SUMMARY
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JAKARTA, Indonesia – Initial reactions to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s new cabinet and the results of the Jakart marathon lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia over the weekend.
1. Cautious welcome for Jokowi’s ‘working’ cabinet
Jokowi’s “working cabinet” – as he calls it – announcement on Sunday, October 26, is getting reactions ranging from tempered hopefulness to outright disappointment. On the plus side, the 34-member team includes several professionals and so-called working CEOs and the highest number of women ever in an Indonesian cabinet. Particularly notable are Indonesia’s first female foreign minister, career diplomat Retno Marsudi, and Endroyono Susilo, the director of the fisheries and aquaculture resources use and conservation division of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), for the new Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs, Environment, and Natural Resources. But drawing criticism are Jokowi’s obvious political compromises, particularly the figures seen to be choices of his political patron, former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Read the initial reactions here and the full list here.
2. As expected, Kenyan runners dominate Jakarta marathon
05:31 Kegiatan Jakarta Marathon 2014 di Kawasan Monas Jakpus, sementara lalin dialihkan. @putriaandhika pic.twitter.com/rWwhx9fEwM
— TMC Polda Metro Jaya (@TMCPoldaMetro) October 25, 2014
It was hardly surprising: Kenyan runners took the top 3 spots in the both the male and female categories of the 2014 Jakarta Marathon on Sunday. In the men’s category, Julius Seurei ran 42 kilometers in just 2 hours,14 minutes, and 51 seconds. Among the women, Nyansikera Winfridah finished first after just 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 25 seconds. About 14,000 amateur and professional runners participated in this year’s marathon, which began at the National Monument (Monas), passed through spots such as Kota Tua (Old City), the Jakarta Cathedral, Sudirman and Kuningan areas, Pancoran, and Senayan, and ended in Monas again. A total of 976 foreign runners from 50 countries participated, including 400 from Japan alone.
3. Kalla cools down fuel price hike talk
As various media spent the past week amplifying statements from anonymous sources that the price of subsidized fuel will increase by a substantial IDR3,000 ($0.25) per liter – a 46% hike – on Saturday, November 1, Vice President Jusuf Kalla cooled down the talks, saying the government was still studying the timing and extent, according to the Jakarta Globe. Jokowi is expected to increase subsidized fuel prices, but he has not committed to a schedule yet. Some of his close advisers are seen to be pushing for a price hike as soon as possible in order to address Indonesia’s budget deficit problem, but others say the president wants to ensure proper safety nets are in place for those who will be most affected.
4. Foreign acts entertain Jakarta at 3-day SoundsFair music festival
Cody Simpson in Jakarta perfoming at the SoundsFair music festival pic.twitter.com/xkW1zppJ10
— I MET CODY (@CodyPictures) October 25, 2014
Australian popstar Cody Simpson, Canadian reggae fusion band MAGIC! and English singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor were among the foreign acts that shared the stage with Indonesia’s top musical acts during the 3-day SoundsFair Festival that began on Friday, October 24. “Jakarta, how are you? This is my first time here, thank you for having me and giving me a warm welcome. I love you,” Simpson told hundreds of his screaming fans at the main hall. MAGIC!, which took the stage on Friday, performed 9 songs before closing with their phenomenal hit “Rude”. Read the full story from the Jakarta Post.
5. Indonesian student wins gold at international math olympiad
An elementary school student from Jakata, Nixon Widjaja, bested 233 students from 14 countries – including China – to win the gold medal at the Best Theory category of the 11th International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO) held in Bali from October 5 to 11. “I had some difficulties in interpreting the questions since they were in English, while I speak Indonesian daily. However, after about 5 weeks of preparation and assistance from my teachers in IPEKA, I overcame the difficulties,” said Nixon, who studies at IPEKA Sunter 1 Elementary School Jakarta. Read the full story from Tempo.co. – Rappler.com
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