NATIONAL

Head of National Food Agency (Bappanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said state logistics agency Bulog director Budi Waseso has obtained the permit to import 2 million tons of rice. However, he emphasized it would not arrive all at once given that the country is in the middle of peak harvest season, reported Detik, Thursday (6/4).

FIFA banned Bogor-based Persikabo 1973 president Bimo Wirjasoekarta from being involved in football-related activities for two years with a three-year probationary period, reported Suara, Thursday (6/4).

Traffic jams in Jakarta are getting worse. Head of Transport Agency Syafrin Liputo said according to TomTom International, Jakarta is in the 29th most congested city in the world, up from 46th two years ago. It means that the average congestion rate in Jakarta has reached 53 percent, reported Inews, Thursday (6/4).

The government invites the public to contribute in selecting the emblem of Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN) Nusantara.

President Joko Widodo is scheduled to inaugurate Dito Ariotedjo, a young politician of Golkar Party, as the new sports and youth minister this afternoon, Monday (3/4), reported Kompas.tv.

Indonesia is estimated to have suffered up to hundreds of billions of losses after it was removed as host of the U-20 World Cup by FIFA. Many sectors, especially tourism, will be impacted. This does not even include the funds spent on building and renovating stadiums and other infrastructure.

While he said he was disappointed, President Joko Widodo asked all parties to respect FIFA decision to remove Indonesia as host of this year’s U-20 World Cup.

Indonesia failed to host the U-20 World Cup. This was stated directly by the FIFA President Gianni Infantino through an official statement received by Observerid.com, Wednesday (29/3).

The government has decided that extended leave for this year's Eid al-Fitr holiday will be from April 19-25, according to a joint ministerial decree from Religious Affairs Minister, Manpower Minister, and Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister.

Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Dikbud-Ristek) Minister Nadiem Makarim abolished the reading, writing and arithmetic (calistung) tests for new student admissions at elementary schools (SD) and the equivalent Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo finally issued an official statement regarding the polemic of Israeli national football team competing in the U20 World Cup in Indonesia. He said he agreed with the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia that FIFA rules must be adhered to by its members.