Prabowo takes up Indonesian presidency, vows to tackle corruption, other issues
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia’s Prabowo Subianto on Sunday took over as President of the world’s third-largest democracy, vowing to combat internal issues such as corruption that plague the country and to make it more self-sufficient. The 73-year-old has undergone a remarkable transformation, from being a former military commander facing unproven allegations of rights abuses to […]
Indonesia’s free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Sukabumi, Indonesia Reuters Indonesian sixth-grader Shakila Fitriyani, a day labourer’s daughter who dreams of becoming a doctor, says she is keener to go to school these days because she is served a free lunch. “I am happy to receive the nutritious meal, milk and fruit,” Shakila said, speaking in her small tiled-roof and bamboo-screened home […]
In Asia, Pope urges Indonesia to live up to promise of “harmony in diversity”, fight extremism
Updated: 7:45am, 5th September (AEST) Jakarta, Indonesia AP Pope Francis urged Indonesia to live up to its promise of “harmony in diversity” and fight religious intolerance on Wednesday, as he set a rigorous pace for an 11-day, four-nation trip through tropical South-East Asia and Oceania that will test his stamina and health. Despite the gruelling […]
Pope Francis arrives in Indonesia to begin ambitious Asia-Pacific tour
Updated: 7:25am, 4th September (AEST) Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Dozens of excited Indonesians waved on Tuesday as a motorcade carried Pope Francis through the capital as he began the first leg of an ambitious Asia-Pacific tour expected to urge global action on climate change as part of his longest trip yet. The 87-year-old pontiff, who will […]
Indonesia shelves plan to revise election law as protests rage
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia’s parliament shelved planned changes to electoral laws on Thursday after protesters in the capital set fires and faced down tear gas and water cannon over legislation they say would weaken opponents of the outgoing president and his successor. The legislature, dominated by supporters of outgoing President Joko Widodo and his successor, […]
Power struggle between Indonesia’s court and parliament sparks protests
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia’s parliament has delayed passing revisions to an elections law that had threatened to spark protests on Thursday, following outcry over legislation seen to strengthen the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo. The parliament had planned to ratify on Thursday morning changes that would have reversed a ruling by the constitutional […]
Indonesia President hails economic, infrastructure successes in final state of nation
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlighted his economic, infrastructure and development successes in his final state of nation address on Friday, delivered months before he steps down after a decade as head of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, called attention to his success building roads, bridges and […]
Indonesian President in damage control over new capital
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia’s President is rushing to reassure investors and bureaucrats about his $US32 billion new capital city in a malaria-prone pocket of Borneo, after the resignations of two officials overseeing the plan raised fresh doubts about its future. President Joko Widodo’s announcement that he will start working next month from an office in […]
Indonesia court rejects election disputes, upholding President-elect Prabowo’s win
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters An Indonesian court on Monday rejected challenges from both losing candidates seeking a re-run of February’s presidential election and the disqualification of winner Prabowo Subianto and his running mate, bringing an end to all election disputes. The Constitutional Court ruled that there was no evidence of systematic fraud and presidential “meddling”, nor […]
Losing Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar calls for new election
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters The legal team of losing Indonesia presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo filed a complaint at the country’s constitutional court on Saturday, calling for a fresh election and disqualification of the winning team of defence minister Prabowo Subianto. Ganjar, a former Central Java governor supported by the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), […]