Papua indonesia

JAKARTA: In Central Java, officials have dressed as ghosts and positioned themselves at a village entrance to deter people from leaving home. Over in Jakarta, those who violated COVID-19 protocols have been asked to lie in a coffin to reflect on their mistakes. Indonesia has one of the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia with more than 350,000 infections as of Friday (Oct 16). To break the infection chain, local authorities have tried to think out of the box, in order to encourage people to adhere to health protocols. Certain regions have imposed a fine for those who violate the rules, such as not wearing a mask in public. As not everyone can afford to pay a fine, local authorities have attempted to get creative in terms of meting out punishments with a deterrent effect, including scaring people and public shaming. Experts interviewed by CNA said that certain methods may frighten people but are not necessarily effective in ensuring adherence to health … [Read more...] about Posing as ghosts, public shaming: How effective are Indonesia’s out-of-the-box approaches against COVID-19?

SINGAPORE: Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will attend Singapore's National Day Parade (NDP) this year. They have accepted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's invitation to join the parade as Singapore marks its bicentennial, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Wednesday (Jul 3). "Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia are close neighbours and friends of Singapore and we have deep historical ties with these countries," the PMO added. The Aug 9 parade will be held at the Padang to mark the milestone in the country's history, commemorating 200 years since Sir Stamford Raffles landed on the island. The parade was last held at the Padang in 2015 when Singapore celebrated 50 years of independence. READ: NDP show to feature six-metre tall lion puppet in laser spectacle READ: What it’s like to ride in the Mobile Column at NDP The theme of this year's NDP is Our Singapore. “It is a theme that … [Read more...] about Leaders of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to attend Singapore’s National Day Parade 2019

SINGAPORE: A 68-year-old man has died from complications due to the coronavirus, becoming Singapore's 29th COVID-19 fatality . In a media release on Saturday (Nov 28), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the Singaporean man, known as Case 58343 , had a history of hypertension and heart disease. The man travelled to Indonesia for work on Mar 10. He experienced shortness of breath since Nov 11 and returned to Singapore on Nov 17 when he was admitted to a hospital upon his arrival, said MOH. His COVID-19 infection was confirmed on Nov 18 and he died from complications due to the coronavirus on Nov 27. "The cause of death as determined by the pathologist is ischaemic heart disease with COVID-19," said MOH. "The National University Hospital has reached out to his family and is extending assistance to them." The last reported COVID-19 death in Singapore was on Oct 12 when a 64-year-old man died due to complications from the coronavirus infection. The man, a … [Read more...] about 68-year-old man is Singapore’s 29th COVID-19 fatality; returned from work in Indonesia

JAKARTA: Indonesia reached a grim milestone on Monday (Nov 23) in surpassing more than half a million coronavirus cases, as average new daily infections hit a record and hospitals in the country's most populated province edged closer to capacity. Indonesia now has 502,110 infections and 16,002 deaths from COVID-19, the highest numbers in Southeast Asia, having struggled to contain the spread since its first case in March. Health experts say shortfalls in testing and contact tracing and a consistently high positivity rate - the infection rate per person tested - indicate the real numbers are likely to be significantly higher. READ: Indonesia plans mass vaccination campaign as COVID-19 cases hit another daily record In the capital Jakarta, where relatively loose social restrictions are in place until Dec 6, some met the milestone with glum resignation. "The government isn't serious and the people are getting fatigued," said Ahmad Rozali, a clothes trader at Tanah Abang … [Read more...] about Indonesia’s COVID-19 cases pass half million mark

JAKARTA: Indonesian police were on Saturday (Nov 28) searching for suspected militants accused of killing four people and burning seven houses in a village in Central Sulawesi province. National Police spokesperson Awi Setiyono said they believe Friday's assault in Lemban Tongoa village of Sigi District was carried out by the Sulawesi-based East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) group. It is one of dozens of radical groups across the Southeast Asian archipelago that have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. The police spokesperson quoted a witness who said that militants beheaded one victim and slit the throats of the others. Ahmad Rifai, a Lemban Tongoa village officer, said that one of the buildings burned was a Christian house of worship. "We reached the conclusion that they (the attackers) were from MIT after showing pictures of its members to relatives of the victims" who witnessed the ambush, said Sigi Regency police chief Yoga Priyahutama. The makeshift church was empty … [Read more...] about Indonesia police hunt suspected IS-linked militants after four killed