Indonesian president holds the first cabinet meeting in the nation’s unfinished future capital

Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first cabinet meeting in the nation’s future capital of Nusantara, surrounded by miles of construction sites and doubts about the sustainability of the ambitious megaproject that remains behind schedule. Widodo began working from the city two weeks ago, using an office inside the construction site of the massive new palace in the form of the Hindu eagle god Garuda. The city is set to hold its first Indonesian Independence Day celebration in less than a week. Appearing with his successor, President-elect Prabowo Subianto, in front of the palace, Widodo insisted that the controversial $33 billion construction effort will be worth it.