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Hello reader,

It’s January 2025, and still last year’s iPhone 16 saga has not yet been resolved. One begins to wonder if we will ever see a resolution before the launch of iPhone 17.

What’s the hold up? Read on to find out.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• A group of academics and activists called Nurani ’98 demanded some progress from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), after they reported former President Joko Widodo for corruption, nepotism, and money laundering in 2022 and 2024. Jokowi today stated that he’s not bothered by the development, which came amid the controversy of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) listing Jokowi among the world's most corrupt leaders in 2024. OCCRP has since clarified that it has no actual evidence of Jokowi’s corruption, and that the ranking was based merely on a poll of investigative journalists.

• National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo pledged for a swift resolution in the investigation of former KPK Chair Firli Bahuri, whose case has remained stagnant. Firli, himself a former police general, was accused of extorting former Agriculture Minister Syahril Yasin Limpo over a graft investigation in 2023.

• Sahrul Gunawan, a losing candidate for regent of West Bandung Regency, West Java but is perhaps best known as the lead in the classic sitcom Jin dan Jun, has appealed to the Constitutional Court to disqualify his rival, Dadang Supriatna, an incumbent who emerged victorious in the 2024 regional election. Sahrul accused Dadang of violating a law prohibiting incumbents from reshuffling officials within six months prior to the nominations for the election, which could be seen as an attempt at manipulating electoral outcomes.

• A car driver in South Jakarta was physically attacked using blocks of wood and a golf club by a group of coward motorcyclists after he confronted them for driving against traffic on Fatmawati Street. The victim, who sustained several injuries to his head and arms, reported the incident to the police. Who, if any, could ever bring order to Indonesian roads?

Business/Economy

• The Ministry of Industries has maintained the government’s ban on the sale of the iPhone 16 following unsuccessful negotiations with Apple over local content requirements. The ministry, who recently met with Apple representatives, said that the tech giant was still unwilling to raise its investment in the country beyond IDR 16 trillion, which is going towards the construction of an AirTags factory in Batam, Riau Islands. The government insists that tech companies adhere to regulations that demand 40% of locally sourced components in smartphones sold in Indonesia, which is another way of saying AirTags just won’t cut it for Indonesia.

• President Prabowo Subianto’s Special Envoy for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation Mari Pangestu assured yesterday that Indonesia’s recent accession to BRICS as a full member would not compromise its relationship with the United States, which will soon led by President Donald Trump. Pangestu emphasized that Indonesia remains committed to its free and active foreign policy, enabling it to collaborate with multiple global powers without aligning exclusively with any bloc.

• There’s a 30.16 km sea barrier in the waters off Tangerang, Banten, and no one knows who installed it. The barrier, constructed mostly out of bamboo, is posing a significant threat to the livelihoods of around 4,000 local fishermen, as it restricts 16 fishing villages direct access to fishing waters.

• Finance Minister Sri Mulyani announced the extension of tax incentives for electric vehicles (EVs) until December 2025. The initiative, first introduced in 2023, is aimed at stimulating the adoption of cleaner vehicles, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting the development of the domestic EV industry.

• E-commerce platform Bukalapak has ceased selling physical goods on January 7, opting to focus on digital services and fintech products. Bukalapak admits that it has struggled amid intense competition in the e-commerce sector in Indonesia, and is bidding to remain afloat with its remaining services.

Everything Else

• It’s official: Patrick Kluivert is the new head coach of the Indonesian men’s national team, replacing the recently sacked Shin Tae-yong. Kluivert was a lethal goalscorer in his playing days, plying his trade in the likes of FC Barcelona, Ajax, and Newcastle United. However, question marks remain about his coaching career, having served as assistant coach on numerous occasions and head coach of some less-than-flattering teams.