Jakarta, Malaysia | THE INDEPENDENT | Ambassador Dorothy Samali Hyuha on Wednesday presented her credentials to President of Indonesia Joko Widodo at a brief ceremony at the Presidential Palace (Istana Merdeka), Jakarta. Hyuha, takes charge of Indonesia but with residence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where she is Uganda’s High Commissioner. According to …
Read More »Cancel your debts, magically!
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ever wish there was a way to instantly erase all of your financial debt without actually paying back one cent? Who hasn’t, right? Well, an Indonesian guru (religious cult leader) claims he can do just that for the followers of his mysterious debt forgiving …
Read More »Doctors baffled as 14-year-old boy lays egg
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Akmal, a 14-year old boy from Gowa, Indonesia, has “laid” an egg in front of doctors, which is the 20th his family claims he has produced over the past two years. Akmal was allegedly brought to the clinic by his family who claims he …
Read More »Goodbye to romance: Indonesian cities ban Valentine’s Day
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Valentine’s Day was banned in some Indonesian cities Wednesday as police rounded up amorous couples, giving the official kiss-off to a tradition which critics say doesn’t deserve any love in the Muslim-majority nation. The prohibitions come amid concerns that traditionally tolerant Indonesia is taking a …
Read More »Rohingya abuses could spark regional conflict: UN rights chief
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | The UN human rights chief warned Monday that possible acts of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” against Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country’s borders. “Myanmar faces a very serious crisis –- with a potentially severe impact on the …
Read More »Snake blood, flaming bricks: Mattis gets bizarre Indonesian send off
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | A soldier tore apart a snake with his teeth and his comrades headbutted flaming stacks of bricks as Indonesia’s special forces treated visiting US defence secretary Jim Mattis to an unusual display on Tuesday. Mattis — whose own nickname is “Mad Dog” — seemed impressed by …
Read More »Indonesia police make huge New Year’s Eve marijuana bust
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Indonesian authorities have seized 1.3 tonnes of marijuana and arrested six people in a major drug bust on New Year’s Eve, police said Thursday. Authorities confiscated the drugs at a port near Lampung, on the southern tip of Sumatra island. The bricks of tightly-wrapped cannabis — …
Read More »Indonesians celebrate New Year with mass wedding
Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Hundreds of Indonesian couples celebrated getting married in Jakarta on New Year’s Eve in a free mass wedding. The communal event, attended by 437 couples, was staged by authorities to ease residents’ struggles with bureaucracy. Many Jakartans cannot access public services because they have never …
Read More »Evacuation centres, hotels fill up as Bali eruption looms
Karangasem, Indonesia | AFP | Evacuation centres and hotels in Bali filled up Tuesday with tens of thousands seeking refuge as a volcano on the Indonesian resort island threatened to erupt, forcing the closure of the main airport for a second day. Stranded tourists hunted for accommodation while frightened villagers …
Read More »Thousands flee as Bali raises volcano alert to highest level
Karangasem, Indonesia | AFP | A rumbling volcano on the resort island of Bali could erupt at any moment, authorities warned Monday as they raised alert levels to maximum, accelerated a mass evacuation and closed the main airport, leaving tourists stranded. Massive columns of thick grey smoke that have been …
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