The president of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, has questioned whether the country is prepared to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, as currently planned, given its lack of key infrastructure.

Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) on Friday described an attack by separatist rebels in Central Papua in which a sub-district military commander was killed as a serious violation of human rights.

On 21 March 2024, an incident of police violence reportedly unfolded in the town of Timika, Mimika Regency, Papua Tengah Province, at approximately 2:00 pm. According to witnesses, a Papuan man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was collectively beaten by officers while purchasing cigarettes in a store near the Timika Indah field.

A 12-year-old boy was killed, and his six-year-old sister seriously injured in a gunfight between Indonesian security forces and an armed rebel group in Christian-majority Papua province, drawing strong condemnations and demands for a thorough probe by rights groups.

Suryadi, Indragiri Hilir, Indonesia – Dahniar starts worrying after a few days without rain during the dry season here on the northeast coast of Sumatra.

Traders selling water will complain of supplies drying up. Even Dahniar's neighbors are reluctant to sell their water when the heat is on and anxiety begins to drip through Kuala Selat village.

Hendro D Situmorang, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto embarked on visits to his crucial allies on the second day of Eid al-Fitr on Thursday, following his meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for the second consecutive day.

Meulaboh, Indonesia – At a damaged temporary shelter in western Indonesia, Rohingya men slick their hair with gel while women apply make-up and colourful hijabs to look the part for prayers at the start of Eid-al-Fitr festivities.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Member of the National Campaign Team (TKN) Advisory Council for Prabowo-Gibran, Budiman Sudjatmiko, stated that so far there has been no discussion regarding President Joko Widodo or Jokowi becoming a special advisor to the elected president, Prabowo Subianto. According to Budiman, the issue of position will be determined by Prabowo himself.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Curriculum Assessment Standards Agency of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) Anindito Aditomo, stated that the Ministry is currently urging several schools to implement the Merdeka Curriculum.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Semarang – A bus operated by leading land transport operator Rosalia Indah careened into a roadside ditch in Central Java on Thursday, killing at least seven people including two children.

The fatal crash took place at the 370th kilometer mark on the toll road connecting Batang and the provincial capital, Semarang.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has denied rumors of Jakarta mulling developing diplomatic ties with Israel to secure a seat at the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Per Elinder Liljas – Standing chest-deep in the Molucca Sea, just outside the billowing smokestacks of the world's largest nickel industry, Upin adjusts his mask and dives.

Members of his people, the Bajau, have been known to stay underwater for more than 10 minutes but Upin resurfaces shortly. He hauls a rugged disc of metal over the side of his dugout canoe.

Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies, Singapore/Jakarta – An animal rights activist, hidden camera tucked in his clothes, finagles his way into an Indonesian abattoir and films what he and others claim is inhumane treatment of Australian cattle.

Fabian Januarius Kuwado, Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) commander General Agus Subiyanto has emphasised that they will not play around in crushing the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

The reason being that the OPM is creating terror, even committing acts of violence against communities as well as the TNI and Polri (Indonesian police).

Singapore – Indonesia's biggest political parties are lining up candidates for the country's local elections in November.

Two major parties, Golkar and Gerindra, could back former West Java governor Ridwan Kamil for Jakarta governor, Golkar leader Airlangga Hartarto said on Wednesday (April 10), news outlet Kompas reported.

Riyad Dafhi Rizki, Sembilan Island, Indonesia – Until recently, skippers on this island relied on their day's catch of grouper, mackerel and snapper tipping the scales at around 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Today, Mukhlis provides for his family with just a fraction of that daily haul.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The head of president-elect Prabowo Subianto's campaign team came to the private residence of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri not once, but twice on Wednesday to extend Eid al-Fitr greetings.

Joshua Davidovich – Indonesia could normalize ties with Israel as part of a deal to smooth the entry of the world's most populous Muslim nation into a global forum for developed countries, an Israeli official said Thursday.

A century-old Catholic church in Indonesia allowed Muslims to conduct the Eid prayers on its premises on April 10, saying such moves could help build brotherhood in the Muslim-majority nation.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Joko "Jokowi" Widodo government saw Indonesia forming closer ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and mosques have become integral to the president's relations with his Emirati counterpart Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also known by his initials MBZ.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno visited President-elect Prabowo Subianto's private residence during Eid al-Fitr celebrations on Wednesday, extending a gesture of reconciliation after their divergent paths in the Feb. 14 elections.

Antara, Jakarta – Talks on a meeting between the president-elect and Chairman of Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, and the Chairwoman of PDIP, Megawati Soekarnoputri, has garnered responses from both parties.

The planned meeting has been a topic of public discussion in recent times, yet there is still no certainty as to when the meeting will take place.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – An Indonesian Air Force Super Hercules C-130 aircraft conducted an airdrop of humanitarian aid in Gaza, Palestine, on Tuesday in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force following talks between Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and King Abdullah II.

Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto says they have changed the nomenclature used to refer to Terrorist Separatist Groups (KST) in Papua to again become the Free Papua Organisation or OPM because this is the name they use themselves.

Executive summary

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri has warned the Constitutional Court justices to deliver fair decisions in the disputes over the results of the February presidential race.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently spoke with President-elect Prabowo Subianto on the phone, a call to congratulate the latter for officially winning the election.

Prabowo shared the news on his personal Instagram account on Tuesday.

Christian activists in Indonesia have slammed law enforcement agencies for their inability to trace the kingpins behind human trafficking in the Christian-majority East Nusa Tenggara province.

Melbourne – More than 25 global auto and battery makers have expressed interest in buying nickel from Australia-listed producer Nickel Industries' new Indonesian plant, CEO Justin Werner said on Tuesday, in the latest boost to Indonesia's nickel dominance.

Jakarta – Despite millions of vehicles having left Jakarta to return to their hometowns during the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) season, a large number are still yet to depart, says state-owned toll operator PT Jasa Marga.

It expects that the heavy traffic on toll roads in Java since last week will continue until Friday, two days after Idul Fitri.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – 2023 saw the worst fire season in Indonesia since 2019, with an area the size of Qatar going up in flames, according to official government data.

Christian activists have demanded the Indonesian government take strict action against human traffickers on the Catholic-majority island of Flores after the recent death of a worker due to starvation in East Kalimantan province.

Jakarta – The National Police will continue the counterflow policy in the trans-Java toll road network during the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) following a fatal crash in one section of the network in West Java, but its implementation will depend on traffic conditions.

Natasya Salim and Erwin Renaldi – This Ramadan felt different for Kusmanadi, who opens a stall each year in Jakarta to sell grilled chicken snacks to those breaking their fast during the holy month.

It wasn't just Muslims who were interested in his offerings.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Pertamina Patra Niaga, the commercial arm of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, said that it saw a significant increase in fuel consumption ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday and the mudik (exodus) tradition that accompanies it.

A Russian tourist, Mr Shmatov Ivan Aleksandrovich, was arbitrarily arrested by Indonesian security forces in the town of Enarotali, Paniai Timur District, Papua Tangah Province, on 11 March 2024.

Manggi Habir and Siwage Dharma Negara – In Indonesia, rice scarcity and sharp food price hikes before Ramadan are a regular occurrence. But this election year, rice demand has been particularly high, boosting rice prices by almost 20 per cent to an all-time high of Rp 15,157 per kg in February.

Jakarta – Aditya Nugraha, 21, was traveling from Jakarta to his hometown of Palembang, South Sumatra, over 500 kilometers away, to celebrate the Idul Fitri holiday this week.

Christ Belseran, Edison Waas, Seram Island, Indonesia – Samadin Samalehu paced up and down the beach in Haya village this past January, gathering human remains into a plastic bag.

Jakarta – The Ministry of Religious Affairs ban on backpacker umrah, or people making the minor pilgrimage to Mecca independently, is an excessive interference in the private religious affairs of Muslims. The policy making it difficult for people to make their umrah pilgrimage by themselves only benefits travel agents.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Mr Zavaraldo Renaldy, 28, is educated, single and in possession of a good job, but to his parents' dismay, he is not in want of a wife.

While Mr Zavaraldo is not averse to meet-ups and casual dating, he has shied away from long-term commitments in order to focus on his career as a mapping surveyor.

Jakarta – A recent jaw-droppingly massive corruption case in the tin sector is yet another reminder that the government still lacks the capacity to manage the country's vast natural resources.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Maruarar Sirait, a former member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), highlighted the relationship between President-elect Prabowo Subianto and President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is expected to continue to grow by over 5 percent in 2024 and 2025, according to a report by ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

Klas Lundstrom – I know what you think," the source tells me. "That it's fake. It's not fake. It's our life."

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The National Board of Zakat (Baznas) has decided to reject a donation of Rp 1 billion ($62,990) from McDonald's Indonesia for Palestine.

Wasisto Raharjo Jati and Made Supriatma – The final election results from East Java reveal a silver lining for the second-placed vice-presidential candidate, Muhamin Iskandar. He and his party could still win some in the horse-trading for cabinet positions under the next president.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The country's political parties have begun vetting potential nominees and searching for allies for the November regional elections as disputes over the results of the February presidential race near their conclusion at the Constitutional Court.

Desty Luthfiani, Jakarta – Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Budi Santoso, responded to the issue of imported goods belonging to Indonesian migrant workers being held up at the Tanjung Emas Temporary Storage Place (TPS) in Semarang, Central Java on April 4, 2024.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The nearly 200 million Indonesians expected to make the journey home for the Idul Fitri holiday face a heightened risk of extreme weather in their travels, authorities warned on Sunday, as the nation's busy land and sea transportation routes accommodate what is expected to be a record-breaking mudik (exodus) season.