More than 230 million women and girls around the world have undergone female genital cutting, according to a new analysis by UNICEF, an increase of 30 million since the organization’s last global estimate in 2016. While the data shows that in some countries a new generation of parents have chosen to forgo the practice, in […]
Read MoreTag: Indonesia
Taylor Swift’s Singapore Shows Stir Anger in Southeast Asia
Taylor Swift has descended on Southeast Asia, or one small part of it at least: All of her six sold-out shows are in Singapore, the region’s wealthiest nation. Many of her fans in this part of the world, which is home to more than 600 million people, are disappointed. But the Singapore leg of Ms. […]
Read MoreWho Is Prabowo Subianto, the Presumptive President-Elect of Indonesia?
A strongman apparatchik accused of multiple human rights abuses. A violent nationalist. A pious defender of Muslims. A loyal acolyte of a popular president with few achievements of his own. Prabowo Subianto has been called all of these over the years he has sought power in Indonesia. Now he is projected to be the country’s […]
Read MoreThree Climate Takeaways From Indonesia’s Presidential Election and the Vote for Subianto
Coal, nickel, palm oil, rainforests. The riches of Indonesia matter to the rest of the world. Therefore, so does its presidential election. Early results on Wednesday in the world’s third-largest democracy signaled the victory of Prabowo Subianto, a former army general linked to human rights abuses, as the country’s next president. The new government’s approach […]
Read MoreWhat is Joko Widodo’s Role in Indonesia’s Election?
More than 100 million people are voting on Wednesday in one of the biggest elections in the world. The contest for the top prize — the presidency of Indonesia — is a three-way race. But looming large is someone not on the ballot. That person is Joko Widodo, the incumbent president, who is not allowed […]
Read MoreIndonesia Election: Voters to Decide on Joko’s Successor
The numbers are staggering. More than 100 million people are expected to vote, many for the first time. They’ll do so in booths across thousands of islands and three time zones, hammering nails into ballots to mark their choices. And within hours, if history is any guide, the world will know the outcome of the […]
Read MoreWhy Indonesia Calls Its Elections a ‘Democracy Party’
The young women and men moved from booth to booth, asking questions about the political hopefuls’ track records and visions for the country. A few steps away, first-time voters practiced casting their ballots in pretend voting booths. And onstage, talk show guests discussed how to make an informed choice in backing a candidate. This gathering […]
Read MoreWhy Indonesia Calls Its Elections a ‘Democracy Party’
The young women and men moved from booth to booth, asking questions about the political hopefuls’ track records and visions for the country. A few steps away, first-time voters practiced casting their ballots in pretend voting booths. And onstage, talk show guests discussed how to make an informed choice in backing a candidate. This gathering […]
Read MoreIn Indonesia, an Election Threatens Democracy Itself
Indonesia’s transformation into a stable democracy over the past quarter century was as improbable as it was remarkable. In 1998, the country was on the brink of collapse from a devastating financial crisis and protests that brought down the brutal and corrupt 32-year Suharto dictatorship. Ethnic and religious violence across the sprawling archipelago raised the […]
Read MoreManhattan or Pulau Rhun? In 1667, Nutmeg Made the Choice a No-Brainer.
The isles of Manhattan and Pulau Rhun could hardly be farther apart, not just in geography, but also in culture, economy and global prominence. Rhun, in the Banda Sea in Indonesia, has no cars or roads and only about 20 motorbikes. Most people get around by walking along its paved footpaths or up steep stairways, […]
Read MorePresidential Favorite in Indonesia Stirs Fears of ‘Death of Democracy’
He hoped to succeed Indonesia’s longtime dictator. He ordered the kidnappings of pro-democracy activists. He was accused of atrocities during the ruthless military occupation of East Timor. He has said elections run counter to his country’s culture. Even so, Prabowo Subianto has spent the past two decades trying his hand at democratic politics, donning different […]
Read MoreIn Indonesia, Democracy or Dynasty?
Not long ago, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo of Indonesia was running a catering business and a chain of dessert shops. Now he is the symbol of a budding political dynasty and the beneficiary of family maneuvering. With the help of a high court ruling led by his uncle, the president’s son, Gibran […]
Read MoreRohingya Refugees Stuck on Boats in Andaman Sea, U.N. Says
The United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday that about 400 people were believed to be stranded on two boats adrift in the Andaman Sea, calling on nearby governments to help rescue them. Most of them are believed to be members of the Rohingya ethnic group, a persecuted Muslim minority, the U.N. agency said. More […]
Read MoreVolcanic Eruption Kills at Least 11 Hikers in Indonesia
The bodies of 11 hikers were found on the slopes of Mount Marapi on the Indonesian island of Sumatra after a volcanic eruption sent ash plumes cascading down the mountain on Sunday, the local search and rescue agency said on Monday. Dozens of climbers were on the active volcano in West Sumatra Province when it […]
Read MoreFemale Rangers ‘Don’t Go All Alpha Like the Men’ to Protect a Forest
Riding her motorbike while balancing a backpack, a wok and a sharp cleaver, Asmia expertly maneuvered her way up a dangerous cliffside: a three-mile trip along a precipitous dirt path, barely 40 inches wide, to reach the mouth of the forest. Asmia is one of the 15 members of a team of rangers — 10 […]
Read MoreCan the U.S. Handle China While Supporting Israel and Ukraine Wars?
For some countries, the rekindled conflict over the Palestinian issue has also inflamed old beliefs that the United States is anti-Muslim, or at least too biased toward Israel. After years of watching Washington avoid confronting the often harsh mistreatment of Palestinians by both the Israeli government and extremist Israeli settlers, some no longer trust the […]
Read MoreIsrael-Hamas War Adds to Surge in Global Weapons Sales
Just days after the assault by Hamas ignited a new war in the Middle East, shipments of American weapons began arriving in Israel: smart bombs, ammunition and interceptors for the Iron Dome missile-defense system. When President Biden meets in Israel on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, more military aid is a likely topic. The […]
Read MoreLina Lutfiawati Sentenced to 2 Years After Eating Pork on Camera
Lina Lutfiawati’s videos of eating delectable meals — featuring fish, crab, clams, prawns and ribs — have earned the Indonesian influencer millions of fans on TikTok. But when Ms. Lina, 33, ate pork rinds on camera in March, her TikTok video of the meal drew the attention of a different audience: Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical […]
Read More