The new Indonesian Social Services Minister Idrus Marham, left, greets the country's President Joko Widodo at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Jan. 17.
Politics

Widodo reshuffles cabinet with eye on 2019 presidential contest

Golkar Party and the military get more clout in president's inner circle

17 January 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrive for the group photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam on Nov. 11, 2017. (Photo courtesy of APEC Secretariat)
International relations

APEC summit outlook clouded by new host's problems

Caught between China and the bloc, PNG's domestic issues dominate

17 January 2018
Indonesia President Joko Widodo and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi at a ceremony in Jakarta in September for sending aid for Rohingya Muslims
Politics

Indonesia sets sights on peacemaker role

Jakarta puts money into new foreign and development aid policy but may still lack clout

17 January 2018
(Original picture by Reuters)
Asia Insight

Russia courts Southeast Asian partners with authoritarian streaks

Putin looks to capitalize on wariness of China and the West

16 January 2018
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte hands over the gavel to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during a transfer of ASEAN chairmanship in Manila on Nov. 14.
Politics

Singapore goes for quiet ASEAN diplomacy

City-state seeks cooperation boost despite differences over Trump, China and Myanmar refugees

16 January 2018
Indonesian President Joko Widodo is greeted by Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong on April 30, 2017. So far, the rise of Islamist politics has not hurt his popularity.
FT Confidential Research

Jokowi's popularity strong ahead of Indonesian elections

Performance key to president's success, FTCR survey finds

16 January 2018
Asia's philanthropists have not yet reached their potentials at all.
Economy

Asian philanthropists can potentially give twice as much as US

Charitable donations can top $500 billion with proper tax incentives, regulatory reforms

16 January 2018
Indonesian authorities warn that the pseudonymous nature of trading in bitcoin facilitates criminal activity.
Capital Markets

Bank Indonesia steps up warnings against cryptocurrency trade

Practice is 'susceptible to money laundering, terrorism funding'

15 January 2018
From left: CT Corp. Founder and Chairman Chairul Tanjung, Salim Group Chairman and CEO Anthoni Salim and Lippo Group Chairman Mochtar Riady
Asia Insight

Indonesian tycoons wager with confidence in Widodo's economy

Armed with higher net worth, billionaires are making bolder investments

15 January 2018
FNSS, a joint venture between Turkey's Nurol Holding and the U.K.'s BAE Systems, unveiled a medium-weight tank co-developed with Indonesia’s PT Pindad during the Istanbul Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul in May 2017. (Photo by Sinan Tavsan)
International relations

Turkey steps up arms sales to South and Southeast Asia

Ankara seeks to diversify as tensions rise in traditional Middle East markets

12 January 2018
The U.S. government under President Donald Trump can no longer be a reliable advocate for the rights of journalists worldwide.
Politics

Trump's 'war on media' reverberates in Asia

Region's strongmen endanger prosperity with press crackdowns

12 January 2018
Workers prepare land for the site of planned high-speed railway in a Bandung suburb.
Politics

Indonesia may extend high-speed railway to cover airports

But project remains hampered by obstacles two years after construction began

11 January 2018
Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi wears a scarf adorned with the Palestinian and Indonesian flags, on the sidelines of the Bali Democracy Forum held in Banten, Indonesia in December. (Antara Foto/REUTERS)
International relations

Indonesia pivots to Islamic world, advances on world stage

Jakarta throws weight behind Palestinians, Rohingya, as Widodo eyes Muslim voters

9 January 2018
Passengers board the new train bound for Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at the Sudirman Baru station in central Jakarta. (Photo by Erwida Maulia)
Economy

Indonesia launches rail service from Jakarta to country's largest airport

Soekarno-Hatta connected with capital in one hour in effort to tackle gridlock

2 January 2018
The Port of Singapore, the largest in Southeast Asia by cargo volume, is facing a stronger challenge from regional rivals.
Business trends

Southeast Asian countries vie for port supremacy

China's 'Belt and Road' may tip balance from Singapore to newcomers

31 December 2017
Officials attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the rail project linking Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima, on Dec. 21 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. (Photo by Yukako Ono).
Economy

China's high-speed train plans in Southeast Asia stumble

Disagreements over costs and land procurement are adding years to schedules

28 December 2017
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Raja Ampat, in the province of West Papua, on Dec. 22. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Economy

Joko Widodo vows to 'fix' Indonesia as political heat rises

Interview offers early hints at the president's possible re-election tactics

28 December 2017
Muslims gather at Jakarta's National Monument on Dec. 2 to mark the anniversary of protests that brought down the capital's ethnic-Chinese Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.
Politics

Indonesia's Islamists create a re-election minefield for Widodo

President responds to smears by emphasizing support for Rohingya, Palestine

28 December 2017
From left: CT Corp. Founder and Chairman Chairul Tanjung, Salim Group Chairman and CEO Anthoni Salim and Lippo Group Chairman Mochtar Riady
Economy

Indonesian tycoons place bold bets as Widodo's economy inspires confidence

Armed with higher net worth, billionaires are making bolder investments

28 December 2017
Xiang Xiang plays in a tree as she is introduced to the media at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo on Dec. 18. (Photo by Maho Obata)
Politics

Panda diplomacy grows with China's ambitions

Public needs to look beyond the furry animal's cuteness and see what's really at play, experts say

27 December 2017
Muslims gather at Jakarta's National Monument on Dec. 2 to mark the anniversary of protests that brought down the capital's ethnic-Chinese Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.
Asia Insight

Indonesia's Islamists create re-election minefield for Widodo

President counters smears with emphasis on Jerusalem and Rohingya

27 December 2017
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop delivers her opening remarks during a ministerial meeting of Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila on Aug. 6.
Economy

Australia seeks 80% free trade coverage by 2020

Foreign minister backs 'all options' on North Korea, including force

26 December 2017
With domestic politics under control, Indonesian President Joko Widodo should be watching out for destabilizing factors on the international front.
Looking ahead 2018

Widodo in a sweet spot -- for now

Indonesian president has defused Muslim extremist but faces multiple challenges before 2019 election

25 December 2017
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Raja Ampat, in the province of West Papua, on Dec. 22. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Asia Insight

Joko Widodo vows to 'fix' Indonesia as political heat rises

Interview offers early hints at the president's possible re-election tactics

25 December 2017
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to the Nikkei Asian Review in Raja Ampat on Dec. 22. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Interview

Indonesia's Widodo says railway talks with Japan near conclusion

Construction of Jakarta-Surabaya line targeted to start by end of 2018

23 December 2017