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 PT Waskita Beton Precast Tbk (ticker code: WSBP) has made payments to creditors through Cash Flow Available for Debt Service ( CFADS ) phase 5 on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. This payment was made exactly six months after the previous payment, showing WSBP's consistency in carrying out its obligations. “We have fulfilled our payment obligations through CFADS with a total value of IDR106.36 billion, an increase of IDR21.78 billion compared to the previous stage. We continue to strive to carry out payment commitments in accordance with the agreement that has been set,” said Fandy Dewanto, VP of Corporate Secretary. The CFADS stage 5 payment includes payments to financial creditors (banks) amounting to IDR 36.29 billion, payments to trade creditors (vendors) registered in PKPU amounting to IDR 66.81 billion, bond interest payments amounting to IDR 3.27 billion and payments to other financial creditors amounting to IDR 33.74 million. To date, WSBP has completed payments in five stages, al...

 Sweden has enshrined tobacco harm reduction in public health policy after becoming the first nation to prove it’s the most effective path to a smoke-free future. Thanks to Sweden’s stance on safer nicotine alternatives, just 4.5% of Swedish-born adults now smoke - below the 5% smoke-free threshold. This success has led Parliament to formally adopt harm reduction, reinforcing Sweden’s role as a global leader in public health innovation. Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, says: “Swedes have participated in a long-running harm reduction experiment, providing undeniable proof that replacing smoking with smokeless nicotine dramatically reduces smoking-related disease, disability and premature deaths - a net gain for public health, while reducing expenditure. “With harm reduction now policy in Sweden, every public health decision will reflect this approach. Other countries should adopt Sweden’s model without further delay.” Rather than reducing tobacco use, Sweden now priori...

  Indonesia is enhancing cooperation with South Korea in the clean energy and electric vehicle (EV) sector to help achieve its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 31.89 percent by 2030. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto met with Dong Choon Kim, Vice President of LG Chem and President of LG Chem's Advanced Materials Company, and his delegation in Jakarta on Friday to accelerate collaboration. "The LG Group's support for the development of the EV ecosystem and clean energy in Indonesia is highly valued, and we hope to strengthen this partnership," Hartarto said in a statement. Hartarto and Kim acknowledged that despite challenges such as declining global demand for EVs, there remains significant potential for the EV ecosystem's growth in Indonesia. Kim expressed appreciation for the Indonesian government's long-standing support for LG Group, which has been operating in the country’s manufacturing sector for years. "Fo...

  Deputy Speaker of Commission V of the House of Representatives (DPR) Andi Iwan Darmawan Aras commended the government for reducing toll road tariffs and airfares for this year's Eid al-Fitr homecoming season. "The policy of cutting toll road fees and offering flight ticket discounts reflects the government's commitment to easing the burden on the people. This move surely deserves appreciation," he said, as cited in a press statement He assessed that these tariff reductions would particularly benefit homecoming travelers from middle—or lower-income groups. Aras, however, reminded the government that these rebates must be complemented by measures to enhance the quality of toll roads and airplanes. Speaking about toll roads, the legislator deemed it crucial to ensure the availability of quality rest areas, complete with clean toilets, gas stations, and medical services. Given the tendency for heavy traffic during homecoming seasons, he emphasized the importance of aut...

  Indonesia can leverage the global economic reset to strengthen the quality of its trade balance and, in turn, generate greater benefits for the country, according to Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Riza. Referring to countries currently reassessing their trade ties, such as the United States and China, he noted that Indonesia can take advantage of this shift by filling market gaps in countries experiencing economic pressure due to global changes. One way to capitalize on this opportunity and enhance Indonesia's trade balance, he suggested, is by boosting export-driven industries, such as food and beverages. "In my opinion, the food and beverage industry is one of our leading sectors, capable of meeting global food and beverage supply needs. Hopefully, this will also be supported by sufficient raw materials," Riza said on Tuesday. A researcher at the Center for Macroeconomics and Finance of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Ragimun, stated that to m...

  Mahmoud Al-Habbash , the Palestinian President's special envoy for religious affairs, delivered a special message from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to President Prabowo Subianto  The Palestinian envoy, who is also the top Islamic law judge at the Palestinian Authority, stated that President Abbas wrote the message to celebrate Indonesia and Palestine's long-standing bond and highlight the impact of Israel's aggression. "Today, we had the honor of visiting the President of Indonesia. We sent a special message from the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, to the Indonesian President," Al-Habbash told the media after the meeting, which took place in Jakarta and lasted about an hour. He added that he also briefed President Prabowo on the ground situation in Palestine and extended appreciation to Indonesia for striving to protect the rights of Palestinians during the meeting, which was also attended by the Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Zuhair Al-Shun....

  The government has identified seven million hectares of land as potential sites for the social forestry program, which is expected to support President Prabowo Subianto 's efforts to strengthen food security. "We have plans for the social forestry program, an initiative designated as a national strategic program," Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni stated in a press release from his office  He explained that the program has essentially been in operation since the administration of Indonesia’s 7th president, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), with 8.3 million hectares of land converted into "social forests." "During President Jokowi's tenure, the government identified 12.7 million hectares of potential land," he noted. "Farmers already have access to 8.3 million hectares, meaning that four million hectares remain available for use," Antoni added. The minister clarified that the newly announced seven million hectares include the remaining four mill...

  The Ministry of Religious Affairs will organize the Indonesia Khataman Al-Quran event, involving 350,000 Quran completion gatherings, on March 16, 2025, coinciding with the 16th of Ramadan 1446 Hijri, to commemorate Nuzulul Quran (the revelation of the Quran). "Ramadan is a casred month for Muslims. During this time, Muslims are obligated to fast, and it was this month that the Quran was revealed as a guide for life," Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kamaruddin Amin, stated in Jakarta on Saturday. Amin remarked that the program, titled "Indonesia Khataman Al Quran," will be held simultaneously nationwide and aims to strengthen Islamic and national spirit values while fostering a deeper love, understanding, and practice of the Quran among Muslims. The event will include participants from various backgrounds, such as Quran recitation institutions, religious study groups, Islamic boarding schools, madrasas, and members of the general public. An...

 Americans continue to wonder about the possibility of DOGE stimulus checks as the newly formed government agency, unofficially led to billionaire Elon Musk, continues on its quest to reduce government spending by conducting mass layoffs of federal employees and other cost-saving measures. The $5,000 dividend checks would come from the claimed savings that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), accrues on the path to its savings goal of $2 trillion, President Donald Trump said in February. "We're considering giving 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% to paying down the debt," Trump said in a during the Saudi-sponsored FII PRIORITY Summit in Miami Beach last month. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. Congress would ultimately determine whether or not U.S. taxpayers receive the $5,000 stimulus checks. Here is how the idea for checks came about and where things stand now. How did the idea of 'DOGE divide...

 Kop hero Mohamed Salah was left in tears on the Anfield turf as Liverpool was knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. The game was decided by penalties after the Reds suffered a 1-0 defeat on the night, with Ousmane Dembele netting the only goal of the match at the 12-minute mark to level the tie on aggregate. Liverpool had gone into the second leg with a 1-0 lead, after Harvey Elliott's late goal in Paris. That scoreline was harsh on PSG, who had battered Alisson Becker's goal but without breaking through. Yet the visitors did get on the scoresheet early on at Anfield through the excellent Dembele. He capitalized on a defensive mix-up to tap home from close range, after Ibrahima Konate had attempted a clearance. Liverpool did have chances after that but PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was in inspired form, denying Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai among others. The Italy international would be the hero in the shootout too as he saved from ...

  Mohamed Salah was under the impression that Liverpool were on the verge of breaching Premier League rules by introducing a sixth substitute during their match against Southampton on Saturday. The Egyptian star was frantically trying to halt the substitution until referee Lewis Smith clarified that manager Arne Slot was fully entitled to make the change. Teams are typically restricted to five substitutions per game, a rule that was extended from three in 2020. Trailing 1-0 and striving to equalize against the league's bottom team, Liverpool made three changes at half-time with Alexis Mac Allister, Harvey Elliott and Andrew Robertson replacing Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones and Konstantinos Tsimikas. During the second half, Slot also brought on Diogo Jota and Wataru Endo, which would normally have exhausted his substitutions. This is why Salah urgently tried to intervene when Jarell Quansah was poised on the sideline to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 89th minute. It was o...

  Elon Musk , the world’s richest man, blamed fellow billionaires George Soros, Reid Hoffman and the ActBlue fundraising organization over recent protests targeting his firm Tesla, citing an “investigation”—though it’s unclear what investigation he’s referencing. Key Facts In a post on X Saturday morning, Musk pointed fingers at Democratic donors, including Soros and Hoffman, as well as the ActBlue organization, Democratic Socialists of America and other Democratic-affiliated groups for being behind recent protests against Tesla. Musk cited an “investigation” finding these groups responsible, but he did not cite any specific investigation, and there is no other evidence linking Soros or Hoffman to the Tesla protests. Musk also misleadingly called these groups “ActBlue-funded,” though ActBlue does not fund groups, but instead is a platform through which donors can give money to campaigns or organizations. Musk reposted a tweet by right-wing influencer Mario Nawfal parroting Musk’s c...

  Referee Michael Oliver has not been assigned a Premier League match this weekend. Oliver last officiated the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Crystal Palace and Millwall. He failed to stop play after Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was kicked in the head and suffered an injury. Oliver only showed a straight red card to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts after being asked to review the incident on the VAR pitchside monitor. Mateta was stretchered off the field after receiving lengthy treatment. The 27-year-old was assessed for a head injury and required specialist care, receiving 25 stitches to patch up a severe laceration to his left ear at St George’s Hospital. Former Premier League referee and PGMOL chief Keith Hackett criticized Oliver’s initial decision. Hackett said: “What an appalling challenge, and I have to ask the question—why did one of the world’s top referees fail to immediately show a red card? “It is, frankly, an absolute no-brainer.”

 In a lengthy post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he is committed to a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia, just hours after US Vice President JD Vance accused him of "entitlement" and cast doubt on the sincerity of his claims that he wants peace. Zelensky - who recently announced the country is "ready to sign" a minerals deal with the US, just days after the Ukrainian president, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Vice-president Vance had a three-way fight in the Oval Office on Friday - said that any peace would be contingent on three key factors. He continued: "None of us wants an endless war. Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truc...

 Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid scandals in 2021, has re-emerged on the political scene as he aims to become New York City's next mayor − a position currently held by fellow Democrat Eric Adams . "Our city is in crisis. That’s why I am running to be Mayor of New York City," the former governor said in a post on his X account. "We need government to work. We need effective leadership." Cuomo also announced his candidacy in a 17-minute video focusing on his success as governor legalizing same-sex marriage, rebuilding LaGuardia Airport and leading the state through the COVID-19 crisis. "New Yorkers know the simple answer of what to do when there is a crisis in leadership. You lead, you act, you do," Cuomo said in the video. "I had the honor to serve the public in every level of government...I know government can make a positive difference because we did."' Cuomo resigned from office in August 2021 amid sexual harassment...

 Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey has a simple message for Volodymyr Zelensky as he arrives for Sunday's emergency summit in London: "The frontline defense of the UK starts in Ukraine." The cabinet big beast is adamant that the security of Britain is directly linked to the fate of Ukraine. He says this country is standing together in support of Ukraine and Britain should "step up" its military support to the embattled nation. His words will provide encouragement for Mr Zelensky at the gathering of defense ministers, coming just days after his fractious press conference with President Trump raised questions about the future of US support. "The UK remains united for Ukraine," he said. The Defense Secretary wants to see a "durable peace that stops Russia simply reloading and re-invading". Mr Healey said Britain must "step up our military aid to Ukraine and keep them in the fight" until the conflict stops and talks begin. He...