Jakarta in the news: a deadly fire at a city building and ongoing transport/ crisis hits as Indonesia clamps down on crime. Capital city of Indonesia, de facto province-level status. Populous, congested, dynamic.
The war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions have led Asian countries to rely more on coal for energy, reversing recent shifts to cleaner fuels. This short-term fix risks worsening emissions and slowing renewable progress, highlighting energy security concerns amid global tensions.
Michael Hartono, a leading Indonesian businessman and philanthropist, died in Singapore at age 86. He co-led the Djarum Group, a major conglomerate with interests in tobacco, banking, and real estate. Hartono was also a notable bridge player and sports team owner. His death marks the end of an era for Indonesia's business elite.
At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in a train collision outside Jakarta. The crash involved a long-distance train hitting a stopped commuter train, with rescue efforts ongoing. The incident is linked to a taxi hitting the tracks, causing the initial stop. Authorities are investigating the cause.
Indonesian police have arrested 321 foreigners, mostly Vietnamese and Chinese, in a raid linked to an online-gambling hub near Jakarta’s Chinatown. The operation targets customers overseas and involved multi-country links; authorities are tracing organizers and backers as similar raids widen across Surabaya, Bali and Batam.
Indonesia’s free meals programme has faced corruption arrests and governance scrutiny as new leadership refocuses budgets, emphasising kitchen standards, remote-area delivery, and alternative funding sources while investigations unfold.
Defendants from Indonesia’s military intelligence unit have been convicted over the March attack on Andrie Yunus, a KontraS rights advocate. Sentences range from 1.5 to three years. Rights groups call the verdict a shallow justice, urging civilian courts to probe higher-level actions.