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Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Antara/HO-Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat/aa

Presidential spokesperson Fadjroel Rachman extended his best wishes to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who celebrates his 59th birthday on Sunday.

​​​​Rachman said in a statement received in Jakarta, the President has a strong commitment to serving the public selflessly and democratically.

Being raised as an ordinary citizen, he said, President Joko Widodo has put in advance people's interest in carrying out the development program.

"On June 21, 1961, a baby was born in an ordinary neighborhood. His father was a small trader of wood and bamboo, named Notomiharjo. His mother's name was Sujiatmi. A situation of mediocre life requires a mental determination and wisdom in order to become a virtuous human being. The name of Joko Widodo is given so that one day he will grow up as a man with determination and wisdom," Rachman said.

Joko Widodo, he said, was raised in a society where human values, tolerance, and hard work are noble deeds, values that are instilled by his parents.

Fadjroel Rachman said empathy and the noble values have underlaid Jokowi's daily practice, including his habit to conduct "blusukan" (impromptu visit).

He recalled, since he served as Mayor of Solo from 2005-2012, Joko Widodo has issued pro-people policies. For example in the relocation of street vendors in Solo which was seen as the main cause of traffic congestion, which was done through dialogue and non-violence acts.

Jokowi continues to make empathy and noble values of Indonesia as the foundation of national political leadership after he was first elected as president in 2014. "Therefore, President Joko Widodo often gives the message 'for the sake of the common people' to government officials," he said.

Now as the COVID-19 pandemic hits almost all countries of the world including Indonesia, Jokowi's administration's policy to handle the pandemic remained oriented towards efforts to save all Indonesians, and emphasizing the presence of government from the people, by the people, and for the people.

"Happy birthday President Joko Widodo, stay healthy in the protection of God, struggling selflessly for the progress and glory of the Indonesian people and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," Rachman said.(ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Antara/HO-Press Bureau of Presidential Secretariat/aa

Jakartans again flocked to the Sudirman-MH Thamrin Streets on Sunday (June 21, 2020) morning to do bicycle riding and outdoor exercise as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta Government resumed the Car Free Day (CFD). ANTARA/Fauzi Lamboka

The Jakartans again flocked to the Sudirman-MH Thamrin Streets on Sunday morning to do bicycle riding and outdoor exercise as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta Government resumed the Car Free Day (CFD).

This weekly event returned on Sunday morning amid the declining rate of new confirmed novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the country's capital city over the past week.

Before being suspended by the Jakarta provincial government since March 15 to break the chain of COVID-19 pandemic, many Jakartans are used to taking advantage of the CFD to enjoy their Sunday morning with their kids, family members, and friends.

This Sunday, many of the local residents who wanted to do their outdoor exercise were seen heading to MH Thamrin Street from Merdeka Selatan Street as ANTARA observed at 08.00 a.m. local time.

Despite the declining rate of confirmed cases in the city, the Jakarta Transportation and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers who secure the CFD urged the residents doing exercise to remain cautious with the mandatory COVID-19 protocols.

"Please, carrying kids is not allowed," said one of the Satpol PP officers.

The Jakartans and anyone who join the capital city's CFD is ordered to practice the healthcare and COVID-19 protocols, such as maintaining recommended physical and social distancing measures, wearing face masks, and staying clean.

Vulnerable people, such as the elderly, pregnant women, and kids under nine years old are required to remain at home and stay fit instead of joining the CFD.

The Jakarta provincial government has repeatedly cautioned its residents to temporarily keep children, pregnant women, and the elderly away from events that draw a multitude of people during the transitional period toward a new normal that has come into effect since June 5.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan emphasized that people with comorbidities were also prohibited from partaking in events involving the congregation of people since they fell in the vulnerable group amid the ongoing global pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease.

Jakarta has officially been declared a COVID-19-affected area in Indonesia following the central government's confirmation of the country's first cases on March 2 this year.

Coronavirus infections initially emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019. Since then, COVID-19 has spread to over 202 countries and territories, including Indonesia, with a massive spurt in the death toll. (ANTARA)

In commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict and World Refugee Day on the 19th and 20th of June, OIC Youth Indonesia, together with Embassy of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, International Studies Club, Asian African Youth Government, DEMA FISIP UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Direction, Interpelago, and Indonesia National Youth Council held a webinar on "The Impact of Covid-19 and Human Rights Abuses in Jammu and Kashmir" on Friday evening (19 June 2020) over Zoom Teleconference.

The webinar was initiated by remarks and presentation by Tantan Taufiq Lubis (Vice President of ICYF Asia Region), Dr. Zahir Khan (Former Indonesian Diplomat & Chairman Kashmir Solidarity Forum), Sajjad Haider Khan (Charge’ d’ Affaires, Embassy of Pakistan, Jakarta), Shaista Safi (Human Lobbyist, Youth Forum for Kashmir), and Rutaba Tariq - (Asian Region Chair of International Association for Political Science Students). The webinar was closed by extensive question and answer sessions. (Release Pakistan Embassy in Jakarta)

Indonesia's state gas utility PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) will begin construction on a 367-kilometer (km) crude oil pipeline in the Rokan Block, Riau, in July.

The project, located in the corridors of Minas-Duri-Dumai and Balam-Bangko Dumai, will connect the Rokan oil block to Pertamina's Dumai refinery in the province.

PGN's Director of Infrastructure and Technology Redy Ferryanto stated here on Friday that the project aimed to boost synergy between subsidiaries of the PT Pertamina Group.

The project is projected to boost oil production and lifting from the Rokan Block, the backbone of national oil production, which constitutes one-third of the country's output.

"With a budget allocation of some US$300 million, PGN has cut capital expenditure, with the efficiency of some 30 percent. The project is estimated to become one of PGN's major projects in its target of capital expenditure for 2020. The Financial Investment Decision (FID) of the Rokan pipelines project is expected to optimize efforts to enhance efficiency," he noted.

Ferryanto affirmed that 250 thousand barrels of oil per day will be transported from Rokan to Pertamina’s refinery in Dumai.

The construction project is targeted for completion by the end of 2021.

The pipeline comprises 12 segments and three stations: Duri, Dumai, and Manifold Batang.

Pertagas, part of Indonesia's Gas Holding, will handle the construction project as well as its operations and maintenance.

The project is envisioned to have a positive impact to augment the company's revenue from crude oil transportation business, particularly for its contractors of the cooperation contract (KKKS), such as PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia (CPI), BOB Bumi Siak Posako, and other KKKS.

"Construction of the pipelines is a national strategic project to support national energy resilience. Oil production in the Rokan Block is expected to increase national oil lifting as primary energy to boost the national economy," Ferryanto added. (ANTARA)