One last look at Asia’s 2024 winners and losers
Diverse, mixed democratic trajectories for a diversity of democracies in Asia characterised 2024.
The Jakarta Post
Indonesian Constitutional Court revokes presidential nomination threshold
The move restores hopes for more competitive polls in the future after more than a dozen attempts to open up the race.
Asia shares get off to bumpy start in 2025 with Trump’s policies in focus
While global shares closed out 2024 with a strong yearly gain of nearly 16 percent, they had clocked a monthly loss of more than 2 percent in December.
Cautiously optimistic: The Jakarta Post
Talk of possible vote-rigging, election meddling and electioneering in the lead-up to the February presidential and legislative elections raised the stakes and sparked real fears…
Public anger over Indonesian businessman Harvey Moeis ‘lenient’ sentence
Many described the 6.5 years imprisonment as a lenient punishment for a case that has cost the state Rp 300 trillion (US$18.5 billion), one of Indonesia’s largest corruption…
Trash piles up in Jakarta’s old town during NYE celebrations
The Kota Tua area, including Fatahillah Park and nearby pedestrian pathways, was left littered with trash after celebrations attended by more than 29,000 visitors.
Gaza babies die from winter cold say medics and families
Hundreds are now living in a date palm orchard and have struggled to keep warm and dry amid heavy rains and temperatures that have dropped as low as eight degrees Celsius (46…
Fraud, alleged illegal levying raise questions about Indonesia’s free meals program’s implementation
The free meals program is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship campaign platforms, aiming to feed 82 million children, primary and secondary school students and pregnant…
Five years on, WHO urges China to share COVID-19 origins data
The pandemic killed millions of people globally, shredded economies, and crippled health systems.
Indonesia’s auto industry expects minimal impact on car sales from VAT hike
Carmakers maintain they can still aim to sell 1 million units of new vehicles next year, despite a revised 2024 target to 850,000 vehicles from 1 million.