as it is now focusing on debt restructuring. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Around three years after the deadly crash, Indonesian government has finally lifted the ban on the Boeing 737 MAX, the transport ministry of the country said on Tuesday.

Around three years after the deadly crash, Indonesian government has finally lifted the ban on the Boeing 737 MAX, the transport ministry of the country said on Tuesday. In the crash, all 189 people on board this kind of aircraft, which was operated by domestic carrier Lion Air, had died. After another deadly mishap in March 2019, which involved similar aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines, aviation authorities around the world grounded this plane. Also Read: First local Omicron variant transmission case reported in Indonesia The new development comes as the aircraft has returned to service in the United States and Europe some time ago. It also follows lifting of grounding orders in countries, such as Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Australia and Ethiopia. In a statement, the ministry said that the lifting of the ban was effective immediately. It also follows the evaluation of changes to the system of the aircraft by regulators. Also Read: Plane crashes in California, no survivors The airlines must also follow airworthiness directives and check the 737 MAX planes before flying them again, it said. The government will also inspect the planes. National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia chief executive Irfan Setiaputra told Reuters that it has no plans to reintroduce the aircraft to its fleet as it is now focusing on debt restructuring. (With inputs from agencies)

After deadly crash, Boeing 737 MAX comes alive to soar high in sky again in Indonesia

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. &nbsp;

In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-disrupts-holiday-season-global-cases-hit-record-high-with-over-1-million-infections-440689" hreflang="en">Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections</a>

On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. &nbsp;

In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nsw-health-minister-slams-queensland-premier-for-being-passive-aggressive-on-covid-19-testing-440657" hreflang="en">NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing</a>

A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. &nbsp;

The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday.

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." Also Read: Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. Also Read: NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. (With inputs from agencies)

First local Omicron variant transmission case reported in Indonesia

A strange object, like military hardware and resembling an army tank, has been discovered at sea.&nbsp;

The Indonesian military has recognised the strange incident, but has been unable to intercept the floating item.

Last week, photos of the enigmatic object surfaced on Indonesian social media and quickly went viral.

The photos were taken by oil rig employees in the Natuna Sea, a wide, shallow area in the southernmost portion of the South China Sea that is largely within Indonesian national seas, according to local media.

One shot shows the tank drifting in the wide water, its turret and cannon clearly visible. 
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Masih aja planga-plongo di Natuna.... nih ada tank amphibi punya siapa cobaaaa... <a href="https://t.co/wPtzzq1lmZ">pic.twitter.com/wPtzzq1lmZ</a>
— Midun (@kakak_pembina) <a href="https://twitter.com/kakak_pembina/status/1471454930485473287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ditemukan Benda Mirip Tank di Perairan Natuna, Ini Penjelasan TNI AL <a href="https://t.co/uiOxhj7GnL">https://t.co/uiOxhj7GnL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/beritajogja?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#beritajogja</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jogja?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jogja</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jogjaistimewa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#jogjaistimewa</a> <a href="https://t.co/GFpMFIgEKM">pic.twitter.com/GFpMFIgEKM</a>
— Harian Jogja (@Harian_Jogja) <a href="https://twitter.com/Harian_Jogja/status/1472342799785750532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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While the vehicle appeared to be extensively corroded, some of its external equipment, such as spare jerry cans and a towing cord, appeared to be in good condition.

Another image shows the seafaring tank with a real ship in the background—the anchor handling vessel OPS Astrid.

Due to turbulent conditions, the ship attempted to approach the floating item but was unable to do so.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A strange object, like military hardware and resembling an army tank, has been discovered at sea. The Indonesian military has recognised the strange incident, but has been unable to intercept the floating item.

A strange object, like military hardware and resembling an army tank, has been discovered at sea. The Indonesian military has recognised the strange incident, but has been unable to intercept the floating item. Last week, photos of the enigmatic object surfaced on Indonesian social media and quickly went viral. The photos were taken by oil rig employees in the Natuna Sea, a wide, shallow area in the southernmost portion of the South China Sea that is largely within Indonesian national seas, according to local media. One shot shows the tank drifting in the wide water, its turret and cannon clearly visible. Masih aja planga-plongo di Natuna.... nih ada tank amphibi punya siapa cobaaaa... pic.twitter.com/wPtzzq1lmZ — Midun (@kakak_pembina) December 16, 2021 × Ditemukan Benda Mirip Tank di Perairan Natuna, Ini Penjelasan TNI AL https://t.co/uiOxhj7GnL #beritajogja #jogja #jogjaistimewa pic.twitter.com/GFpMFIgEKM — Harian Jogja (@Harian_Jogja) December 18, 2021 × While the vehicle appeared to be extensively corroded, some of its external equipment, such as spare jerry cans and a towing cord, appeared to be in good condition. Another image shows the seafaring tank with a real ship in the background—the anchor handling vessel OPS Astrid. Due to turbulent conditions, the ship attempted to approach the floating item but was unable to do so. (With inputs from agencies)

Mysterious ‘tank’ spotted floating in Indonesia’s territorial waters

Indonesia has reported its first Omicron infection. The variant was detected on Wednesday evening in an employee at a hospital in the capital Jakarta. The patient infected has no history of overseas travel.

Indonesia reports first case of Omicron COVID-19 variant

After a magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake struck off Flores Island on Tuesday, Indonesia removed a tsunami warning, generating concern in a location prone to deadly quakes but seemingly causing minimal damage or casualties.

The quake struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometres under the sea, 112 kilometres north of Maumere, the second-largest town on the island in East Nusa Tenggara province, with a population of 85,000 people, according to the US Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, as well as Indonesia's agency, removed the tsunami warning hours after the quake.&nbsp; 
 
National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said residents in the area felt the earthquake strongly.

People fleeing from buildings shook by the tremors were visible on television and other media platforms.&nbsp;

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Just now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Earthquake</a> of 7.6 magnitude hits <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indonesia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indonesia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tsunami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tsunami</a> warning issued after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/quake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#quake</a> 
We pray No body hurts and everything gets normal 🙏🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquakes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquakes</a> <a href="https://t.co/3YT4dLXcmF">pic.twitter.com/3YT4dLXcmF</a>
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&nbsp;

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A 7.3 magnitude <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> struck off Flores Island in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indonesia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indonesia</a>. Possibly a tsunami. <a href="https://t.co/UhFkIXJygJ">pic.twitter.com/UhFkIXJygJ</a>
— Aleksander Onishchuk (@Brave_spirit81) <a href="https://twitter.com/Brave_spirit81/status/1470611021576474627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indonesia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indonesia</a> issues <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tsunami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tsunami</a> warning after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/quake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#quake</a> of magnitude 7.5<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#earthquake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/video?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#video</a> 
 
📰 <a href="https://t.co/rqCyb4qYsW">https://t.co/rqCyb4qYsW</a> 
 
Tue Dec 14 2021 
 
Ψ 𝖠 𝖡 𝖸 𝖲 𝖲 ℭ𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔩𝔢𝔰 | 𝙳𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚠𝚜 <a href="https://t.co/U8J6r4vSjf">pic.twitter.com/U8J6r4vSjf</a>
— Ψ ABYSS Chronicles (@AbyssChronicles) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbyssChronicles/status/1470604867278458882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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There is no damage information yet, but the quick reaction team is working to gather the information.

Indonesia, a massive archipelago of 270 million people, is frequently afflicted by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis due to its location on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that arcs across the Pacific.

In January, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck West Sulawesi province, killing at least 105 people and injuring almost 6,500.

There have been no reports of injuries or property damage as of yet.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

After a magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake struck off Flores Island on Tuesday, Indonesia removed a tsunami warning, generating concern in a location prone to deadly quakes but seemingly causing minimal damage or casualties.

After a magnitude 7.3 undersea earthquake struck off Flores Island on Tuesday, Indonesia removed a tsunami warning, generating concern in a location prone to deadly quakes but seemingly causing minimal damage or casualties. The quake struck at a depth of 18.5 kilometres under the sea, 112 kilometres north of Maumere, the second-largest town on the island in East Nusa Tenggara province, with a population of 85,000 people, according to the US Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, as well as Indonesia's agency, removed the tsunami warning hours after the quake. National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said residents in the area felt the earthquake strongly. People fleeing from buildings shook by the tremors were visible on television and other media platforms. Just now #Earthquake of 7.6 magnitude hits #Indonesia #tsunami warning issued after #quake We pray No body hurts and everything gets normal 🙏🙏#earthquakes pic.twitter.com/3YT4dLXcmF — Gagan deep (@KingOfPunjabG) December 14, 2021 × A 7.3 magnitude #earthquake struck off Flores Island in #Indonesia. Possibly a tsunami. pic.twitter.com/UhFkIXJygJ — Aleksander Onishchuk (@Brave_spirit81) December 14, 2021 × #Indonesia issues #tsunami warning after #quake of magnitude 7.5#earthquake #video 📰 https://t.co/rqCyb4qYsW Tue Dec 14 2021 Ψ 𝖠 𝖡 𝖸 𝖲 𝖲 ℭ𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔩𝔢𝔰 | 𝙳𝚘𝚘𝚖 𝙽𝚎𝚠𝚜 pic.twitter.com/U8J6r4vSjf — Ψ ABYSS Chronicles (@AbyssChronicles) December 14, 2021 × There is no damage information yet, but the quick reaction team is working to gather the information. Indonesia, a massive archipelago of 270 million people, is frequently afflicted by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis due to its location on the "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that arcs across the Pacific. In January, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck West Sulawesi province, killing at least 105 people and injuring almost 6,500. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage as of yet. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia cancels tsunami warning after powerful undersea earthquake

A volcanic eruption has wreaked havoc across Indonesia's East Java province. Rescuers have been racing against time to find survivors as the death toll from disaster continues to rise.

Indonesia volcanic eruption: Several killed as Mount Semeru erupts

In Pics | Stormy weather hampers rescue operation in Indonesia after deadly eruption

The search and rescue operation has been impacted after Indonesia's Mount Semeru spewed more ash on Monday (December 6). The volcano had erupted on Saturday and left dozens with burns, forcing thousands to flee as a huge cloud of hot ash engulfed villages in eastern Java.&nbsp;

In a statement, Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency informed that the devastating volcanic eruption has killed at least 22 people and left dozens missing as per the data as of Monday. In the aftermath, the emergency services and volunteers are helping to clear rubble from houses in Indonesian villages.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-bomber-carries-out-mine-laying-exercise-in-south-china-sea-434578">China's bomber carries out mine laying exercise in South China Sea</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-bomber-carries-out-mine-laying-exercise-in-south-china-sea-434578"><img alt="Mount Semeru" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c66fe070-8996-4713-9bdc-ffb07dd7c809" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-12-06T133315Z_1_LYNXMPEHB50K2_RTROPTP_4_INDONESIA-VOLCANO.JPG" /></a>

(Image: An area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano is pictured in Sumber Wuluh Village. Credit: Reuters)

<img alt="Volcano" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5a2bb3a6-63e8-463f-aa44-eaade05bfca9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-12-06T133315Z_1_LYNXMPEHB50JZ_RTROPTP_4_INDONESIA-VOLCANO.JPG" />

(Image:&nbsp;Sumber Wuluh Village, Lumajang, East Java province,&nbsp;Indonesia taken on December 6, 2021. Credit: Reuters)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had ordered the emergency services to take necessary measures at the disaster site. "After receiving a report about the eruption of Mount Semeru yesterday, I ordered the Head of BNPB, Basarnas, relevant ministers, the TNI Commander, National Police Chief, Governor and Regent to take emergency response steps as soon as possible at the disaster site," he said.&nbsp;

Aerial photos and videos show the extent of devastation as entire streets were spotted filled with grey volcanic ash and mud, which had swallowed many homes and vehicles. Indonesia's geological agency reported that ash from Semeru travelled up to four kilometres away after the Saturday eruption.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-chinas-greyzone-warfare-is-designed-to-subdue-the-enemy-427343">How China's 'greyzone warfare' is designed to subdue the enemy</a>

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Mount Semeru erupted sending a wall of hot clouds barrelling down towards nearby villages. <a href="https://t.co/TQL9UT29Xy">pic.twitter.com/TQL9UT29Xy</a>
— Nuice Media (Taylor’s version) (@nuicemedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/nuicemedia/status/1467063377776177152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Indonesian active volcano Mount Semeru erupted today for the second time in months creating an ash cloud rising up to 15,000m (50,000 ft) [read more, videos: <a href="https://t.co/oESu1pM2C7">https://t.co/oESu1pM2C7</a>] <a href="https://t.co/VEKyUm3ff6">pic.twitter.com/VEKyUm3ff6</a>
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The initial eruption led to chaos, now fresh volcanic activities on Monday hampered search efforts, forcing rescue teams to pull out from some areas. "There was a small fresh eruption and it could endanger the evacuation teams," said rescue worker Rizal Purnama.

Rescuers tried to dig through the mud to try and find survivors and recover bodies but dangerous thick plumes of smoke continued to emerge from areas blanketed by the volcanic ash, posing hurdles to search and rescue. &nbsp;

The search and rescue operation has been impacted after Indonesia's Mount Semeru spewed more ash on Monday (December 6). The volcano had erupted on Saturday and left dozens with burns, forcing thousands to flee as a huge cloud of hot ash engulfed villages in eastern Java.

The search and rescue operation has been impacted after Indonesia's Mount Semeru spewed more ash on Monday (December 6). The volcano had erupted on Saturday and left dozens with burns, forcing thousands to flee as a huge cloud of hot ash engulfed villages in eastern Java. In a statement, Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency informed that the devastating volcanic eruption has killed at least 22 people and left dozens missing as per the data as of Monday. In the aftermath, the emergency services and volunteers are helping to clear rubble from houses in Indonesian villages. ALSO READ | China's bomber carries out mine laying exercise in South China Sea (Image: An area affected by the eruption of Mount Semeru volcano is pictured in Sumber Wuluh Village. Credit: Reuters) (Image: Sumber Wuluh Village, Lumajang, East Java province, Indonesia taken on December 6, 2021. Credit: Reuters) Indonesian President Joko Widodo had ordered the emergency services to take necessary measures at the disaster site. "After receiving a report about the eruption of Mount Semeru yesterday, I ordered the Head of BNPB, Basarnas, relevant ministers, the TNI Commander, National Police Chief, Governor and Regent to take emergency response steps as soon as possible at the disaster site," he said. Aerial photos and videos show the extent of devastation as entire streets were spotted filled with grey volcanic ash and mud, which had swallowed many homes and vehicles. Indonesia's geological agency reported that ash from Semeru travelled up to four kilometres away after the Saturday eruption. ALSO READ | How China's 'greyzone warfare' is designed to subdue the enemy Mount Semeru erupted sending a wall of hot clouds barrelling down towards nearby villages. pic.twitter.com/TQL9UT29Xy — Nuice Media (Taylor’s version) (@nuicemedia) December 4, 2021 × Indonesian active volcano Mount Semeru erupted today for the second time in months creating an ash cloud rising up to 15,000m (50,000 ft) [read more, videos: https://t.co/oESu1pM2C7] pic.twitter.com/VEKyUm3ff6 — Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 4, 2021 × The initial eruption led to chaos, now fresh volcanic activities on Monday hampered search efforts, forcing rescue teams to pull out from some areas. "There was a small fresh eruption and it could endanger the evacuation teams," said rescue worker Rizal Purnama. Rescuers tried to dig through the mud to try and find survivors and recover bodies but dangerous thick plumes of smoke continued to emerge from areas blanketed by the volcanic ash, posing hurdles to search and rescue.

Indonesia: Death toll rises as volcano erupts again, aerial photos show extent of devastation

Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted again, spewing more ash and hampering rescue operations in the region. The first eruption took place on December 4, pushing local communities into darkness and forcing thousands to flee.

Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupted again, spewing more ash and hampering rescue operations in the region. The first eruption took place on December 4, pushing local communities into darkness and forcing thousands to flee. According to reports by Indonesia's national disaster, nearly 27 people are still missing. President Joko Widodo ordered a rapid emergency response to find victims, said state secretary Pratikno. Both villagers and rescuers worked through the night to find people and dead bodies. However, the rescue efforts were hampered after the latest eruption. Rescuers moved to evacuate local residents after lava reached nearby villages and destroyed a bridge in Lumajang regency in East Java. "A number of areas went dark after being covered by volcanic ash," agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said. Rescue worker Rizal Purnama said, "There was a small fresh eruption and it could endanger the evacuation teams." Also read | In Pics | Stormy weather hampers rescue operation in Indonesia after deadly eruption She further highlighted how their task was made difficult. "It's very difficult... with simple tools. It is very likely bodies that have not been found are buried under the hot mudflow," she said. Videos and images uploaded on social media show the devastation caused by the eruption. VIDEO: Reported damage from eruption of Mount Semeru volcano in Indonesia pic.twitter.com/vNm74uMWJX — Breaking News Alerts 🚨 (@NBLNewsLIVE) December 4, 2021 × A volcano erupted in Indonesia and the footage is unrealpic.twitter.com/6MvoeXarrH — Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) December 4, 2021 × Bagana Lumajang is still at the location of the village jointly to look for victims who have not been evacuated due to the eruption of Mount #Semeru #BanserTanggapBencana #prayforsemeru #prayforlumajang #Indonesia #indonesian #Indonesie #volcano #volcanoEruption #volcanoes pic.twitter.com/aK4NvvXdQp — Journalist Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) December 5, 2021 × Due to the bad air quality, locals have been advised not to travel within five kilometres of Semeru's crater as it affect vulnerable groups. (With inputs from agencies)

Rescue missions hampered as Indonesia's Mount Semeru erupts again

A librarian in Indonesia's Java island is lending books to children in exchange for the trash they collect in order to get them to learn more. WION tells you more.

Library allows children to exchange trash for books in Indonesia

Indonesia's police have arrested a member of a top Islamic council. He has been charged with raising funds for the Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah. Ahmad Zain An-Najah was arrested during a raid that was carried out near Jakarta.

Indonesia's police have arrested a member of a top Islamic council. He has been charged with raising funds for the Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah. Ahmad Zain An-Najah was arrested during a raid that was carried out near Jakarta. The member of Indonesian Ulema Council was arrested along with two associates, national police spokesperson Rusdi Hartono said. JI set up a charity organisation to get funding "for education, social activities...some of the funds are used to mobilise JI," Rusdi told a news conference. Ahmad was a member of the charity's religious board. The organisation operated in cities on Sumatra and Java islands, including Jakarta. Ahmad was a member of the Ulema Council's commission that issues Islamic edicts, said Cholil Nafis who is the head of the body. JI has been held responsible for the 2002 bombings of Bali nightclubs. Also read | Islamic organisation in Indonesia declares fatwa against cryptocurrency; says it is against Sharia law Meanwhile, Indonesia's Islamic organisation Nahdlatul Ulama in East Java has issued a "fatwa" against the use of cryptocurrency in the country declaring it forbidden under Islamic law. The religious body decided after a discussion as it reportedly said the use of cryptocurrency is not legal under Islamic Sharia law. The move comes as Indonesians have shown a huge interest in the new digital currency as reports claim the country will not ban cryptocurrencies, however, it will ensure it is not used for illegal activities. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia: Senior cleric arrested for having ties with Al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah

For 15 generations, members of the Abrauw clan have lived much like their ancestors. They farm with wooden plows in patches of the rainforest, gather medicinal plants and set traps to catch snakes and wild boar.

The land they occupy on Biak island is everything to them: their identity, the source of their livelihood and the link to their forebears. But now the tiny clan fears it will lose its place in the world as Indonesia pursues its longstanding quest to join the space age.

The Indonesian government claims to have acquired 250 acres of the clan’s ancestral land decades ago and has planned since 2017 to build a small-scale spaceport there to launch rockets. Clan leaders say the project would force them from their homes.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-a-blast-the-rush-of-amateur-astronauts-420637" hreflang="en">What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts</a>

Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, personally pitched SpaceX’s founder, Elon Musk, last year on the idea of launching rockets from Indonesia, without mentioning a site. Musk has yet to commit to a deal or comment on it publicly. But the possibility of his involvement has spurred a flurry of activity by Biak officials to promote the location, as well as renewed opposition from the island’s Indigenous people.

Building a spaceport is part of Joko’s push to modernize the Southeast Asian island nation with new airports, power plants and highways, often with little regard for environmental consequences. It is also part of the country’s checkered history of using questionable methods to acquire land from Indigenous people, leaving some groups destitute while benefiting influential Indonesians and international companies.

Leaders of the Biak tribe say building a spaceport on the site would mean cutting trees in a protected forest, disturbing the habitat of endangered birds and evicting the Abrauw.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/want-to-become-a-space-tourist-here-is-all-you-need-to-do-399437" hreflang="en">Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do</a>

“The position of the Indigenous people is clear: We reject the plan,” said Apolos Sroyer, chief of the Biak Customary Council, an assembly of clan chiefs. “We don’t want to lose our farms because of this spaceport. We don’t eat satellites. We eat taro, and fish from the sea. That is our way of life for generations. Tell Elon Musk that’s our stance.”

Biak, nearly the size of Maui, sits just north of the island of New Guinea and is part of Indonesia’s Papua province. During World War II, U.S. forces defeated the Japanese there in a key battle as Gen. Douglas MacArthur fought to retake the Pacific. Biak became part of Indonesia in the 1960s after the United Nations handed over the former Dutch territory of West Papua on the condition that Indonesia hold a popular vote.

Instead, in a 1969 vote regarded by many Papuans as rigged, Indonesia rounded up a thousand tribal leaders — including chiefs from Biak — and held them until they voted to join Indonesia in what paradoxically became known as “The Act of Free Choice.”

The dwindling Abrauw clan, one of 360 clans on Biak, now has about 90 members. Most live in the village of Warbon, on the island’s northeastern side, about a mile and a half from the proposed spaceport site.

The center of clan life is a flowering heliotrope tree by the ocean.

Waves lap gently on the white sand nearby, and black, brown and white butterflies flit among its branches. Clan members consider the tree sacred and say it marks the origin of the Abrauw. They often visit the tree to make offerings and pray to their ancestors. On occasion, they gather there and camp for days. If the spaceport was built, the tree would be off limits, as would the beach where the Abrauw often fish, and the forest where they farm.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-winning-space-tourism-race-between-bezos-branson-and-musk-396420" hreflang="en">Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk?</a>

“For Papuans, land is identity,” said Marthen Abrauw, the clan chief, as he sat in the shade of the sacred tree on a recent afternoon. “We will lose our identity, and no other clan will accept us on their land. Where will our children and grandchildren go?”

Some clan members have found work in other parts of Indonesia, but those who remain in Warbon largely subsist on the fish they catch and the taro, cassava and sweet potatoes they grow. The clan practices nomadic farming, clearing trees in the forest for crops in a new location every two years.

Some walk or ride motorbikes to the nearby village of Korem to worship at the Pniel Evangelical Christian Church. Warbon, home to more than 1,000 people, includes members of numerous other clans who have married into the Abrauw but retain the clan identity of their male ancestors. The church also opposes the spaceport.

The Indonesian officials who support the project say Biak, just 70 miles south of the equator and facing the Pacific, would be ideal for launching rockets. SpaceX has plans to put tens of thousands of communications satellites into orbit in the coming years.

“This is our wealth,” said Biak’s regent, Herry Ario Naap, who is pushing for the spaceport. “Other regions may have oil or gold. We are given a strategic geographical location.”

In wooing Musk, Joko suggested that his car company, Tesla, could also collaborate with Indonesia to make electric vehicle batteries, as Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, a key component. A team from SpaceX visited Indonesia early this year to discuss possible cooperation, officials said.

Tesla submitted a battery production proposal to Indonesia in February, but the government declined to disclose details. Musk and his companies did not respond to requests for comment. In September, Joko bolstered the space program by increasing its budget twentyfold and placing it under the new National Research and Innovation Agency, which reports directly to him.

Laksana Tri Handoko, the agency chairman, who personally inspected the Biak site last month, said that the island remained a viable choice but that building the large spaceport he envisioned would require 10 times as much land. Controversy over the Biak site could prompt him to select an alternate location, such as Morotai island, about 550 miles northwest of Biak.

A key factor, he said, will be making sure the government has “clear and clean” title to the land. “Biak is not the one and only place,” he said. “We have many options.”

Government maps show that nearly all the Abrauw clan’s ancestral lands, including some homes, are within a proposed buffer zone that would be cleared of people should the small spaceport be built. The maps also show that the original project site is almost entirely within a protected forest.

The space agency has long said it bought the 250-acre site from the Abrauw clan in 1980. But the clan says it never sold the land. Four men who signed a document giving the agency title were not clan members and had no right to sell, according to clan leaders.

The older generation was too intimidated to object, they said, because the Indonesian army was conducting military operations on Biak and anyone who criticized the government could be jailed as a separatist.

“Silence was the only choice,” said Gerson Abrauw, a Protestant pastor and cousin of the clan chief. He dismissed government assurances that a spaceport would provide employment.

“They say the spaceport project will create jobs, but there is no space expert in our clan and in our villages,” he said. “What they mean is three years of cutting down trees, removing roots and digging foundations. After that, there will be a feast to say goodbye to us and then only those with an access card can enter the area.” 
&nbsp;

For 15 generations, members of the Abrauw clan have lived much like their ancestors. They farm with wooden plows in patches of the rainforest, gather medicinal plants and set traps to catch snakes and wild boar.

For 15 generations, members of the Abrauw clan have lived much like their ancestors. They farm with wooden plows in patches of the rainforest, gather medicinal plants and set traps to catch snakes and wild boar. The land they occupy on Biak island is everything to them: their identity, the source of their livelihood and the link to their forebears. But now the tiny clan fears it will lose its place in the world as Indonesia pursues its longstanding quest to join the space age. The Indonesian government claims to have acquired 250 acres of the clan’s ancestral land decades ago and has planned since 2017 to build a small-scale spaceport there to launch rockets. Clan leaders say the project would force them from their homes. Also see | What a blast: The rush of amateur astronauts Indonesia’s president, Joko Widodo, personally pitched SpaceX’s founder, Elon Musk, last year on the idea of launching rockets from Indonesia, without mentioning a site. Musk has yet to commit to a deal or comment on it publicly. But the possibility of his involvement has spurred a flurry of activity by Biak officials to promote the location, as well as renewed opposition from the island’s Indigenous people. Building a spaceport is part of Joko’s push to modernize the Southeast Asian island nation with new airports, power plants and highways, often with little regard for environmental consequences. It is also part of the country’s checkered history of using questionable methods to acquire land from Indigenous people, leaving some groups destitute while benefiting influential Indonesians and international companies. Leaders of the Biak tribe say building a spaceport on the site would mean cutting trees in a protected forest, disturbing the habitat of endangered birds and evicting the Abrauw. Also see | Want to become a space tourist? Here is all you need to do “The position of the Indigenous people is clear: We reject the plan,” said Apolos Sroyer, chief of the Biak Customary Council, an assembly of clan chiefs. “We don’t want to lose our farms because of this spaceport. We don’t eat satellites. We eat taro, and fish from the sea. That is our way of life for generations. Tell Elon Musk that’s our stance.” Biak, nearly the size of Maui, sits just north of the island of New Guinea and is part of Indonesia’s Papua province. During World War II, U.S. forces defeated the Japanese there in a key battle as Gen. Douglas MacArthur fought to retake the Pacific. Biak became part of Indonesia in the 1960s after the United Nations handed over the former Dutch territory of West Papua on the condition that Indonesia hold a popular vote. Instead, in a 1969 vote regarded by many Papuans as rigged, Indonesia rounded up a thousand tribal leaders — including chiefs from Biak — and held them until they voted to join Indonesia in what paradoxically became known as “The Act of Free Choice.” The dwindling Abrauw clan, one of 360 clans on Biak, now has about 90 members. Most live in the village of Warbon, on the island’s northeastern side, about a mile and a half from the proposed spaceport site. The center of clan life is a flowering heliotrope tree by the ocean. Waves lap gently on the white sand nearby, and black, brown and white butterflies flit among its branches. Clan members consider the tree sacred and say it marks the origin of the Abrauw. They often visit the tree to make offerings and pray to their ancestors. On occasion, they gather there and camp for days. If the spaceport was built, the tree would be off limits, as would the beach where the Abrauw often fish, and the forest where they farm. Also see | Who is winning space tourism race between Bezos, Branson and Musk? “For Papuans, land is identity,” said Marthen Abrauw, the clan chief, as he sat in the shade of the sacred tree on a recent afternoon. “We will lose our identity, and no other clan will accept us on their land. Where will our children and grandchildren go?” Some clan members have found work in other parts of Indonesia, but those who remain in Warbon largely subsist on the fish they catch and the taro, cassava and sweet potatoes they grow. The clan practices nomadic farming, clearing trees in the forest for crops in a new location every two years. Some walk or ride motorbikes to the nearby village of Korem to worship at the Pniel Evangelical Christian Church. Warbon, home to more than 1,000 people, includes members of numerous other clans who have married into the Abrauw but retain the clan identity of their male ancestors. The church also opposes the spaceport. The Indonesian officials who support the project say Biak, just 70 miles south of the equator and facing the Pacific, would be ideal for launching rockets. SpaceX has plans to put tens of thousands of communications satellites into orbit in the coming years. “This is our wealth,” said Biak’s regent, Herry Ario Naap, who is pushing for the spaceport. “Other regions may have oil or gold. We are given a strategic geographical location.” In wooing Musk, Joko suggested that his car company, Tesla, could also collaborate with Indonesia to make electric vehicle batteries, as Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, a key component. A team from SpaceX visited Indonesia early this year to discuss possible cooperation, officials said. Tesla submitted a battery production proposal to Indonesia in February, but the government declined to disclose details. Musk and his companies did not respond to requests for comment. In September, Joko bolstered the space program by increasing its budget twentyfold and placing it under the new National Research and Innovation Agency, which reports directly to him. Laksana Tri Handoko, the agency chairman, who personally inspected the Biak site last month, said that the island remained a viable choice but that building the large spaceport he envisioned would require 10 times as much land. Controversy over the Biak site could prompt him to select an alternate location, such as Morotai island, about 550 miles northwest of Biak. A key factor, he said, will be making sure the government has “clear and clean” title to the land. “Biak is not the one and only place,” he said. “We have many options.” Government maps show that nearly all the Abrauw clan’s ancestral lands, including some homes, are within a proposed buffer zone that would be cleared of people should the small spaceport be built. The maps also show that the original project site is almost entirely within a protected forest. The space agency has long said it bought the 250-acre site from the Abrauw clan in 1980. But the clan says it never sold the land. Four men who signed a document giving the agency title were not clan members and had no right to sell, according to clan leaders. The older generation was too intimidated to object, they said, because the Indonesian army was conducting military operations on Biak and anyone who criticized the government could be jailed as a separatist. “Silence was the only choice,” said Gerson Abrauw, a Protestant pastor and cousin of the clan chief. He dismissed government assurances that a spaceport would provide employment. “They say the spaceport project will create jobs, but there is no space expert in our clan and in our villages,” he said. “What they mean is three years of cutting down trees, removing roots and digging foundations. After that, there will be a feast to say goodbye to us and then only those with an access card can enter the area.”

Will an island in Indonesia become a new frontier in the space race?

India has conferred Padma Award to Indonesia's Agus Indra Udayana for his work in promoting Gandhian values in the archipelago nation. The ashram gives scholarship to 45 students for education and life in Ashram follows "simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi". Speaking to WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said, "It was a surprise for me...I say thank to President Kovind and PM Modi" Udayana said, highlighting, "we should live very simple...Gandhi ji's idea's very simple.." His Ashram has been visited by 2 Indonesian President has been to the Ashram-Megawati Sukarnoputri and Abdurrahman Wahid. Both of them also were honored at the Indonesian embassy.

People's Padma: An Indonesian who runs an Ashram in Bali

For the last five years, librarian Raden Roro Hendarti has been driving a mobile library, bringing books to children who would otherwise have no access to them in Indonesia's Java island.

Books in exchange for trash: Indonesian librarian promotes reading in rural areas

The incident of a dog left to die in a crate for transporting cabbages has sparked a lot of controversy in Indonesia. It has also triggered a discussion on 'halal' tourism, which is practiced in several parts of the Southeast Asian nation.

The incident of a dog left to die in a crate for transporting cabbages has sparked a lot of controversy in Indonesia. It has also triggered a discussion on 'halal' tourism, which is practiced in several parts of the Southeast Asian nation. Ten provinces in Indonesia, including East Nusa Tenggara, Aceh, the Riau Islands, West Sumatra, West Java, Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and South Sulawesi, come under the category of halal (“permitted”) tourism destinations. This means that these places are sharia compliant and abstain from haram products and services, such as alcohol and gambling. A social media post went viral last month. It showed that a black canine named Canon was seized from the Kimo Resort off Sumatra island by local government officials. The resort is located on an island that is part of Aceh. This province adheres to sharia or Islamic law. The video which went viral shows officials trying to capture Canon using a long wooden pole. This led to allegations of animal cruelty and the hashtag #JusticeForCanon started trending on Indonesian social media. There was also a petition on Change.org. It demanded a thorough investigation into the incident. The seizure of the dog was allegedly a part of an exercise to make sure that tourist facilities are sharia compliant. In this particular case, it meant removing animals considered haram or forbidden. This incident has sparked a discussion around what exactly does 'halal tourism' stand for. Also read | 'Staring into an abyss': UN says 3 million in Afghanistan, 45 million worldwide knocking at famine's door A police chief has confirmed that the force was investigating an animal abuse complaint from a rights group. After the dog was captured, he was placed in a discarded cabbage crate and covered with a tarp. He suffocated before he could be with his owner. According to a report by SCMP, Ramadhan Syahmedi Siregar, a lecturer in Islamic Law at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra, claimed that the districts issue their own local regulations, thus contributing to the confusion. Also read | Iran: Gay couple sentenced to death for adultery after family demanded execution Any of these local laws, which are known as peraturan daerah or perda, related to halal tourism only apply to the specific areas in which they were drafted rather than at a national level. Various people said that the issue should not be complicated. Sebastian Hutabarat, who is a local activist and tourism entrepreneur said that halal tourism has existed for decades. However, it is without the label. He revealed that while the area around Lake Toba is mostly populated by members of the Batak ethnic subgroup, there had been Muslim and halal restaurants at Lake Toba ever since he was a child.

Indonesia: Pet dog's death triggers discussion around 'halal tourism', here is what people have to say

Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has slammed the terms of deal under the COP26 to end deforestation by 2030, calling it “inappropriate and unfair” days after the island country’s President Joko Widodo joined with 127 other nations to sign the historic forest agreement.

In a Facebook post, Bakar said the authorities could not “promise what we can’t do”.

“The massive development of President Jokowi’s era must not stop in the name of carbon emissions or in the name of deforestation,” she said, referring to Widodo by his nickname.

“Indonesia’s natural wealth, including forests, must be managed for its use according to sustainable principles, besides being fair,” she said.

The deal was announced on Monday at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. It was the event’s first major announcement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-could-phase-out-coal-by-2040-with-financial-help-says-finance-minister-426322">Indonesia could phase out coal by 2040 with financial help, says finance minister</a>

It pledges $19.2 billion of public and private funds and promises to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.

The environment minister was joined by the country’s vice foreign minister, Mahendra Siregar, who on Thursday said that zero deforestation by 2030 was not even part of the COP26 pledge.

“The declaration issued does not refer at all to the ‘end deforestation by 2030’,” he said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-climate-summit-world-leaders-pledge-to-end-deforestation-by-2030-425988">COP26 climate summit: World leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030</a>

“It is important to move beyond mere narrative, rhetoric, arbitrary targets and sound bites,” he added.

He further said that the pledge did not mean to halt deforestation completely but to ensure there was no net loss of forested land.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-uk-to-push-plan-to-halt-and-reverse-global-deforestation-by-2030-421088">COP26: UK to push plan to halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030</a>

Mahendra later told Reuters that Indonesia interprets “halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030”, as stated in the pledge, as “sustainable forest management... not end deforestation by 2030”.

Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest expanse of tropical forest cover, but rampant deforestation since the 1960s has seen half of the country’s forests cut down by illegal loggers and to make way for commercial plantations such as palm oil.

(With inputs from agencies)

Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has slammed the terms of deal under the COP26 to end deforestation by 2030, calling it “inappropriate and unfair” days after the island country’s President Joko Widodo joined with 127 other nations to sign the historic forest agreement.

Indonesian Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has slammed the terms of deal under the COP26 to end deforestation by 2030, calling it “inappropriate and unfair” days after the island country’s President Joko Widodo joined with 127 other nations to sign the historic forest agreement. In a Facebook post, Bakar said the authorities could not “promise what we can’t do”. “The massive development of President Jokowi’s era must not stop in the name of carbon emissions or in the name of deforestation,” she said, referring to Widodo by his nickname. “Indonesia’s natural wealth, including forests, must be managed for its use according to sustainable principles, besides being fair,” she said. The deal was announced on Monday at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. It was the event’s first major announcement. Also read | Indonesia could phase out coal by 2040 with financial help, says finance minister It pledges $19.2 billion of public and private funds and promises to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. The environment minister was joined by the country’s vice foreign minister, Mahendra Siregar, who on Thursday said that zero deforestation by 2030 was not even part of the COP26 pledge. “The declaration issued does not refer at all to the ‘end deforestation by 2030’,” he said in a statement. Also read | COP26 climate summit: World leaders pledge to end deforestation by 2030 “It is important to move beyond mere narrative, rhetoric, arbitrary targets and sound bites,” he added. He further said that the pledge did not mean to halt deforestation completely but to ensure there was no net loss of forested land. Also read | COP26: UK to push plan to halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030 Mahendra later told Reuters that Indonesia interprets “halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030”, as stated in the pledge, as “sustainable forest management... not end deforestation by 2030”. Indonesia is home to the world’s third-largest expanse of tropical forest cover, but rampant deforestation since the 1960s has seen half of the country’s forests cut down by illegal loggers and to make way for commercial plantations such as palm oil. (With inputs from agencies)

Indonesia calls COP26 deforestation pledge ‘unfair’, says development ‘won’t stop in the name of emissions’

An American woman deported from Indonesia after serving prison time for her role in her mother's 2014 "suitcase" murder was arrested on Wednesday on conspiracy charges when her plane arrived in Chicago, U.S. authorities said.

Heather Mack, 26, conspired with her boyfriend to kill her mother, Sheila Von Wiese-Mack, stuff her body in a suitcase and load it into the trunk of a taxi during a vacation on the Indonesian island of Bali, the US&nbsp;Justice Department said.

Mack was scheduled to appear in US&nbsp;District Court in Chicago, her home city, on Wednesday, it added in a statement.

Indonesian authorities arrested Mack and her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, 28, after the August 2014 killing. Schaefer was sentenced in 2015 to 18 years for premeditated murder, while Mack, then 19, received a 10-year sentence for being an accessory to murder.

A 2017 US&nbsp;grand jury indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday alleged that Mack and Schaefer came up with their plan to kill Von Wiese-Mack before they left the United States for Bali, and that Schaefer asked his cousin, Ryan Bibbs, about ways of killing her.

Mack asked Bibbs if he knew anyone who would kill her mother for money, and he pleaded guilty in December 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit foreign murder of a U.S. national, the Justice Department said.

Under the department's contention that her plan was conceived in the United States, Mack faces two U.S. counts of murder conspiracy and one of obstruction, and a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of the conspiracy charges, the department said.

Mack was deported following her release from prison on Oct. 29 as her permit had expired, an Indonesian immigration official said. Schaefer remains in jail.

Mack's lawyer, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said she was accompanied on the plane to Chicago by her daughter, to whom she had given birth before her sentencing.

An American woman deported from Indonesia after serving prison time for her role in her mother's 2014 "suitcase" murder was arrested on Wednesday on conspiracy charges when her plane arrived in Chicago, U.

An American woman deported from Indonesia after serving prison time for her role in her mother's 2014 "suitcase" murder was arrested on Wednesday on conspiracy charges when her plane arrived in Chicago, U.S. authorities said. Heather Mack, 26, conspired with her boyfriend to kill her mother, Sheila Von Wiese-Mack, stuff her body in a suitcase and load it into the trunk of a taxi during a vacation on the Indonesian island of Bali, the US Justice Department said. Mack was scheduled to appear in US District Court in Chicago, her home city, on Wednesday, it added in a statement. Indonesian authorities arrested Mack and her boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, 28, after the August 2014 killing. Schaefer was sentenced in 2015 to 18 years for premeditated murder, while Mack, then 19, received a 10-year sentence for being an accessory to murder. A 2017 US grand jury indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday alleged that Mack and Schaefer came up with their plan to kill Von Wiese-Mack before they left the United States for Bali, and that Schaefer asked his cousin, Ryan Bibbs, about ways of killing her. Mack asked Bibbs if he knew anyone who would kill her mother for money, and he pleaded guilty in December 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit foreign murder of a U.S. national, the Justice Department said. Under the department's contention that her plan was conceived in the United States, Mack faces two U.S. counts of murder conspiracy and one of obstruction, and a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment if convicted of the conspiracy charges, the department said. Mack was deported following her release from prison on Oct. 29 as her permit had expired, an Indonesian immigration official said. Schaefer remains in jail. Mack's lawyer, Yulius Benyamin Seran, said she was accompanied on the plane to Chicago by her daughter, to whom she had given birth before her sentencing.

US woman who aided Bali 'suitcase' murder arrested in Chicago

According to polls, Indonesia's economic growth is expected to have slowed significantly in the third quarter as restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus Delta variant put the brakes on a nascent recovery.

Poll: Indonesia's GDP growth set to slow in Q3 as COVID-19 curbs bite

A fatwa has been issued against cryptocurrency in Indonesia. The country's top religious body has equated it with gambling & declared it 'haram' or forbidden. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas | Indonesia: Fatwa issued against Cryptocurrency

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday exchanged views with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, trade, economy and people-to-people ties, as they met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

PM Modi also congratulated Indonesia for its G20 Presidency next year and assured India's support as part of Troika (preceding, current, and incoming G20 Presidencies), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a tweet.

"Glad to have met President @jokowi earlier today. Discussed existing areas of India-Indonesia cooperation and new spheres where our countries can work together for the benefit of our citizens and the entire planet," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.

The two leaders discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership, including trade, investment and people-to-people ties.

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PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> met President <a href="https://twitter.com/jokowi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jokowi</a> in Rome. Strong relations with Indonesia is a key part of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Ways to improve economic linkages and cultural cooperation figured prominently during the talks. <a href="https://t.co/IP5ghJiTsQ">pic.twitter.com/IP5ghJiTsQ</a>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1454842885967433729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Strong relations with Indonesia is a key part of India's ‘Act East' policy and ‘SAGAR' vision. Ways to improve economic linkages and cultural cooperation figured prominently during the talks," the PMO India said in a tweet.

SAGAR is an acronym for "Security and Growth for all in the Region" in 2015. This vision focuses on cooperative measures for sustainable use of the oceans, and provides a framework for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the region.

Indonesia is an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

Defence and security cooperation between India and Indonesia has been on an upward trajectory in the last few years, particularly in the maritime domain.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi interacted with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and South Korean President Moon Jae-in among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday exchanged views with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, trade, economy and people-to-people ties, as they met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday exchanged views with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, trade, economy and people-to-people ties, as they met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. PM Modi also congratulated Indonesia for its G20 Presidency next year and assured India's support as part of Troika (preceding, current, and incoming G20 Presidencies), the Ministry of External Affairs said in a tweet. "Glad to have met President @jokowi earlier today. Discussed existing areas of India-Indonesia cooperation and new spheres where our countries can work together for the benefit of our citizens and the entire planet," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet. The two leaders discussed the comprehensive strategic partnership, including trade, investment and people-to-people ties. PM @narendramodi met President @jokowi in Rome. Strong relations with Indonesia is a key part of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. Ways to improve economic linkages and cultural cooperation figured prominently during the talks. pic.twitter.com/IP5ghJiTsQ — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 31, 2021 × "Strong relations with Indonesia is a key part of India's ‘Act East' policy and ‘SAGAR' vision. Ways to improve economic linkages and cultural cooperation figured prominently during the talks," the PMO India said in a tweet. SAGAR is an acronym for "Security and Growth for all in the Region" in 2015. This vision focuses on cooperative measures for sustainable use of the oceans, and provides a framework for a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain in the region. Indonesia is an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Defence and security cooperation between India and Indonesia has been on an upward trajectory in the last few years, particularly in the maritime domain. On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi interacted with several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and South Korean President Moon Jae-in among others.

PM Modi meets Indonesian President Joko Widodo; discusses partnership and trade

By the year 2060, Indonesia has vowed to become a carbon neutral nation. In fact, it has announced that it will stop building new coal fired plants by as early as the year 2023.

Indonesia vows to become carbon neutral nation

Three people were killed Saturday when an earthquake struck the Indonesian tourist island Bali, the disaster agency said.

The 4.8 magnitude quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) northeast of the town of Banjar Wanasari. Shallow quakes tend to do more damage than deep tremors.

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Two people died when the quake triggered a landslide that buried their house in Bangli regency while another person was killed in the port town of Karangasem, officials said.

The death toll was not expected to rise, they added.

"The quake was felt strongly for five seconds," said disaster agency spokesman Abdul Muhari.

"People were panicking and ran from their houses when the quake hit."

The tremor's epicentre was far from the main tourist hub in Bali, which is slowly reopening to international visitors after a pandemic shutdown.

Indonesia experiences frequent quakes due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/earthquake-in-southern-pakistan-kills-20-hundreds-injured-418756">Earthquake in southern Pakistan kills 24, hundreds injured</a>

In January, more than 100 people were killed and thousands left homeless by a 6.2-magnitude quake that struck Sulawesi island, reducing buildings to a tangled mass of twisted metal and chunks of concrete in the seaside city of Mamuju.

A 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu three years ago left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

Three people were killed Saturday when an earthquake struck the Indonesian tourist island Bali, the disaster agency said. The 4.8 magnitude quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) northeast of the town of Banjar Wanasari.

Three people were killed Saturday when an earthquake struck the Indonesian tourist island Bali, the disaster agency said. The 4.8 magnitude quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) northeast of the town of Banjar Wanasari. Shallow quakes tend to do more damage than deep tremors. Also Read | 6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes Tokyo area; no tsunami danger Two people died when the quake triggered a landslide that buried their house in Bangli regency while another person was killed in the port town of Karangasem, officials said. The death toll was not expected to rise, they added. "The quake was felt strongly for five seconds," said disaster agency spokesman Abdul Muhari. "People were panicking and ran from their houses when the quake hit." The tremor's epicentre was far from the main tourist hub in Bali, which is slowly reopening to international visitors after a pandemic shutdown. Indonesia experiences frequent quakes due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Also Read | Earthquake in southern Pakistan kills 24, hundreds injured In January, more than 100 people were killed and thousands left homeless by a 6.2-magnitude quake that struck Sulawesi island, reducing buildings to a tangled mass of twisted metal and chunks of concrete in the seaside city of Mamuju. A 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu three years ago left more than 4,300 people dead or missing.

Bali earthquake kills three, injures seven

Eleven students drowned and another ten were rescued during a school outing for a river cleanup in Indonesia’s West Java province.

As per the local officials, 150 students from an Islamic high school were participating in the cleanup along the banks of the Cileueur river. Out of 150, 21 of them slipped into the water.

Deden Ridwansyah, the chief of the Bandung search and rescue office, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "The weather was good and there was no flash flood."

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"Those children who drowned were holding each others’ hands. One of them slipped and the others followed.”

The rescue team somehow managed to save 10 of the students. They were then sent to a nearby hospital. Rescuers used big orange inflatable rafts to search for victims.&nbsp;

Once after the rescue mission was done, all the students were counted.&nbsp;

As per media reports, the students were not wearing flotation devices. Some reports also said that they were trying to cross the river, which is popular for rafting and inner-tubing. This is how they fell in.&nbsp;

Eleven students drowned and another ten were rescued during a school outing for a river cleanup in Indonesia’s West Java province. As per the local officials, 150 students from an Islamic high school were participating in the cleanup along the banks of the Cileueur river.

Eleven students drowned and another ten were rescued during a school outing for a river cleanup in Indonesia’s West Java province. As per the local officials, 150 students from an Islamic high school were participating in the cleanup along the banks of the Cileueur river. Out of 150, 21 of them slipped into the water. Deden Ridwansyah, the chief of the Bandung search and rescue office, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "The weather was good and there was no flash flood." Also read | International Space Station mistakenly rotates by 57 degrees as film shooting continues "Those children who drowned were holding each others’ hands. One of them slipped and the others followed.” The rescue team somehow managed to save 10 of the students. They were then sent to a nearby hospital. Rescuers used big orange inflatable rafts to search for victims. Once after the rescue mission was done, all the students were counted. As per media reports, the students were not wearing flotation devices. Some reports also said that they were trying to cross the river, which is popular for rafting and inner-tubing. This is how they fell in.

Indonesia: 11 students drown, 10 rescued, during a river clean up

Indonesia's top holiday destination Bali has reopened to foreign tourists after 18 months of pandemic hiatus. However the island is lacking one crucial ingredient: international flights.

Indonesia's top holiday destination Bali reopens to foreign tourists

Officials and researchers in Indonesia are working to preserve a small pocket of forest on the java island, as the habitat of the Javan gibbon also known as the silvery gibbon. The primate unique to central and western Java, is now endangered by climate change and human encroachment. The estimates say, there are only around 4000 Javan gibbons left. Take a look.

Officials in Indonesia work to preserve small pocket of forest on the java island

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital.&nbsp;

In 2005, BEC joined a wildlife conservation programme run by the Ministry of Forestry which delegates privately-owned zoos and safari parks in Indonesia with the care of critically endangered Sumatran elephants.&nbsp;

As per a 2007 study by the World Wildlife Fund, there were as few as 2,400 Sumatran elephants left in the wild.&nbsp;

Now, the number is believed to have halved as a result of poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflict, and deforestation.&nbsp;

The birth of three baby elephants over the past 15 years suggests BEC was exceeding its animal welfare requirements. "Our friends in conservation say we have some of the healthiest, happiest elephants they’ve ever seen!" read the official website.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-first-kenya-set-to-launch-wildlife-census-394781">Also read |&nbsp;In a first, Kenya set to launch wildlife census</a>

Femke Den Haas, a veterinarian from the Netherlands who has been working to protect wildlife in Indonesia for 20 years, while speaking to Al Jazeera said that a person cannot imagine a skinny elephant until you see one.

"They are big animals and you’re not meant to see their bones. But that’s what they were – just skin and bones," he was quoted by Al Jazeera.

Haas visited the camp as a partner of Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Bali (BKSDA). This is the government body that supervises the safari parks and zoos that have adopted Sumatran elephants.

Three out of BEC’s 14 elephants were adopted by an unidentified zoo on the neighbouring island of Java. The remaining 11 were relocated to Tasta Wildlife Park, which is a new zoo that opened in June in Tabanan Regency.

When Al Jazeera visited Tasta Wildlife Park in September, all 11 animals had been successfully rehabilitated and regained weight.

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Agus Budi Santosa, director of BKSDA said that many industries in Bali have collapsed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Santosa was quoted by Al Jazeera saying, “But the impact on small companies like Bali Elephant Camp has been especially severe. (When tourism stopped)&nbsp;they were no longer able to cover operational costs, especially the cost of feeding elephants. The government had to assist them by paying for food and electricity.”

When confronted, BEC representatives were not available to answer Al Jazeera’s questions about the elephants. Also, their telephone numbers were disconnected.

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital.

Bali Elephant Camp (BEC) left more than a dozen elephants to starve, and staff without pay as COVID-19 affected the sales of tickets. BEC is a safari-style park, a half-hour drive north of Ubud, the Indonesian island’s cultural capital. In 2005, BEC joined a wildlife conservation programme run by the Ministry of Forestry which delegates privately-owned zoos and safari parks in Indonesia with the care of critically endangered Sumatran elephants. As per a 2007 study by the World Wildlife Fund, there were as few as 2,400 Sumatran elephants left in the wild. Now, the number is believed to have halved as a result of poaching for ivory, human-elephant conflict, and deforestation. The birth of three baby elephants over the past 15 years suggests BEC was exceeding its animal welfare requirements. "Our friends in conservation say we have some of the healthiest, happiest elephants they’ve ever seen!" read the official website. Also read | In a first, Kenya set to launch wildlife census Femke Den Haas, a veterinarian from the Netherlands who has been working to protect wildlife in Indonesia for 20 years, while speaking to Al Jazeera said that a person cannot imagine a skinny elephant until you see one. "They are big animals and you’re not meant to see their bones. But that’s what they were – just skin and bones," he was quoted by Al Jazeera. Haas visited the camp as a partner of Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Bali (BKSDA). This is the government body that supervises the safari parks and zoos that have adopted Sumatran elephants. Three out of BEC’s 14 elephants were adopted by an unidentified zoo on the neighbouring island of Java. The remaining 11 were relocated to Tasta Wildlife Park, which is a new zoo that opened in June in Tabanan Regency. When Al Jazeera visited Tasta Wildlife Park in September, all 11 animals had been successfully rehabilitated and regained weight. Also read | In 44 years, humans have wiped out 60% of the world's animal population: WWF Agus Budi Santosa, director of BKSDA said that many industries in Bali have collapsed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Santosa was quoted by Al Jazeera saying, “But the impact on small companies like Bali Elephant Camp has been especially severe. (When tourism stopped) they were no longer able to cover operational costs, especially the cost of feeding elephants. The government had to assist them by paying for food and electricity.” When confronted, BEC representatives were not available to answer Al Jazeera’s questions about the elephants. Also, their telephone numbers were disconnected.

Elephants in Bali left to starve as an impact of COVID-19

Indonesia is planning to undertake one of the biggest tax overhaul in the economy with the Indonesian parliament voting today on whether to back raising the vat rate, a new carbon tax and canceling a planned corporate tax cut. The government has said the tax harmonisation bill is aimed at optimising revenue collection, while ensuring a fairer tax system, after state coffers took a big hit last year due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Indonesia plans to undertake one of biggest tax overhauls

Indonesian officials and researchers are working to preserve a small pocket of forest on the heavily populated island of Java as the habitat of the Javan gibbon, which they say is endangered by climate change and human encroachment.

Indonesia races to preserve Java gibbon's home that aids in vegetation growth

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