Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesiancapital city of Jakarta on August 7 announced new regulations to curb privatecars as it moves to rein in choking airpollution.
The city has more than 10 million residents, but about three times that numberlive in surrounding towns, swelling emissions from vehicles, factories andpower stations.
In the current dry season, Jakarta has consistently ranked among the world’smost polluted cities, based on data from Air Visual, a Swiss-based group thatmonitors air quality.
In 2016, the municipal government ordered curbs on private cars governed bywhether their license-plate numbers were odd or even, to reduce traffic jams onmain thoroughfares. That effort was widened last year, ahead of the AsianGames.
On August 7, it said this policy would be extended again to cover smallerroads.
This move comes after an instruction last week by Jakarta Governor AniesBaswedan to levy congestion charges on cars from 2020, set an age limit of 10years on vehicles on the road by 2025, tighten emission tests and rein inindustrial discharges.
However, experts said the governor needed to do more.
All the steps taken will in themselves improve the air quality, but the overallimpact will not be big because they are not addressing the main problem, said Almo Pradana, senior manager for energyand climate at the World Resources Institute Indonesia.
Pradana added that Jakarta did not have enough monitoring devices to pinpointthe cause of the pollution spikes.
He stressed the need to find what makes the air quality worsen, how much inpercentages comes from transportation, and when, and how much comes from coalpower plants and factories.
Some environmental groups have sued authorities over Jakarta’s worsening airquality, trying to force the government to investigate the source of emissions.-VNA
Indonesia-based telecom company Indosat Ooredoo plans to invest about 140 million USD to expand its nationwide 4G network coverage from 81 percent to 90 percent of the country’s 264 million population by the end of the year.
Indonesia on August 5 reported its lowest rate of quarterly growth in two years as Southeast Asia's biggest economy has been affected by US-China trade tensions.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on August 5 chaired a plenary cabinet meeting to discuss the draft 2020 state budget and its financial notes, during which he affirmed that the budget will prioritise the promotion of human resources through education, healthcare and training.
“The Indonesia Great Sale”, the first nationwide shopping extravaganza, will be held from August 14-25, expecting to gain total revenue of more than 35 trillion rupiah (2.4 billion USD) in consumer transactions.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
