Good news for those who love beer and live in Jakarta. About one year after Indonesia announced it had banned sales of alcoholic beverages in minimarkets and kiosks - a move conducted to "protect the morals and culture of Indonesian society" - Jakarta Governor Basuki Purnama Tjahja (Ahok) said alcoholic beverages with alcohol content up to five percent (which includes beer) will again be available in the capital city's minimarkets, the small retailers that have mushroomed across the city streets.

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Industry players in Jakarta are somewhat relieved after Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) signalled that he will allow a revision to the mandatory relocation of local industries to designated industrial zones. Based on Regional Regulation No. 1/2014 on Detailed Spatial Planning and Zoning Regulations, all local industries in Jakarta have to be (re)located into the designated industrial zones before 1 January 2017. Ahok is now expected to extend the deadline to the end of 2019.

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According to local media, Commission IV of Indonesia's House of Representatives and the central Indonesian government agree to temporarily suspend development of the land reclamation project off the coast of North Jakarta as seven violations of Indonesian law occurred during the process. Authorities want to undertake a more thorough study before construction continues. Herman Khaeron, Vice Chairman of Commission IV, claims Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (better known as Ahok) has issued construction permits too soon without having a legal basis. Earlier, a corruption case related to this mega-project had made headlines.

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Property market research firm Colliers International Indonesia said Indonesia's residential apartment sector remained weak in the first quarter of 2016. The sector is still feeling the impact of the slowdown in the overall property sector of Indonesia that occurred over the past two years. Ferry Salanto, Associate Director for Research at Colliers International Indonesia, said only three new apartment projects were launched in Jakarta in Q1-2016: (1) The Residence at The St Regis Jakarta, (2) Arandra Residence and (3) the Victoria Tower Fatmawati City Center (these projects are expected to be completed by 2019 or 2020).

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Despite the slowdown that occurred in Indonesia's property sector amid the overall cooling economy, at least 54 apartment projects are currently being developed in the capital city of Jakarta in 2016, nearly all of these projects are situated outside the city's central business district. Investment in apartments remains attractive for both the developer and end-user (or investor), various property watchers say. Meanwhile, global rating agency Standard & Poor's Financial Services says the outlook for Indonesian property developers this year depends on the passing of the tax amnesty bill.

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Several people, five terrorists and two civilians, have been killed in a series of multiple explosions and gunfire in the center of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta. Around 10:50 am local Jakarta time the first explosion occurred near the Sarinah department store on Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta. Previously Indonesian authorities had already received a threat from Islamic State that the country would be in the spotlight of this terrorist organization. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

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The crime rate in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta fell slightly in 2015. Whereas in 2014 there occurred 44,687 crime cases in Jakarta, the following year the number had fallen to 44,304 cases, a mere 0.87 percent decline (year-on-year). Inspector General Tito Karnavian, Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Command, said this decline is an indication that effectiveness and efficiency of crime prevention has improved. In 2015 one out of every 513 people in Jakarta became victim of crime.

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Although the start of construction of the USD $5.5 billion high-speed railway between Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta and Bandung (West Java) is still waiting for the necessary permits as well as a recommendation from the Governor of West Java, there are no crucial matters that disturb the project, says Sahala Lumban Gaol, Chairman of Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia. Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia is a consortium consisting of four Indonesian state-owned companies. Together with China Railway International Co Ltd, this consortium formed a joint venture to develop Indonesia's first high-speed railway project.

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In line with rising tourism in Indonesia, the value of hotel construction in Southeast Asia's largest economy is expected to grow 16 percent to IDR 21 trillion (approx. USD $1.6 billion) in 2016. Most of the new projects - roughly 21 percent - are located in the Greater Jakarta area. Besides tapping the tourism potential, hotel developers also want to tap the business potential, meaning that due to expected accelerated economic growth in 2016, there will arrive more foreign businessmen in Indonesia to attend meetings and other activities, particularly as the ASEAN Economic Community comes online.

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Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, has a population that numbers 10.2 million people. Besides this big number, the population of Jakarta is also characterized by being a young (productive) population and by having a relatively high per capita GDP. Together, these factors give rise to high (and increasing) demand for recreational activities in the capital city.

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Whenever the topic of tourism in Indonesia is touched upon, most people will instantly think of Bali. This small but famous island harbors all sorts of entertainment that will appeal to various segments of international tourism: beautiful landscapes, Balinese Hinduism, lively nightclubs, beaches and more. But apart from Bali - and despite the fact that Indonesia has much to offer on other islands - the country has disappointed in attracting a large amount of foreign tourists so far.

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Last Thursday night, a Nigerian drug dealer, imprisoned since 2004, was executed by firing squad near Kepulauan Seribu to the north of Jakarta's coast. This execution is the first since the execution of three Islamic radicals (who were involved in the 2002 Bali bombings) in 2008. Meanwhile, on Friday morning, counter-terrorism squad Densus 88 killed three suspected Muslim militants that robbed a jewelry store in Tambora, West Jakarta.

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