An international team of zoologists has identified a new genus of rat in the Moluccan province of Indonesia that represents a unique set of characteristics. The newly found animal was discovered on the Halmahera Island in Wallacea, an Eastern Indonesian region. Researchers believe that the species locally dubbed Halmaheramys bokimekot lives only in Wallacea region which has been named after the British... 

At least three people have died after an Australia-bound boat carrying asylum seekers sank off the coast of Indonesia, with up to 157 people rescued. The boat, carrying 175 people, all of them Iranians and Sri Lankans, encountered harsh sea conditions and simply broke up, Australian media reported. More than a dozen people are still unaccounted for as search and rescue operation continue. Two children,... 

A tourist spot in Mozambique The World Bank has warned that due to global warming a number of coastal countries in the world such as Bangladesh and Mozambique are to disappear over the next century. According to the report prepared by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Climate Analytics, the World Bank warned climate change, which is causing global warming and sea level rise... 

Exodus to homeland for celebrating Islamic festivity, Eid al-Fitr, has already killed 529 people in 3,452 traffic accidents in Indonesia, media quoting official reported here on Wednesday. Data from Transport Ministry said that 837 people suffered from serious injury and 2,829 others got mild wounds. “We recorded a total of 3,452 traffic accidents from eight days before to two days after the... 

A Japanese couple offer prayers for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture on March 11, 2012. A new study by Maplecroft risk analysis firm says emerging Asian economies face the greatest financial risk from natural disasters. The study suggests that the limited ability of some Asian states has left them exposed to “major destructive natural hazards, such... 

Keepers at a Zoo in Indonesia are planning to help an orang-utan named Tori give up smoking. The animal started ten years ago after visitors to the Zoo on the island of Java began throwing him cigarettes, reports the Jakarta Globe newspaper. “It is very common in Indonesian zoos for people to throw cigarettes or food into animals’ cages even though there are signs to not feed or give cigarettes,”... 

Rescuers at the scene of a refugee boat accident near Australia’s Christmas Island. A boat carrying 130 asylum-seekers has capsized near Australia’s Christmas Island in a second such incident this week. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority announced earlier that two merchant vessels had been dispatched to the scene on a rescue operation. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said at least... 

Indonesian officials display the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) from the crashed Russian passenger plane Sukhoi Superjet 100, during a press conference at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on May 31, 2012. Indonesian villagers have found the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) from a Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 passenger plane that Moscow claims was downed in southwestern Indonesia earlier... 

Demands: Hundreds of Indonesian activists claimed that the singer's stage show was 'incompatible with Indonesian culture' Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth. The controversy was a blow to the predominantly Muslim country’s reputation for combining... 

Archaeologists have discovered ancient houses as well as precious artifacts and jewels from a buried kingdom, beneath the volcanic ash in Indonesia. The excavated remains were found on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa near the foot of the Tambora volcano known for its largest eruption in recorded history. “Based on the unearthed remains, particularly the many bronze objects and jewels, evidence... 

The debris of Russia’s Sukhoi Superjet-100 has been found in Indonesia. The state-of-the-art airplane went off radar screens yesterday as the plane was performing a demonstration flight in Indonesian capital Jakarta. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed the crash of the plane at a news conference Thursday and demanded meticulous investigation be conducted to find out the causes... 

A Russian jet carrying 50 passengers has disappeared from the radars during a demonstration flight for potential buyers in the Indonesian capital. Hijacking and a high-altitude crash into a mountain have not been ruled out. Due to low visibility and fog the helicopters had to stop the search and return to base. The rescue operation is now restricted to a ground search. The search will continue throughout... 

Indonesia’s Geophysical Agency has registered an 8.9 magnitude earthquake in the Aceh region, off the coast of northern Sumatra. A tsunami warning has been issued, the US Geological Survey reports. Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency is sending a rescue team to Aceh, after the quake knocked out the province’s electricity and sent locals scrambling for higher ground, Reuters reports. Waves... 

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has warned that the Sumatran elephant could be extinct in less than 30 years as half of the species’ population has been lost in one generation. According to a statement issued by WWF, an estimated number of 2,400 to 2,800 Sumatran elephants are alive that is down about 50 percent from a 1985 estimate. “The Sumatran elephant joins a growing list of Indonesian... 

Australia has suspended exports of live cattle to a number of killing facilities in Indonesia following exposure of brutal practices in some of the country’s abattoirs. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said the decision was based on footage collected by Animals Australia that showed cattle being mistreated before slaughter. “I have decided to halt the trade of live animals to the facilities...