The wRap Indonesia: Trial over alleged ISIS links, defense strategy

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

The wRap Indonesia: Trial over alleged ISIS links, defense strategy

AFP

Other stories include the US dollars' gains against the rupiah and an analysis on President Joko Widodo's government's deal with Freeport McMoRan

JAKARTA, Indonesia – From a trial over alleged ISIS links to an analysis on the significance of the government’s deal with Freeport McMoRan, here are the top news stories to start your day. 

1. Trial over alleged ISIS links

Seven Indonesian men went on trial Monday, October 12, accused of links to the Islamic State group, and could face the death penalty if found guilty of breaking anti-terror laws.

They were all charged with being part of an “evil conspiracy” and accused of a range of crimes, from trying to aid acts of terror to supporting IS, which has been banned in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country since October last year. Read more.

2. Gains for US dollar

The dollar on Monday, October 12 clawed back some of last week’s losses against emerging market currencies after a top Federal Reserve official raised the prospect of a 2015 interest rate hike, while hopes for a pick-up in demand helped oil to score more gains.

It enjoyed advances against Indonesia’s rupiah and the Malaysian ringgit. However, the gains were small compared with last losses of about 8% against the rupiah and almost 7% versus the ringgit. Read more

3. Defense strategy

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said the Indonesian government will soon form a cadre to defend the country.

According to him, the cadre is expected to reach 100 million people in the next ten years. The goal is to create a stronger Indonesia. He said the formation of cadres to defend the state program is the government’s way to guard against military and non military threats. Read more.

4. Analysis on Jokowi

UPPER HAND. The deal shows that the President is gaining an upper hand over nationalists. File photo by Gatta Dewabrata/Rappler

A decision by Indonesian authorities to assure US mining giant Freeport McMoRan that its Grasberg copper and gold mine contract would be extended is being taken as the most important sign yet that President Joko Widodo is continuing to gain the upper hand over economic nationalists.

The decision to grant the Freeport extension, which has been hanging fire for months as contenders battled it out behind the scenes, gives Jokowi an enormous victory to show to the Americans. For the better part of a year, since he assumed the presidency last October, Jokowi has been under sustained fire from environmentalists, reformers, members of the business community and others for his seeming diffidence against economic nationalists and others. Read more.

5. Orangutan habitat destroyed

Weeks of forest fires in Indonesia have prompted the cancellation of flights and warnings for people to stay indoors, suspension of classes, and worsened air quality in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.

Now it has also destroyed the habitat of orangutans, such as areas of the Samboja Lestari Orangutan Reintroduction Program site in Samboja, in Indonesia’s East Kalimantan. Read more. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!