A total of 37,985 applicants will undergo the Basic Competency Selection for the Civil Servant Candidate recruitment in the West Java Provincial Government at the Youth Center, Sport Jabar Arcamanik, from January 29 to February 8, 2020. Out of 41,722 applicants, those who passed the administrative stage will compete for 1,934 positions. Including participants from 27 municipal/regional governments in West Java, the number reaches 282,620. The selection will be held in five sessions daily, except Fridays with four sessions, using 720 computers through the Computer Assisted Test system managed by the National Civil Service Agency. The passing grades for the tests have been set by the Minister of PANRB Regulation No. 24/2019.

Thailand has launched its first full-time clinic specializing in traditional and alternative cannabis-based medicine on January 6, 2020, as part of the government's efforts to develop the medical cannabis industry. The clinic is expected to serve between 200 to 300 patients daily, offering free treatment for the first two weeks. Thailand legalized cannabis for medical use and research in 2017 to boost agricultural revenue. There are plans to open 77 clinics across Thailand, with one in each province. The largest current producer of medical cannabis is the Government Pharmaceutical Organization of the Ministry of Health. Kasetsart University will supply 2,200 kilograms of cannabis leaves to the ministry. Regulations are being reviewed to allow Thai businesses to apply for production licenses. Last year, cannabis extracts and hemp were removed from the narcotics list, and a bill was proposed to allow households to grow six cannabis plants. The clinic provides four types of medications containing different combinations of CBD and THC to treat conditions such as migraines and muscle stiffness.

Copper prices in London remain stable above $6,200 per ton, heading for a fifth consecutive weekly increase, driven by positive trade negotiation sentiments between the US and China, and improved demand prospects in top consumer China. China's Ministry of Commerce stated that both countries are communicating to sign the phase one trade agreement, which will lower US tariffs on Chinese goods and increase Chinese purchases of US agriculture, energy, and manufacturing. Meanwhile, China's National Bureau of Statistics reported a record high monthly production of refined copper in November, and China's Central Bank maintained loan interest rates. Shanghai aluminum prices rose for the fourth consecutive day due to low inventory boosting supply, and Chalco announced it would pay for a 10% stake in Yunnan Aluminium through a share offer.

The coffee business, including the trend of coffee shops, is growing, indicating an increasing demand for this commodity. Euromonitor data shows that from 2011 to 2016, there were 1,025 specialty coffee outlets and 1,083 chain-store coffee shops in Indonesia, mostly located in Jakarta. However, the rising demand is not always matched by sufficient supply.

Crude palm oil (CPO) prices are expected to remain strong into the next year despite recent dips, driven by production disruptions in Indonesia and Malaysia, the world's main palm oil producers. Analyst Deddy Yusuf Siregar from Asia Trade Point Futures attributes the price increase to potential supply shortages due to drought in these regions and strong demand from the biodiesel program. Despite a correction due to anticipated reduced demand from India, a global palm consumer, the biodiesel focus in Indonesia and Malaysia is expected to catalyze further price increases. The Indonesian government's plans to extend the biodiesel program up to B50 are not seen as a long-term negative sentiment for CPO prices. Bank OCBC's research suggests that the African swine fever outbreak in China, the B30 program implementation in Indonesia, and lower production are pushing CPO prices towards 3,000 ringgit per ton, with the market taking about six months to balance supply and demand, indicating a continued price increase into the first quarter of the next year.

China's coal imports fell by 19% in November from the previous month due to stricter import regulations at ports, limiting shipments towards the end of the year. China, the world's main coal importer, brought in 20.78 million tons of fuel last month compared to 25.69 million tons in October and 19.15 million tons in November of the previous year. Customs officials in Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces have stopped issuing permits for coal-carrying ships since late October. Traders and utilities also sharply reduced purchases at the end of last year after signals from Beijing aimed to keep total imports stable year-on-year. In the first 11 months of 2019, China imported a total of 299.3 million tons of coal, surpassing the total shipments of 2018 which were 281.2 million tons. Analysts and traders estimate that falling profit margins at coal mines in Indonesia, the second-largest supplier after Australia, made miners there reluctant to sell to China last month.

Crude oil prices recovered from their biggest weekly loss since early October 2019 on Monday, December 2, 2019, following signals from Iraq that OPEC and its allies may consider deeper cuts at the upcoming meeting. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude both showed gains, with WTI up 1.81% and Brent up 1.36%. Iraq's Oil Minister Thamir Ghadbah indicated a potential production cut of 400,000 barrels per day. Unexpectedly positive Chinese manufacturing index for November 2019 also supported oil prices, hinting at an economic recovery in the world's largest oil consumer. Despite the US passing legislation supporting Hong Kong protesters, oil prices ended with a second monthly gain in November 2019 amid signs of a nearing US-China trade deal. Saudi Arabia may signal to OPEC and its allies that it will no longer compensate for other members' lack of discipline in the upcoming meeting in Vienna. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak's comments last week about postponing OPEC+ production cut decisions until April next year could face opposition from most OPEC members. OPEC is set to discuss the OPEC+ agreement on cutting production by 1.2 million barrels per day in a meeting on December 5-6, 2019.

Indonesian Minister of Research and Technology Bambang P.S Brodjonegoro emphasizes the importance of computer programming (coding) in the digital era and the need for Indonesia to increase the number of coding experts. He notes the vital role of coding in developing the domestic digital industry and the current reliance on foreign programmers by local startups. Bambang advocates for mass coding training to improve the skills of Indonesian workers to meet the demands of the digital industry and compete globally. The Ministry is designing schemes to produce more coding experts, taking inspiration from Finland's approach to making coding courses widely available to the public.

The United States and France are enhancing Saudi Arabia's radar systems following drone and cruise missile attacks that crippled Saudi oil infrastructure in September. The US Central Command head and the French defense minister praised maritime missions to protect Gulf waters at a security forum in Bahrain. Despite the lack of concrete evidence linking Iran to the attacks, Saudi Arabia has detailed its efforts to address air defense gaps. The US has increased its military presence in the region, and France has sent advanced equipment, including radar, to Saudi Arabia. The September 14 attacks heightened regional tensions, and Saudi Arabia is consulting with allies on actions against Iran after investigations conclude. The situation underscores differences among Western allies on dealing with Iran, especially regarding the 2015 nuclear pact.

Investors worldwide are eagerly awaiting December 2019, when Saudi Aramco is expected to trade its shares on the stock exchange. The oil company owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is valued with a market capitalization between $1.7 trillion and $2 trillion.

OPEC's oil production rebounded in October from an eight-year low, driven by a rapid recovery in Saudi Arabia following attacks on its largest crude processing facility. The 14 OPEC members pumped an average of 29.7 million barrels per day last month, up by 1.11 million barrels per day from September. Saudi Arabia's production increased by 1.23 million barrels per day to 9.88 million barrels per day. Smaller production increases were also seen in Algeria, Libya, and Venezuela. The September attacks on Saudi energy facilities temporarily halved the output of the world's largest crude exporter, highlighting the vulnerability of the global supply chain. OPEC and its allies, known as OPEC+, are scheduled to meet in December to discuss potential steep production cuts to support prices amid surplus and signs of weaker demand.

Palm oil investors are optimistic as the spectacular rally has pushed crude palm oil (CPO) prices into a bullish trend, with expectations that the rise will continue. Median estimates from a Bloomberg survey suggest palm oil prices will average 2,350 ringgit per ton this quarter and 2,400 ringgit per ton in the next. The sentiment in the palm oil market has shifted due to optimism about increased Indonesian palm oil demand for biodiesel, slowing production growth, and rising imports by major buyer China. However, concerns exist as palm oil prices have moved from a discount to a premium over gasoil, reducing its attractiveness for biofuel use, and the market is trading at an overbought level. Despite diplomatic tensions between Malaysia and India, its largest buyer, market participants expect trade tensions to ease in the coming weeks.