A demonstrator holds up a placard during a protest pressuring the country's election commission to issue rules for regional votes that follow the Constitutional Court's ruling, outside the Election Commission headquarters in Jakarta on Aug. 23.
Politics

Indonesia election body gets nod for new rules as protesters demand

Demonstrations last week halt Jokowi allies' attempt to change eligibility requirements

25 August 2024
Former baseball player Shogo Shibata, third from right, hopes to increase fans of the sport in Southeast Asia through the Asia Koshien 2024 baseball tournament. (Photo by Junichiro Sato)
Sports

Indonesia's 'field of dreams': Youth tournament to pitch baseball to nation

Former Japan pro player spearheads project to spread sport in Southeast Asia

24 August 2024
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, with President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo at the parliament building. All but one party with seats in the House of Representatives has joined Prabowo's coalition.
Politics

Prabowo extends grip on Indonesian parliament as parties join his coalition

Enlarged group moves to defy Constitutional Court over election rules

22 August 2024
Officials from the Asia Zero Emission Community. The ministers mapped out how member countries will collaborate on decarbonization efforts, in Jakarta on Aug. 21. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Climate Change

Japan, Indonesia, others agree to build sustainable fuel supply chain

Coconut oil-based aviation fuel among 400 projects pitched in Jakarta meeting

21 August 2024
Toyota Tsusho is planning to supply biofuels and green hydrogen to Patimban Port in Indonesia. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)
Energy

Japan's Toyota Tsusho to develop and supply biofuels in Indonesia

Trader will work with state-run Pertamina to support decarbonization efforts

21 August 2024
Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto greets Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, on Aug. 20. (AAP Image via Reuters)
Defense

Australia and Indonesia seal treaty-level defense pact

Agreement allows militaries to operate from each other's countries

20 August 2024
The Indonesia Press Council has criticized the revised broadcasting bill, arguing that it conflicts with the principles established by existing legislation and threatens to degrade journalism.
Opinion

Indonesia must prevent return to New Order era mouthpiece media

Broadcasting law revision needs to ensure journalism promotes democracy

19 August 2024
Indonesian President-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, left, talks with President Joko Widodo during the country's 79th Independence Day celebration at the Presidential Palace in the new capital city of Nusantara, on Aug. 17.
Politics

Jokowi picks Prabowo aides for key posts in cabinet reshuffle

Indonesia's former ambassador to U.S. becomes investment minister

19 August 2024
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attends the country's official Independence Day ceremony on Aug. 17 in Nusantara, the future capital. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Politics

Indonesia holds first Independence Day event in new capital

1,400 guests attend scaled-back event in Nusantara

17 August 2024
Outgoing Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo speaking to parliament on Friday, a day before the nation's Independence Day celebrations.
Economy

Indonesia forecasts smaller budget deficit of 2.53% of GDP in 2025

Contraction despite 9% rise in expenditure to fund Prabowo's policies

17 August 2024
Workers construct a pedestrian walkway near the State Palace and the eagle-shaped Garuda Palace in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara on Borneo.
Business trends

Indonesia's new capital Nusantara attracts increased investor interest

Prabowo asserts support for project amid private sector doubts

14 August 2024
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center, in white shirt) leads a plenary cabinet meeting at the Garuda Palace in Nusantara on Aug. 12. The president is in a hurry to move capital functions out of Jakarta before he leaves office in October.
12 August 2024
Foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries pose for a photo in Vientiane on July 25. ASEAN now faces significant centrifugal forces amid the reshaping of global orders. 
Comment

OECD or BRICS? Key members' differences might weaken ASEAN unity

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand all pursue different 'diversification' strategies

12 August 2024
India's Nita Ambani attends the inauguration of the Indian House at the 2024 Olympics on July 27. India is among the hopefuls already jockeying to host the 2036 Games.
Sports

Asian cities and nations make their case to host the 2036 Olympics

India, Indonesia, Istanbul, Qatar and others are already touting their strengths

12 August 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin received Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's defense minister and president-elect, at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 31.  
International relations

Indonesia's Prabowo asks Russia for help to develop nuclear power

Defense high on agenda of president-elect's four-nation Eurasian tour

2 August 2024
Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hands a "golden visa" certificate to Shin Tae-yong, a South Korean who coaches Indonesia's national soccer team. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Politics

Indonesia launches 'golden visa' program to attract business investment

Pricey permits might also reduce the number of digital nomads living in Bali

25 July 2024
The G7 summit was held in Italy in June. We are now observing the onset of a less-Western dominated world.
Opinion

The West is no longer the center of global affairs

As populism rises and emerging nations assert themselves, G-7 dominance fades

25 July 2024
Indonesian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak says the army wishes to build more partnerships with the armed forces of other nations, including those from ASEAN and Europe. (Photo by Dimas Ardian)
Defense

Indonesian army seeks more exercises with ASEAN and China

Top general wants soldiers to get government jobs, talks of modernizing arms

25 July 2024
ASEAN's headquarters in Jakarta. This year's meetings of foreign ministers take place at a critical juncture as unrest in Myanmar threatens the bloc's unity and tensions in the South China Sea rise. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Myanmar Crisis

ASEAN ministers seek Myanmar breakthrough with 'troika' model

Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia to hold 'informal consultation' as regional talks begin

24 July 2024
New Indonesian Vice Finance Minister Thomas Djiwandono, a nephew of President-elect Prabowo Subianto, attends a swearing-in ceremony on July 18. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
Politics

Jokowi appoints Prabowo's nephew as Indonesia vice finance minister

Incoming president's family likely to gain prominent roles in new administration

18 July 2024
Indonesian and U.S. flags flying alongside in Jakarta. Indonesia is rich in nickel, copper and bauxite, and keen to promote itself as a production hub for batteries and electric vehicles.
International relations

U.S. approaches Indonesia to join Mineral Security Partnership

EU and 14 countries already collaborating on critical mineral supply chains

15 July 2024
Toyota's electric vehicle bZ4X was on display last August at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. Japanese carmakers have long dominated the Indonesian market.
Your Week in Asia

China 'third plenum' meeting, ADB economic outlook, Indonesia Auto Show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

14 July 2024
Indonesian forensic police walk through a destroyed building at the site of a bomb blast in Bali on Oct. 13, 2002.
Society

Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah to be disbanded

Organization behind 2002 Bali bombing says it is dissolving extremist network

5 July 2024
Japanese schools prepare meals like this one, designed by a school nutritionist and served by fellow students as lunch is used to teach manners and etiquette.
Society

Indonesia takes school lunch cues from Japan, China and India

Tokyo keen to help President-elect Prabowo serve free meals to 78.5m students

4 July 2024