Saudi Arabia to grant Indonesia $1B for economic development

Jakarta and Riyadh also inked an agreement that builds on an existing $6 billion deal between state-owned energy firms Aramco and Pertamina to expand an Indonesian oil refinery. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia Wednesday signed agreements in areas ranging from trade to aviation as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman visited the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

Saudi king continues tour in Indonesia

Cheering crowds welcomed King Salman Wednesday as he began the first visit by a Saudi monarch to Indonesia for almost 50 years, seeking stronger economic ties with the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. The king – who is accompanied by about 1,000 people, including princes and ministers – disembarked from his plane using an escalator as he arrived at an airport in Jakarta, the latest stop on an Asian tour.

Crowds greet Saudi king on rare visit to Indonesia

Saudi King Salman, left, listens to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during the MOU signing ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Salman arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to kick off a multi-nation tour aimed at boosting economic ties with Asia.

Crowds greet Saudi king on rare visit to Indonesia

Saudi King Salman, left, listens to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during the MOU signing ceremony in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017. Salman arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to kick off a multi-nation tour aimed at boosting economic ties with Asia.

Billed as a “mega trip”, it would be a Saudi king’s first visit to Indonesia in nearly five decades.

University Malaya Vice Chancellor Sultan nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, right, presents the honourary degree of Doctor of Letters to Saudi Arabia’s King Sultan Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, at the University Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on February 27, 2017. Photo – AFP University Malaya Vice Chancellor Sultan nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, right, presents the honourary degree of Doctor of Letters to Saudi Arabia’s King Sultan Salman bin Abdulaziz, left, at the University Malaya in Kuala Lumpur on February 27, 2017.

Indonesia’s Nazi-themed cafe forced to shut up shop

A controversial Nazi-themed cafe in Indonesia with swastika-bearing walls has closed over a lack of customers, a lawyer said on Thursday, but pledged it would reopen at a bigger location. The SoldatenKaffee , which also sports a painting of Adolf Hitler, sparked global outrage when reports about the unusual venue in the city of Bandung surfaced several years ago.

Indonesia, Japan discuss maritime security, railway project

Indonesia and Japan have agreed to step up maritime security and start discussions on a major railway project to link the Southeast Asian nation’s capital and second-biggest city, the leaders of both countries said on Sunday. Japan has historically been one of Indonesia’s biggest investors, but was dealt a blow in 2015 when President Joko Widodo’s government awarded China a high-speed train project linking Jakarta with the city of Bandung in West Java.

Indonesia’s president moves to rein in ‘out of control’ military chief

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, right, talks with military Chief Gatot Nurmantyo as walk past fighter jets and weapons during a military exercise on Natuna Island, Riau Islands province, Indonesia, on October 6, 2016. Photo – Reuters File Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, right, talks with military Chief Gatot Nurmantyo as walk past fighter jets and weapons during a military exercise on Natuna Island, Riau Islands province, Indonesia, on October 6, 2016.