Latest Joko Widodo News

Indonesia's stance on Israel overshadows world soccer event
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia could lose its chance to host a global youth soccer tournament, and its chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after refusing to welcome a team from Israel. FIFA canceled an important preparatory step after regional governors and protesters...

Indonesia acquits 2 police, jails 1 for deadly soccer crush
SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian court on Thursday acquitted two police officials charged with negligence leading to the deaths of 135 people in October when police fired tear gas inside a soccer stadium, setting off a panicked run for the exits. A third official was sentenced to 18...

Indonesia unveils construction site of new capital city
PENAJAM PASER UTARA, Indonesia (AP) — Orange-red ground has been broken in the jungle of East Borneo, where the Indonesian government has begun construction of its new capital city. Officials promise a “sustainable forest city” that puts the environment at the heart of...

Indonesia jails organizer, security chief in soccer tragedy
SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — A soccer club organizer and its chief of security were jailed by an Indonesian court on Thursday on charges of negligence leading to the deaths of 135 people when police fired tear gas inside a stadium last October, setting off a panicked run for the exits. ...

Why is Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta to Borneo?
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Jakarta is congested, polluted, prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea. Now the government is in the process of leaving, moving Indonesia’s capital to the island of Borneo. Indonesian officials say the new metropolis will be a...

Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 19; 3 still missing
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian rescuers and firefighters on Sunday searched for three people who were still missing after a large fire spread from a fuel storage depot in the capital and killed at least 19 people. The Plumpang fuel storage station, operated by state-run oil...

Indonesian police fire tear gas to disperse soccer fans
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian police fired tear gas outside a soccer stadium to disperse fans who were trying to force their way into a match in Central Java province on Friday, months after the use of tear gas in another stadium caused one of the world's worst sporting disasters. ...

Indonesia opens trial for 5 charged over soccer crush deaths
SURABAYA, Indonesia (AP) — An Indonesian court began trial Monday against five men on charges of negligence leading to the deaths of 135 people after police fired tear gas inside a soccer stadium, setting off a panicked run for the exits in which many were crushed. The deadly...

Indonesian president acknowledges past human rights abuses
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday admitted serious human rights violations had occurred across the country in recent decades and vowed to compensate victims and prevent such abuses from happening again in the future. In televised comments,...

Malaysia pledges to invest in Indonesia's new capital
BOGOR, Indonesia (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Monday his country would invest in the development of Indonesia's new capital on Borneo island, which both nations share. Anwar made his first overseas trip to Jakarta since taking office in November, saying at...
