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Indonesia

Latest news, in-depth features and opinion from Indonesia.

Capital

Jakarta

Head of State

President Prabowo Subianto

Head of Government

President Prabowo Subianto

last updated:

29 November, 2024

A food stall in Tanjung Uma next to a trash-strewn waterway. Photo: Ken Kwek

Environment

Toxic tides: life in Indonesia’s most polluted village

Once a pristine fishing hamlet, Tanjung Uma is now drowning in garbage and disease as it bears the brunt of unchecked waste and environmental collapse.

15 Feb 2025 - 8:00AM

Sovereign wealth fund

Indonesia to launch sovereign wealth fund with over US$900 billion in assets

14 Feb 2025 - 5:36PMvideocam

Jobs

Young Indonesians yearn to ‘run away’ overseas for work as frustration grows

14 Feb 2025 - 5:30PM

Donald Trump

Indonesia to chase new trade deals as ‘shocking’ Trump wields tariff threat

‘If such extreme tariffs were imposed, we would diversify our markets, expanding into Asia, Africa and Europe,’ deputy trade minister says.

14 Feb 2025 - 4:02PMvideocam

The risk of global trade turmoil is making Indonesia to seek more deals. Photo: Reuters

Asia travel

Nusa Lembongan, the Bali alternative where Bob Marley vibes meet manta rays

The small island, with its stunning beaches and world-class surfing, is gaining in popularity but retains its laid-back charm.

13 Feb 2025 - 7:24PM

Technology

SoftBank swings to a loss ahead of big AI infrastructure bet on Stargate Project

The company posted a US$2.4 billion loss in the December quarter, as founder Masayoshi Son campaigns to raise US$500 billion for Stargate.

12 Feb 2025 - 7:22PM

World Health Organization (WHO)

Indonesia’s Prabowo launches another ‘quick-win priority’ – free health checks

The programme provides a free voucher of basic health screening for every Indonesian and is set to cost US$287.3 million this year.

12 Feb 2025 - 6:54PMvideocam

A man undergoes a medical check-up for hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes in Banda Aceh on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Video | Indonesia launches free health-screening

Screening includes blood pressure and eye tests, as well as checks to determine risks of heart problems or strokes.

11 Feb 2025 - 5:03PMvideocam

Prabowo Subianto

Indonesia launches free health-screening

Screening includes blood pressure and eye tests, as well as checks to determine risks of heart problems or strokes

11 Feb 2025 - 4:47PM

Disease

From India to the Philippines, viral HMPV clickbait stokes anti-China rhetoric

China’s HMPV cases were ‘within the expected range’, according to the WHO. But that hasn’t stopped the falsehoods and fearmongering.

11 Feb 2025 - 12:42PM

A worker prepares a fence to close off a residential area under Covid-19 lockdown in the Huangpu district of Shanghai in June 2022. Photo: AFP

Crime

UK’s ‘most prolific rapist’ may be repatriated to serve out sentence in Indonesia

Reynhard Sinaga, convicted of drugging and raping 48 men in Manchester, may be repatriated to serve out his life sentence in his homeland.

10 Feb 2025 - 7:22PM

Mugshot of Reynhard Sinaga. Photo: Crown Prosecution Service

Asean

The View | How Southeast Asia’s property sector is insulated from Trump’s tariff war

The region epitomises a vital source of resilience in Asian real estate: the strong role of domestic and regional demand.

10 Feb 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Environment

With deforestation rising, is Indonesia missing the forest for the trees?

Indonesia lost more than 26,000 sq km of primary and secondary forests last year, according to a new NGO report.

9 Feb 2025 - 12:00PM

Banking & finance

Indonesia’s soaring ‘buy now, pay later’ debts fuel calls for tighter rules

While regulators are looking to tighten rules for BNPL schemes, an analyst has urged related service providers to enhance their oversight.

8 Feb 2025 - 8:25AMvideocam

Debts from “buy now, pay later” schemes in Indonesia rose to (US$1.8 billion) as of November 2024. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia

Paranormal event or hoax? ‘Missing’ Malaysian influencer rescued from jungle

Bandung police say the TikTok influencer, and a fellow Malaysian YouTuber, may have breached Indonesia’s fake news laws.

7 Feb 2025 - 2:35PM

Eyka, a Malaysian TikTok influencer, was reportedly rescued from a jungle in Bandung, Indonesia, on Wednesday. Photo: Amnazhan/TikTok

Asia travel

Russian Village closure spotlights struggle to safeguard Bali’s farmland

Case highlights ‘weak control’ over foreign investments, with parts of Parq Ubud compound built on protected rice fields and agricultural land.

6 Feb 2025 - 1:04PM

Electric & new energy vehicles

Indonesia’s nickel sector faces headwinds from Trump’s electric vehicle curbs

The move by US President Donald Trump to revoke electric vehicle incentives may also widen China’s dominance in Indonesia’s EV sector.

5 Feb 2025 - 3:33PMvideocam

Crime

Extortion at Jakarta airport: dozens of officials fired over bribery probe

The dismissals come after a letter from the Chinese embassy detailing how travellers were forced to pay bribes was leaked.

5 Feb 2025 - 3:31PMvideocam

People walk with their luggage at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. Photo: Reuters

Singapore

Indonesia approves investment arm to replicate success of Singapore’s Temasek

The agency, dubbed Danantara, is set to receive trillions of rupiah in initial capital as it aims to improve returns from state investments.

4 Feb 2025 - 1:39PMvideocam

United States

Letters | As Trump turns off the US aid tap, will Asia step up?

Readers discuss a possible outcome of the US president’s decision to freeze foreign aid, and the impact of tariffs on the world economy.

4 Feb 2025 - 11:30AM

Malaysia

What’s the kebaya? Unesco’s recognition of blouse reflects Asean’s rich culture

As the kebaya gets Unesco’s recognition, what does its global cultural status mean for the future of the garment?

7 Feb 2025 - 9:45PM

A group of women wearing traditional kebaya outfits in Melaka, Malaysia. Photo: Cedric Tan

Crime

Will Prabowo heed Bali bomber’s pardon plea after release of Bali Nine members?

Ali Imron cites years of counterterrorism work and the Bali Nine precedent in his bid for freedom, but observers say his release is unlikely.

1 Feb 2025 - 3:17PM

Bali bomber Ali Imron in prison in Jakarta, Indonesia, in January 2024. Photo: Aisyah Llewellyn

Donald Trump

Trump’s Paris exit could push Indonesia towards China for climate funding

The US exit from the climate accord raises concerns about Indonesia’s ability to achieve its net-zero emissions goals.

31 Jan 2025 - 10:08PMvideocam

Malaysia

Indonesian protesters egg Malaysian embassy over migrant worker shooting

An Indonesian migrant worker was shot dead and four others wounded after Malaysian authorities opened fire on their boat for alleged trespassing.

30 Jan 2025 - 5:52PM

Diplomacy

Is Indonesia’s BrahMos missile deal with India a counter to China’s influence?

The potential US$450 million deal, alongside other defence collaborations, reflects Indonesia’s desire to diversify its partnerships and strengthen its maritime security.

30 Jan 2025 - 3:00PMvideocam

A soldier salutes from a BrahMos Weapon system during the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26, 2021 Photo: AFP

Crime

Indonesian court’s acquittal of Chinese national over gold mining sparks anger

Yu Hao was initially handed a jail term and a fine for illegally mining tens of millions of dollars worth of gold in West Kalimantan.

27 Jan 2025 - 8:30PM

An Indonesian court’s acquittal of a Chinese national accused of illegal gold mining in West Kalimantan has sparked debate over the case. Photo: Shutterstock

India

India, Modi mark Republic Day with Indonesia’s Prabowo

Parading tanks, soldiers and motorbike stunts celebrated 76 years since India adopted its constitution after independence from Britain.

26 Jan 2025 - 4:48PM

China technology

SenseTime to spin off healthcare platform to capitalise on advanced LLMs

SenseTime says rapid advancements in large language models are transforming artificial intelligence in the medical field.

27 Jan 2025 - 6:32PMvideocam

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