Indonesian Navy arrests 21 people for allegedly smuggling turtles
The Indonesian Navy in Denpasar has arrested 21 people and 3 wooden boats in the waters of Serangan, allegedly for trying to smuggle 32 species of turtle.
The authorities presented some types of these turtles in a press conference.
President: Songsong 2022 with a passion for working for an advanced Indonesia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) invites all parties to welcome 2022 with a new spirit and work for an advanced Indonesia.
President Jokowi said all tests, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession and a situation of high uncertainty, have forged the Indonesian nation in 2021.
"With that forging, we welcome 2022 with a new spirit, working for an advanced Indonesia," he said in his upload on The official Instagram account @jokowi was quoted in Jakarta, Saturday.
According to Jokowi, all the exams in 2021 have strengthened and united the Indonesian nation.
“All these trials have forged this great nation. Strengthen us. Unites us," he wrote.
In a previous upload on Friday (31/12), President Jokowi said that throughout 2021, the Indonesian nation will be struggling with two major tasks, namely breaking the virus chain and keeping the economy growing.
The pandemic and the economy, said President Jokowi, are like two bodies at the end of a swing that must be kept in balance. According to him, the pandemic has so far slowed down.
"Hospitals are now more free to take care of patients with non-COVID-19 diseases. This is all because of our role in complying with health protocols and intensifying vaccinations," he explained.
The Head of State emphasized that from the 208 million vaccination target, as of December 30, Indonesia had injected around 273 million doses of vaccine, including 160 million doses of the first vaccine and more than 113 million complete doses of vaccine.
Meanwhile, the President said, at the other end of the swing is the economy.
Indonesia had experienced a recession, minus economic growth, economic slowdown in many sectors, and high uncertainty in almost all fields. However, with passion and hard work, the Indonesian people survived.
"In the second quarter of 2021, the Indonesian economy will grow 3.51 percent (yoy). On the other hand, the pandemic has pushed a new world: digital civilization. E-commerce(online trade, -ed), for example, reached a value of 24.8 billion US dollars this year," he said on his Instagram social media account @jokowi.
Metro Jaya Police Chief calls "crowd free night" going well
Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Pol Fadil Imran said the implementation of the crowd free night policy at a number of locations in Jakarta was running smoothly.
"In the capital city, it is generally under control and safe. Eleven crowd free night points are going well," Fadil Imran told reporters at the HI Roundabout area, Saturday.
Fadil thanked the entire community and residents of Jakarta for their cooperation in staying at home during New Year's Eve.
In addition, he also expressed his appreciation to regional heads who are in the Jabodetabek agglomeration area, so that the potential for crowds in Jakarta can be controlled.
"Hopefully until tomorrow morning, we can control the situation," he said.
Based on Antara's monitoring, on Friday night until 23.30 WIB, joint officers from elements of the Police, TNI, and Satpol PP remained on standby to support the implementation of crowd free night even though the traffic situation was quite light.
Traffic on a number of Central Jakarta roads, such as Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur, Cathedral Road to the Tugu Farmer's Circle and the Horse Statue looked deserted.
The National Police deployed thousands of personnel who were deployed for Christmas and New Year's security.
Officers are also on standby at locations that have the potential to cause crowds and buildup of vehicles, such as the Sudirman, Thamrin and Kemayoran areas.
The following are 11 areas where the crowd free night Jakarta applies, on Friday (31/12) at 22.00 WIB to Saturday (1/1) including:
1. Asia-Africa Region
2. Gunawarman Area - Senopati - SCBD
3. Mahakam Area - Bulungan - Barito
4. Sudirman Area - Thamrin
5. Kota Tua
Area 6. National Monument Area (Monas)
7. Kemayoran
Area 8. Indah Kapuk Beach Area (PIK) 2
9 Kemang Area
10. East Canal Flood Area (BKT)
11. Sunter Lake Area, North Jakarta
Kim Jong Un mentions people's food in speech, not nuclear
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked his 10th year in power with a speech that referred to more food and school uniforms than nuclear weapons or the United States, according to a summary released by official media on Saturday.
Kim spoke at the end of the 4th Plenary Session of the 8th Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) which began on Monday.
North Korea's main goals in 2022 will be focused on economic development and improving people's living standards as the country faces a "great life and death struggle", Kim said.
The meeting coincided with the 10th anniversary of Kim becoming North Korea's leader after his father's death in 2011.
Kim has previously used speeches around the New Year to announce major policies, such as establishing significant diplomatic ties with South Korea and the US.
However, the summary of the speech carried by North Korea's official media did not specifically mention the US, but only touched on talks - which were not described in detail - about inter-Korean relations and "external affairs".
The domestic focus in the speech underscores the economic problems Kim faces at home, where closing borders to prevent COVID has left North Korea even more isolated.
International aid agencies have warned of a possible food shortage and humanitarian crisis in North Korea.
"The main task of our Party and the people next year is to provide definite guarantees on the implementation of the five-year plan and bring about extraordinary changes in the country's development and people's living standards," Kim said.
He spent most of his speech explaining domestic issues, from ambitious plans to develop rural areas to people's food, school uniforms and the need to crack down on "non-socialist practices".
A big focus on rural development is likely a populist strategy, said Chad O'Carroll, founder of NK News, a South Korean-based website on North Korean issues.
"Overall, Kim may realize that bringing up a sophisticated military development plan when his people are experiencing food shortages and difficult conditions outside Pyongyang is not a good idea this year," he said on Twitter.
Official media reports on Saturday cited the development of an "ultra-modern weapon system" as a major achievement last year. It also mentioned that Kim called for increasing national defense to deal with the unstable global situation.
The tractor factory he mentioned in the speech is likely to be used to produce missile-launching vehicles, foreign analysts say, and North Korea is believed to have increased its arsenal despite the lockdown .
Reports of Kim's speech made no mention of US calls for talks on nuclear abolition, or South Korea's insistence on an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War as a move to resume negotiations.
North Korea has previously said it is open to diplomatic efforts, but considers the US offer empty when "hostile acts" such as military exercises and sanctions continue.