On Thursday 17 January 2019 the first debate between the two presidential pairs - (1) Joko Widodo & Ma'ruf Amin and (2) Prabowo Subianto & Sandiaga Uno - took place at Hotel Bidakara in Pancoran (South Jakarta). It is the first one of a total of five planned debates between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the months ahead of the legislative and presidential elections that are scheduled for 17 April 2019 (although the date of the 5th debate is yet to be determined).

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We have entered 2019, which means we have entered a huge political year with the legislative and presidential elections scheduled for 17 April 2019. Indonesia is a young democracy that is maturing – hence experiences growing pains – and where various sides are engaged in a battle to get a hold of the highest political power in Indonesia.

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Investigators reported their preliminary findings in the investigation into the causes of the fatal crash of Lion Air flight JT-610 to Indonesian parliament on Wednesday 28 November 2018. These preliminary findings should not be confused with conclusions. Therefore, it is too early to pinpoint a definitive cause (or causes) of the accident that occurred in the early morning of 29 October 2018 and killed all 189 people on board (including crew).

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Semen Indonesia, the largest cement producer in Indonesia, announced in November 2018 that it has signed a conditional sales & purchase agreement with LafargeHolcim Ltd to acquire an 80.6 percent stake in Holcim Indonesia, the third-biggest cement producer in Indonesia.

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