On February 14, 2024, more than 200 million Indonesians will vote for their next president and vice president, legislators, and councillors. This will be the world’s biggest one-day election.
New research shows densely populated countries in Southeast Asia and West Africa could harvest effectively unlimited energy from solar panels floating on calm tropical seas near the equator.
Myanmar’s seat was left empty at a recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Achmad Ibrahim/AFP via Getty Images
As current chair of the regional body ASEAN, Indonesia is tasked with resolving a conflict that has killed thousands. Progress has been slow.
A Malaysian worker harvests palm fruits from a plantation in peninsular Malaysia, on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. Though labour issues have largely been ignored, the punishing effects of palm oil on the environment have been decried for years.
(AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Palm oil is used in half the products sold in global supermarkets. Much of the oil comes from Indonesia where it is grown on plantations that are relatively inefficient, but occupy huge areas of land.
A flaming peatland fire in Alberta, Canada.
(Greg Verkaik)
Peatlands safely store hundreds to thousands of years’ worth of humanity’s toxic legacy but climate change and physical disturbances are putting these pollution vaults, and us, at risk.
The Indonesian president’s visit to Australia could lead to closer co-operation on the energy transition, with Australia supplying lithium for Indonesia’s electric vehicle and battery production.
Australia can boast that it leads the world in animal welfare practices. A ban on live exports will more animals being shipped from nations with lower standards.
An Indonesian migrant worker in Malaysia.
Hafiz Johari/Shutterstock
Joko Widodo is prevented from running again for president. But a court ruling has thrown next year’s elections in doubt and rumours abound of efforts to keep him in power longer.
Maya Defianty, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and Kate Wilson, University of Canberra
When teaching critical thinking, teachers still fall back on old habits ingrained in Indonesian education. This includes a culture of rote learning and “teaching to test”.
Boosting efforts to tackle sexual violence in Indonesian universities requires initiatives from higher education institutions, decisive actions at the state level and activism at the grassroots level.
Maryam Dari Pagi Ke Malam (Maryam From Day to Night) made its debut at Rotterdam Film Festival.
Anomalous Films/Rhu Graha
Indonesia hasn’t made a strategic effort to push bahasa Indonesia in Australia. That’s in stark contrast to how French and other languages are promoted in Australia, including through cultural events.
Free Papua activists protesting in Jakarta, December 2022.
AAP
The kidnapping of Phil Mehrtens is a sign the West Papuan independence movement is again becoming desperate to attract international attention, following decades of violent human rights abuses.
In Indonesia, contract cheaters take advantage of a culture of academic competition, a lack of legal clarity, and the move to online testing and assignments.