Stories from Indonesia

An Indonesian on-demand domestic services startup has secured a $20 million investment round, bringing its total valuation to $200 million. The funding aims to accelerate the company's growth trajectory.

A magnitude 3.0 earthquake occurred approximately 116 km southeast of Bitung.

Indonesia and Thailand have agreed to renew their partnership focused on the creative economy sector.

The President of Indonesia passed away at the age of 76.

The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) in Purwokerto is intensifying financial education efforts during the Ramadan period. This initiative aims to increase financial awareness and stability within the Banyumas Raya region.

Jakarta officials are planning to form specialized Satpol PP tourism units to maintain order in revitalized areas like the Old Town. These units will operate alongside existing personnel to manage security and public order in high-traffic tourist zones. The plan includes distinct uniforms for the new tourism-focused officers. The governor stated the project involves exploring cooperation and benchmarking for healthcare service development in the city. The announcement was made during a discussion regarding the expansion of medical facilities in the capital.

Indonesia has suspended several production lines for nickel-based intermediate elements used in electric vehicle batteries. This move follows pressures regarding global supply chains and could impact international production of battery components. The decision comes as the country manages its role as a major supplier in the green energy transition. Nickel mining operations in Indonesia are causing environmental and public health issues. Thick smog from mining activities has made breathing difficult for residents, necessitating the use of masks. The mining process is described as having a high toll on both the environment and local health. The mining process is cited as a major contributor to the local air quality degradation. Thick smog in mining areas has been compared to forest fire conditions. Residents are reportedly wearing masks due to the difficulty of breathing.

An endangered Sumatran orangutan was filmed successfully using a canopy bridge to cross a road for the first time. The charity expressed relief following the successful event. The species is currently critically endangered due to illegal hunting and habitat loss. The bridge was constructed to mitigate the effects of a road that split the population into two. Experts previously expressed concerns that habitat fragmentation would lead to inbreeding and reduced survival chances. Habitat loss and illegal hunting remain primary threats to the species. The project aims to help the 350 orangutans in the area move freely through the landscape. Conservationists state there is a growing need to replicate these bridges where roads bisect forests. Wildlife expert Helen Bucklin noted that such bridges are essential for coexistence between humans and wildlife where roads bisect forests.

Indonesia's top diplomat announced the country will not pursue transit tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Malacca. This decision follows recent suggestions from the finance minister regarding potential revenue from the maritime corridor. The move aims to stabilize regional maritime concerns and economic stability. This follows previous remarks suggesting Indonesia might consider a fee structure similar to Iran's approach regarding the Strait of Hormuz. This follows previous statements suggesting the implementation of tolls similar to those requested by Iran for the Strait of Hormuz. This proposal follows reports that Iran requested transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz to be paid in cryptocurrency during a US-Iran ceasefire. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono responded to the comments by said that Indonesia will not charge fees for ships passing through the Malacca Strait.

Indonesia has confirmed plans to import 150 million barrels of Russian crude oil during the current year. This move signals a significant shift in energy procurement strategies for the Southeast Asian nation. The scale of the import represents a major volume of oil entering the Indonesian market from Russia. Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producer, plans to relaunch the B50 biofuel program starting July 1. The government aims to save approximately $9 billion through this policy. This move follows a 15-year moratorium on plantation expansion that began in 2011. The decision comes amid rising fuel prices and concerns regarding environmental impacts and labor exploitation. The decision was reported as a surprise move by Jakarta. The report cited Ukrainian intelligence data regarding movements toward blocking Russian accounts.