Indonesia marks first independence day at future capital

An aerial picture shows a flag-raising ceremony at ground zero of Indonesia's future capital in Sepaku, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan on Aug 17, 2022, on the country's 77th Independence Day. - AFP

SEPAKU, Indonesia (AFP): Indonesia celebrated its first independence day at its future capital in the ancient rainforests of eastern Borneo on Wednesday (Aug 17) as the nation plans a move away from slowly sinking, traffic-clogged Jakarta.

Nusantara, which is 2,000km (1,200 miles) from Jakarta, is set to become the new political centre of the world's fourth-largest country.