Indonesia Highlights: President Jokowi Talks Coal | US to Discuss Indo-Pacific Strategy | Bali’s Honeymoon Award | Indonesia's Cinemas Reopen

KOMPAS.com – Heading into the weekend, movie theaters in Indonesia opened to an enthusiastic crowd, giving Indonesians a chance to temporarily escape the ongoing nationwide protests and an endless epidemic battle.

Indonesia is facing another day of protests over the Job Creation Law as the public remains defiant in their demand to have the law revoked.

Adding fuel to the fire, administrative and aesthetic revisions to the Omnibus Law pushed the total number of pages of the document to 1,187 pages from a previous 812 pages.

Furthermore, one clause concerning the Downstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BPH Migas) had been removed, but the government insists that the content and substance of the law remain the same.

As for the nearly 400 additional pages on Indonesia’s Omnibus Law, State Secretary Minister Dini Purwono said that the fifth version of the Omnibus Law is the same as the one first proposed to President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo.

Another problem that continues to rage in Indonesia is Covid-19 as the national caseload approaches 400,000 following the confirmation of 4,369 new infections on Friday, October 23.

News about a familiar face in Indonesia’s Covid-19 battle, Achmad Yurianto, made rounds on Friday after it was reported that he stepped down from his position as the Ministry of Health’s Disease Control and Prevention Director-General.

Yurianto will continue to have a role in Indonesia’s health ministry although next time, it will be as its Expert Staff of the Health Care Technology and Globalization Agency.

Here are the top news in Indonesia today.

1. Movie Theaters in Indonesia Reopen to Delighted Moviegoers

The global film and entertainment industry has taken a massive hit after the Covid-19 virus outbreak halted operations, sending the likes of Regal Cinemas, Cineworld, and AMC Theaters into bankruptcy.

While movie theater operators in Indonesia have not faced such a dire fate, their recent reopening amid the ravaging virus outbreak gives it an opportunity, though challenging, to make up for the months-long closure.

Movie theater operating companies in Indonesia, CGV and Cinepolis, reported many excited moviegoers filling up studios.

Though both companies have not released the number of people who visited their cinemas since operations restarted, their representatives are thrilled about the initial response.

Cinepolis’ Brand Marketing and Partnership Manager Indriana Listia Rahmawati and rival CGV’s Public Relations Hariman Chalid confirmed the reports.

On the first day, Cinepolis movie theaters reopened in Plaza Semanggi, Pluit Village, Gajah Mada Plaza, Tamini Square, and Cibubur Junction.

From the five locations, not one stood out in terms of the number of crowds.

Cinepolis’ Indriana explained that each of its studios hosts the same number of moviegoers that has been capped at 25 percent of total capacity.

She added that Cinepolis implements stringent Covid-19 health protocols in all five movie theaters in Indonesia.

Movie theater companies in Indonesia check the body temperature of every individual, maintain a distance between seats, and require moviegoers and staff to wear a face mask.

Source: https://megapolitan.kompas.com/read/2020/10/23/12560611/hari-pertama-bioskop-buka-manajemen-cgv-dan-cinepolis-klaim-penonton 

AFP/NICHOLAS KAMM US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Asia from Oct. 25-30, 2020 during which his schedule includes a visit to Indonesia.

2. Mike Pompeo to Visit Indonesia to Discuss Indo-Pacific Strategy

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Asia October 25-30, 2020 during which his schedule includes a visit to Indonesia.

The visit comes amid increasing tension between the US and China which are vying to win over support from several Asian countries particularly over the South China Sea conflict that China claims is its territory.

Several countries including Indonesia have denounced China’s territorial claims.

The US Secretary of State’s website explains that Mike Pompeo’s visit to Indonesia is “to reassert the vision of both countries for Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”.

Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed news of Pompeo’s planned visit and only emphasized that it will be to strengthen US-Indonesia bilateral relations without providing further details of the upcoming meeting.

Minister Retno stated the US is an important partner, thus frequent visits by state officials from both nations are not surprising even amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Prior to Mike Pompeo’s visit to Indonesia, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto visited the US  October 15-19 on the invitation of US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to discuss military bilateral cooperation.

Source: https://www.kompas.com/global/read/2020/10/23/172337970/menlu-as-mike-pompeo-akan-kunjungi-indonesia-pekan-depan?page=all 

ANTARA FOTO/HO/KEMENLU President Joko ?Jokowi? Widodo expressed his desire to stop Indonesia?s coal export and instead to begin establishing a downstream coal sector.

3. Indonesia to Focus on Establishing a Downstream Coal Sector

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo expressed his desire to stop Indonesia’s coal export and instead to begin establishing a downstream coal sector.

The Indonesian President has called for the industry to concentrate on improving quality standards, smelting process, coal gasification, coal bricks manufacturing, and the production of coal-water mixtures.

Moving away from coal exports to advance its downstream coal sector gives Indonesia the chance to reduce its reliance on imported raw goods typically demanded by the country’s steel and petrochemical industries.

The country’s cabinet ministers have been asked to create a roadmap that would optimize the use of coal in Indonesia.

Jokowi has also requested for the use of eco-friendly technologies in optimizing Indonesia’s coal production processes.

To further shape the coal industry in Indonesia, President Joko Widodo instructed ministers to map out zones that can be developed for the country’s downstream coal sector and assess which regions have an adequate supply of coal to ensure a smooth-running downstream coal production process.

Source: http://go.kompas.com/read/2020/10/23/202606374/establish-downstream-coal-sector-now-indonesian-president-instructs-cabinet 

SHUTTERSTOCK / Pelikh Alexey Bali took the top spot for the world?s best honeymoon destination beating out the usual favorites Hawaii and the Maldives.

4. Bali Named World’s Best Honeymoon Destination

Bali took the top spot for the world’s best honeymoon destination beating out the usual favorites Hawaii and the Maldives.

The ranking was based on research conducted by elite travel company Kuoni and was reported by the Daily Mail.

Couples in search of a honeymoon destination are found to significantly rely on the Pinterest app before making their decision.

Through Kuoni’s analysis and assessment, it was found that numerous Pinterest boards featured Bali boosting the Indonesian island getaway spot to the top of the list.

As the world’s best honeymoon destination, Bali joins the ranks of Italy, Hawaii, Maldives, Ireland, and Iceland.

When you make the decision to visit Bali for your honeymoon, you won’t have to worry about finding a romantic place to stay on Indonesia’s Island of Gods.

When it comes to a place to stay in Bali for an ultra-romantic vacation, it would not get better than Capella Ubud Hotel Bali which earned the World's Best Awards by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Capella Hotels and Resorts Group, which operates Capella Ubud, also won second-best in Travel + Leisure's hotel brand category.

Capella Ubud Hotel Bali not only took the coveted award for the Hotel in the World category but also for the Resort Hotel in Asia category.

Source: http://go.kompas.com/read/2020/10/23/213247374/lucky-in-love-bali-named-worlds-best-honeymoon-destination