Resty Woro Yuniar

Singapore is the only Southeast Asian stop for the US singer, to the disappointment of many fans in the region who cannot afford to fly there to see her
The lack of suitable venues, Muslim conservatives fearful of liberal Western values, and a culture of scalping may be driving big-scale events away, Swifties speculate

Indonesian critics ask: what use is Dutch recognition of 1945 independence without reparations?
Dutch PM Mark Rutte’s statement, which ‘would not change any existing legal grounds’, is seen as the Netherlands avoiding its responsibility to make reparations for its colonial rule over Indonesia
Recognising the August 17, 1945 independence date would make Dutch aggression in Indonesia in the 1940s an invasion of a sovereign country, one observer notes

Jakarta aimed to begin high speed train’s operations last November but with major Belt and Road project unfinished, June became new date, followed by August
Government now denies that consultants say scheme could be further delayed until January, amid issues including incomplete testing and unfinished stations

Outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo hasn’t formally endorsed a successor yet, but he’s not been shy about dropping hints
His vote already looked to be going to Ganjar Pranowo, and Prabowo Subianto’s loose lips on a Ukraine peace plan may only have hardened his resolve

From naked Germans dancing in temples to a Danish woman exposing herself, Hindu-majority Bali has seen a series of head-shaking headlines recently
To combat vulgar visitors and their indecent behaviour, the Indonesian island has 12 obligations and eight restrictions to let them know how to act

How ‘serious’ can US really be on Indonesia green energy if it pumps cash into oil site?
Six months have passed since landmark G20 energy transition deal announced, aimed at helping Southeast Asia’s largest economy reach net-zero target faster
However, Jakarta is frustrated no money has been forthcoming. Meanwhile, the US’ Export-Import Bank is to help fund expansion of refinery in East Kalimantan

As Indonesia marks 25 years since Reformasi, is democracy unravelling under Jokowi?
Democracy has ‘deteriorated markedly’ during Joko Widodo’s presidency, observers say, capped by new laws stifling dissent and freedom of expression
The influence of a Suharto-era old guard has also remained strong, which some say now threatens the future of Indonesia’s politics

The 32-year-old travel influencer, who is Muslim, said this was not her first taste of pork, having first tried it when she was 24 in Sri Lanka
She apologised to the public but was charged with two articles including blasphemy and spreading hate speech content, which carry a maximum five-year jail term

Jakarta is scrambling to rescue 20 citizens held captive by a Chinese-run online scam ring after they were lured with higher pay and trafficked to the strife-torn Myawaddy
The sister of one of the victims said the group was being confined ‘in a dark room, with no food, drinks, and running water in the bathroom’

In the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation, the day of Eid is usually decided by the Ministry of Religion
But various Muslim groups in Indonesia are free to do their own calculations, meaning that people across the country will celebrate Eid on different days this year

Is Indonesia’s IPO future as bright as it looks, as Harita Nickel makes glittering public debut?
Jakarta’s stock exchange is proving a bright spot amid stuttering global IPO market, with Harita’s debut underlining appetite for electric vehicle battery sector
Bourse saw record US$1.45 billion in IPO proceeds between January and March, far more than Hong Kong, but analyst urges caution, saying most Indonesian listings this year were small, and not all pan out well

A top minister says Indonesia can repay its debt with the interest rate at 3.4 per cent, but will push for 2 per cent to cope with a US$1.2 billion cost overrun
It is ‘highly likely’ that Indonesia will have to use its state budget to cover the train’s operations each year, analyst notes

Nickel is a key component in producing EV batteries, but Chinese companies hold a dominant position in Indonesia’s nickel sector
EVs with battery components manufactured by ‘a foreign entity of concern’ are ineligible for tax credits under the US Inflation Reduction Act

Indonesia 2024 election: Ganjar has Jokowi’s vote, but will Prabowo be his vice-president?
Political observers believe Widodo is persuading Ganjar Pranowo and Prabowo Subianto to run on the same ticket for his PDI-P party
The pairing is likely to be a ‘winning’ one, analysts say, but it will require Prabowo, who has been eyeing the top job for two decades, to agree to be a No 2

Fifa world football’s governing body removed Indonesia as host of this year’s Under-20 World Cup following vocal opposition of Israel’s participation
Losing the hosting rights triggered online criticism from football fans, with most of the condemnation pointed towards officials for mixing politics with sports