Floods in Indonesia’s Capital Leave 43 Dead, 397,000 Displaced

NINIEK KARMINI / The Associated Press Jan 3, 2020 It is the worst flooding since 2013, when 57 people were killed after Jakarta was inundated by monsoon rains. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

189 Dead in Airliner Crash; Hunt Is On for Bodies in Java Sea

NINIEK KARMINI and STEPHEN WRIGHT / The Associated Press Oct 29, 2018 Mystery surrounds the tragedy: The 2-month-old Boeing jet went down minutes after it left Jakarta in clear weather. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Islamic State-Linked Coup Against Indonesian President Is Backed by Trump Allies, Report Says

Staff / Truthdig Apr 21, 2017 According to The Intercept, supporters of the coup movement include Donald Trump political supporter Fadli Zon and business partner Hary Tanoesoedibjo (commonly known as Hary Tanoe). Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

John Kerry Slams Climate-Change Deniers for ‘Burying Their Heads in the Sand’

Staff / Truthdig Feb 17, 2014 Secretary of State John Kerry took a shot across the bow at climate-change skeptics and deniers during a diplomatic visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Meet the People ‘Being the Change’

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Jan 5, 2014 In search of communities striving to build viable alternatives to scorched earth capitalism, a documentary team profiled people in Spain, Estonia and Indonesia who are creating underground economies that serve them, rather than waiting for political parties and corporate institutions to engender humane social change. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Obama Reaches Out to Muslims on Indonesian Trip

Staff / Truthdig Nov 10, 2010 Listen closely and you'll hear the sound of Glenn Beck frothing at the mouth. What's today's reason? Well, on Tuesday, President Obama was in Indonesia(!), where he expressed the need to "build trust" with Muslim societies(!!). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Deadly Explosions Hit Two Indonesian Hotels

Staff / Truthdig Jul 17, 2009 The Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta were the targets of two explosions on Friday in the first such attacks in four years. Nine people were killed and 50 injured in blasts that occurred within minutes of each other, according to the Associated Press. "There are indications of suicide bombs," one official said. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Controversies Live On After Suharto’s Death in Indonesia

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2008 On Monday, a day after his death, former Indonesian President Suharto was given a state funeral and buried in Java, sparking mixed reaction as Indonesians recalled both the strong points and the controversial (even despotic) sides of the man who was their nation's leader for more than 30 years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

She’s Just Like Barbie, With a Muslim Makeover

Staff / Truthdig Oct 11, 2007 Does playing with Barbie dolls encourage young girls to adopt Barbie's (Western, secular, shopping-obsessed) values? An enterprising Indonesian woman concerned about that possibility took the basic Barbie formula and added some elements she believes will make the "Salma" doll a healthy alternative for Muslim girls. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Jakarta Is Drowning

Staff / Truthdig Feb 5, 2007 Much of the capital of Indonesia is under 10 feet of muddy water after days of torrential rain caused devastating floods. Hundreds of thousands of people already have been displaced, and experts warn that the situation may worsen, with another week of heavy rain on the way. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Tame Version of Playboy Hits Jakarta Stands

Staff / Truthdig Apr 7, 2006 Islamic hard-liners called the magazine a form of moral terrorism, despite the fact that there are no nude photos in it. This is reminiscent of what happened in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Iron Curtain when titillating material quickly appeared and then spread like kudzu. Liberties will always rush to fill a vacuum, just not necessarily in the way favored by religious fundamentalists. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )