Max Lane – The small but vocal Partai Buruh (PB), a newcomer to Indonesian politics, could disrupt the 2024 elections if its questioning of the status quo succeeds. For now, the odds remain low.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has defended the role taken by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in influencing political parties' preference in the 2024 presidential election, saying that past presidents had played the game before.

Jayapura, Jubi – Ha-Anim Women's Association (PPHA) chair Febi Koten highlighted eight cases of sexual violence against children that took place in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province between 2021 and 2023. The protection of children and women from sexual violence and abuse is a matter that requires the attention and efforts of all parties.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesian retailers are projected to maintain their sales momentum even after Ramadan and the Idul Fitri holidays, which normally lift consumer spending, came to an end, Bank Indonesia (BI) data show.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The World Bank has called on Indonesia to expand its poverty eradication efforts to protect the millions of citizens it says are in danger of falling back into poverty, despite the country's achievements in improving the lot of its people over the past decades.

Antara, Jakarta – Former Jakarta governor and candidate of the 2024 Presidential Election Anies Baswedan had recently criticized the government's 2023 program that incentivizes purchases of electric vehicles, which he insisted would only add to the traffic congestion problem.

Tonggo Simangunsong, Jakarta – Uli Artha Panggabean is a weaver of ulos, the traditional woven cloth of the Batak tribe. Her passion for the tradition goes deep.

Antara, Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairperson Nurul Ghufron on Tuesday lamented the lack of deterrent effect on corruption inmates in the current prison facility and suggested that the agency is considering other alternatives such as the Nusakambangan penitentiary, which among others is also notoriously known to imprison terrorist convicts.

Rebecca Tan, Dera Menra Sijabat and Joshua Irwandi, Obira Island, Indonesia – On a remote island close to where the Pacific meets the Indian Ocean sits one of the first refineries built specifically to support the world's transition away from fossil fuels.

Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expressed confidence on Tuesday that Indonesia will soon surpass Vietnam as the biggest footwear manufacturer in Southeast Asia.

His remarks came after sportswear giant New Balance announced a new investment to operate a seventh athletic shoe factory in Indonesia.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak said at his grand ASEAN Summit debut on Wednesday that his country was on the right track to becoming a full member of the regional grouping.

Indonesia is still in a COVID-19 health emergency even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has lifted the global status of the disease.

The Ministry of Health said in a press conference yesterday that Indonesia's transition away from COVID-19 emergency status rests on President Joko Widodo.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Stefanus Roy Rening, a lawyer of suspended Papua governor Lukas Enembe, as suspect of obstruction of justice and is detaining him for 20 days.

Jayapura, Jubi – In a bid to protect their land and forests, a group of environmental activists from the Awyu region has filed for intervention at the Jakarta Administrative Court.

Moh Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Head economist of Bank Permata, Josua Pardede, on Tuesday, said wealthy people with savings of over Rp5 billion as of March this year grew 9.63 percent.

However, according to the same study conducted by the Deposit Insurance Cooperation (LPS), the growth of people with savings accounts below Rp100 million only grew 3.6 percent.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The number of medical workers' organizations supportive of the health bill keeps increasing despite a recent major rally opposing the bill.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid is urging the Indonesian government to unconditionally release Papuan political activist Victor Yeimo, who was sentenced to eight months in prison on May 5 for to his involvement in anti-racism protest in Papua in August 2019.

Dipo Negoro – The Labour Party (Partai Buruh) organised a three day national working meeting (Rakernas) on January 14-17. The meeting was attended by some 800 Labour Party executive committee representatives from 38 provinces.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Less than a month after leaving pro-government Gerindra Party, former vice-presidential candidate in 2019, Sandiaga Uno, hinted at his interest in joining the opposition Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) as the latter welcomed the possibility of pairing him with its presidential candidate Anies Baswedan in 2024.

Max Lane – The question of electability has turned Indonesian voters' attention towards potential running mates for the putative presidential candidates in the 2024 race.

Merauke, Jubi – The community and customary landowners in Kaliki Village, Kurik District, Merauke Regency reject various logging and plantation companies from entering their village. The community is worried that company activities will damage the forest.

Timika, Jubi – On Monday, May 8, 2023, Pastor Paniur Tabuni (40) underwent surgery at Mimika Regency Hospital to remove a bullet. He got hit by a round allegedly fired by TNI members in Gingga Baru Village, Sinak District, Puncak Regency.

Jakarta – Inflation has been slowing steadily since September last year, investment is holding up well and the latest GDP report beat expectations. No two ways about it, Indonesia is standing strong in a turbulent global economy fraught with risks stemming from indebted banks to geopolitical upheaval.

Indonesia has reported an outbreak of African swine fever on a farm on the Riau Islands near Singapore, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Tuesday.

The outbreak that killed 35,297 pigs in a herd of 285,034 on a farm located on Bulan island was detected on April 1 and confirmed on April 28, the Paris-based WOAH said, citing Indonesian authorities.

Indonesia has sent 30 tons of relief supplies to aid the Vanuatu government's recovery efforts post three major natural disasters earlier this year.

The humanitarian aid were delivered on a My Indo Airline B737-800 cargo aircraft that departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and landed at Vanuatu's Bauerfield International Airport on Tuesday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia and Vietnam are aiming for a $15 billion annual bilateral trade by 2028, and both nations are feeling confident about meeting this target as long as the trade barriers ease.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The government recently told disapproving healthcare professional organizations that the omnibus health bill had already accommodated their aspirations.

On Monday, five professional associations, including the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), took to the streets to oppose the health bill.

Antara, Jakarta – A total of 150 firefighters and 35 fire trucks were deployed to extinguish the huge blaze burning a paint factory in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, at 14:15 on Monday, May 8, 2023.

Chris Barrett, Singapore – An Australian government investigation has found violations of live export trade standards at seven Indonesian abattoirs where Australian producers sent cattle, after assessing shocking footage captured inside slaughterhouses on Java and Sumatra.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has revealed attempts to criminalise residents and attacks on journalists ahead of the 2023 ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Agencies, Jakarta – A high-ranking police officer was given a life sentence on Tuesday for trafficking five kilograms (11 pounds) of methamphetamine that was originally confiscated as criminal evidence.

M Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police has called for road users in the capital city to avoid passing the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue in Central Jakarta, beside the National Monument (Monas), as the area will host the rally held by the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) in protesting against the Healthcare Bill.

Brook K. Baker, Boston, Massachusetts, United States – The next round of negotiations on an Indonesia-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is scheduled for today, May 8, in Brussels.

Anindito Ariwandono, Bandung – Hong Kong's luminous heritage has been facing an imminent crisis for the past couple of years. Its neon-drenched streets have been facing a consistent decay in terms of intensity, where its neon signs (most of which came from the 1960-1970s) are increasingly being taken down due to hazard concerns and adherence to building codes.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is claimed to be growing at a faster rate compared to developed countries by logging a 5.03 percent economic growth during the first quarter (Q1) of 2023. This was mentioned by Economic Affairs Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto in opening the Indonesia Digital Finance Festival 2023 on May 8.

Teguh Suprayitno, Jambi, Indonesia – The lunchtime rush is well underway as customers file into a lively Padang-style restaurant here in the city of Jambi on Indonesia's Sumatra Island. A clutch of civil servants chats next to a group of men eating lunch.

Police have taken a bus driver in for questioning after his unattended vehicle plunged down a ravine in Guci, Tegal, Central Java on Sunday, killing one on board.

Police in Indonesia's Catholic-majority Flores Island summoned two Catholic villagers and two local activists and accused them of sedition over a planned protest during the upcoming summit of Southeast Asian leaders over the compensation for houses and land clearing for a road.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – With the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) settling on Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo as its presidential candidate, the other parties are readjusting their positions with regard to their own nominations ahead of the 2024 elections.

Antara, Jakarta – Eight sub-regencies in the West Aceh Regency are reportedly inundated under floodwater that is reportedly measured to reach 1 meter deep in certain areas. The West Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Sunday that constant heavy rainfall for three days prior was the cause of it.

Jakarta – Thousand of healthcare workers comprising doctors, nurses and midwives demonstrated in Jakarta on Monday May 8 against the Draft Healthcare Law (RUU Kesehatan).

The demonstrators, who had been gathering since 7.35 am, centred the action on the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta.

Yogyakarta, Jubi – The Constitutional Court has, in fact, revoked in 2007 the article used by the panel of judges of the Jayapura District Court to sentence Viktor Yeimo, the international spokesperson of the West Papua National Committe (KPNB), to 8 months in prison. Viktor Yeimo's lawyer Latifah Anum Siregar revealed this on Saturday, May 6, 2023, a day after the conviction.

Antara, Semarang – Pemalang Regent Mukti Agung Wibowo was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on Monday after he was found guilty of taking more than Rp 5 billion ($340,000) in bribes from his own subordinates and also businessmen who won projects in the Central Java regency.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports many countries are not making progress quickly enough to eradicate child marriage practices in the coming decades, especially as recent crises such as COVID-19 threaten to reverse years of marginal improvements.

A female employee in Bekasi, West Java has reported her male boss to the police after he allegedly required her to sleep with him in exchange for a contract extension.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto has again highlighted Indonesia's target to become a developed country by 2045. To achieve this target, Airlangga emphasized that the demographic bonus expected to last until 2039 must be maximized.

Jakarta – Remembering the virtues of press freedom remains as relevant today as when the United Nations General Assembly declared in 1993 to mark May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Saturday criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for getting involved in politics too deeply ahead of the elections in a rare rebuke to his former boss.

Jakarta – A hypothetical presidential race between Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto shows that they are statistically tied, according to a new survey released on Sunday.

Indonesian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Papuans and those detained solely for their peaceful expressions, said Amnesty International Indonesia and Amnesty International USA following the guilty verdict and prison sentence against West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson, Victor Yeimo, in Jayapura.