Graham Readfearn and agencies – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been freed after more than one-and-a-half years in captivity in Indonesia's West Papua region, Indonesian police have said.

Duncan Graham – Fresh from its latest failure to protect Palestine in the UN, the Australian government also handles brittle Indonesia tenderly lest it snaps off trade and security deals with its spacious but under-occupied neighbour.

Gabriel Collins, Morgan Bazilian and Simon Lomax – Earlier this month, the US government sounded the alarm over the use of forced labor in the nickel mines of Indonesia.

The finding has major implications for the energy transition because large amounts of nickel are needed to produce electric vehicle (EV) batteries and other low-carbon energy technologies.

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) attributed the release of New Zealand pilot Mark Mehrtens from the Free Papua Movement's (OPM's) captivity to the government's perseverance in seeking peaceful resolutions.

The Susi Air pilot was freed from the Egianus Kogoya-led armed separatist group after being held captive for about a year and a half.

Responding to the release of New Zealand pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens after more than 19 months held in captivity led by a pro-independence group in the Papua region, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said:

Jakarta – A glittering ceremony at the North Sumatra Stadium in Deli Serdang on Friday night marked the end of the 21st National Games (PON), but the festivities were too late and too little to make up for the controversies that have marred the quadrennial sporting event.

Irine Hiraswari Gayatri and Dini Suryani – Indonesia's future capital city Nusantara is touted as a model of sustainable development and a symbol of national progress. But it also poses a threat to indigenous communities, particularly the Balik people, who rely on the land for their livelihoods and cultural survival.

Surprising news came from Ndugama today when it was reported that New Zealand pilot Philips Mark Mehrtens was released by West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) commander Egianus Kogoya and his troops on Saturday September 21.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Diamanty Meiliana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has stressed that all activities in Papua must be accompanied by security forces both from the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (National Police).

Graham Readfearn and agencies – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens said he was looking forward to being reunited with his family after being freed after more than one-and-a-half years in captivity in Indonesia's West Papua region.

His release follows an offer of terms made this week by rebels in the region.

Jakarta – As we draw closer to the start of the new government, many await the implementation of the free nutritious meal program, one of president-elect Prabowo Subianto's ambitious campaign promises.

From the discourse that has emerged so far, one particular innovation has sparked both curiosity and concern, namely fish "milk" as a substitute for dairy in these meals.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The government's tax exemption for home purchases has been officially extended through December 2024. Initially, the 100 percent tax discount was scheduled to last until June 2024, followed by a reduced 50 percent discount for the remainder of the year.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung has proposed using Jakarta's annual budget surplus to create a special fund aimed at generating new jobs if he is elected in the upcoming November election.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Head of the Indonesian Military Information Center (Kapuspen TNI), Major General Hariyanto, denied claims made by the Free Papua Movement (OPM) regarding a military-police operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens. He asserted that no deployment of troops or special operations has been undertaken for this mission.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Deputy Head of Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK), Alexander Marwata, asks the state-owned Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) to prioritize integrity within its fund management.

As of 2024, he said, BPJS Kesehatan allotted around Rp150 trillion to support the healthcare of 98 percent of registered Indonesian citizens.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta, Indonesia – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region warned Friday that increased Indonesian military attacks in recent days to rescue a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage over a year ago could instead threaten his safety.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's aviation industry has not fully rebounded from the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced airlines to ground fleets for several years, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said on Friday.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) under the Finance Ministry has denied allegations of a data leak involving the Taxpayer Identification Numbers (NPWP) of 6 million Indonesian citizens, including President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, among others.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President-Elect Prabowo Subianto is back again on a world tour ahead of his inauguration ceremony with Filipino President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr being the most recent world leader he had visited.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has announced that it will impose internal sanctions on its member, HA, who has been named a suspect in a child molestation case in Singkawang, West Kalimantan.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi is nudging private companies to also take part in building the transportation infrastructure – including airports – of archipelagic Indonesia.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia has signed the Multilateral Instrument Subject to Tax Rule (MLI STTR) alongside leaders from 42 other countries and jurisdictions. This agreement is part of a global initiative to reduce unhealthy tax competition.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil pledged to eliminate slums in North Jakarta and transform the area into a business hub if he wins the 2024 regional election.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Despite representing rival parties in the 2024 Presidential Election, Pramono Anung pledged his commitment to implementing the policies of the newly elected Prabowo Subianto administration in Jakarta, should he and his running mate, Rano Karno, secure victory in the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Jakarta – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Friday it has approved a US$500 million policy-based loan to fund a program designed to help Indonesia's energy transition efforts.

Jakarta – A number of civil society organizations together with representatives of indigenous peoples have submitted a juridical review of Law Number 32/2024 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems (KSDAHE Law) with the Constitutional Court.

Jakarta – West Java's sudden earthquake on Wednesday (Sep 18) which left one dead and over 80 injured was triggered by an unmapped fault, according to Indonesian earthquake experts.

Fadli, Batam, Riau Islands – A protest staged on Wednesday by residents of the Putra Jaya Housing Complex in Tanjung Uncang subdistrict, Batam, Riau Islands, over water distribution must be addressed or it will disrupt investment in the city, a Batam city councilor has said.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – European airplane manufacturer Airbus has projected that Indonesia will require at least 1,000 new aircraft within the next two decades. This will solidify its position as one of the world's fastest-growing markets for the aviation sector.

Racism, torture and arbitrary arrests are some examples of discrimination indigenous Papuans have dealt with over the last 60 years from Indonesia, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Ridwan Kamil is on track to win the Jakarta gubernatorial election, with support reaching 51.8 percent, according to a new poll by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) released on Wednesday.

Thresa Sandra Desfika, Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Indonesia is moving towards the electric vehicle (EV) era, with a mid-term goal of adopting 15 million EVs by 2030, primarily consisting of two-wheelers, an official said on Wednesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Democratic Party recently said that they would not intervene with President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's cabinet makeup process, saying that it would be up to the former army general to decide how many Democrats would become ministers in the upcoming cabinet.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Herman, Jakarta – A total of 6 million Indonesian taxpayer-identification numbers (NPWP) have reportedly been leaked and sold for US$10,000 on the Breach Forum website by an account claiming to be the hacker "Bjorka" on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Gold miner Masmindo Dwi Area (MDA) recently responded to claims that the company had violated the rights of other landowners in Latimojong, Luwu, South Sulawesi after a video of its workers cutting down local residents' trees in the said area surfaced on social media.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the 2025 State Budget (APBN) totaling Rp 3,621 trillion (USD 237.4 billion), which will be utilized by President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the first year of their administration.

Muhammad Iqbal Ikromi, Semarang – Nuzmatun Malinah, the grieving mother of Dr. Aulia Risma Lestari, broke down as she revealed the harsh conditions her daughter endured during her specialist training at Diponegoro University's Anesthesia Program at Dr. Kariadi General Hospital.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Penajam Paser Utara – During President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's 10-year administration, Indonesia has witnessed extensive infrastructure development with a focus on equitable distribution across provinces.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto is poised to include private schools in his flagship free nutritious meals program in addition to public schools centers, the National Nutrition Agency said.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – After days of back and forth, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has dropped plans to question President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's youngest son Kaesang Pangarep to clarify the details regarding his lavish private jet trip to the United States, despite mounting public pressure to investigate.

Jakarta – The recent appointment of Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi as the United Nations secretary-general's special envoy on water affairs is a testament not only to her diplomatic aptitude but also Indonesia's growing role on the global stage.

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration is holding a three-day festival to promote urban farming as part of an effort to boost local food security.

The Urban Farming Festival, held at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta, started on Tuesday.

Rajendra Jadhav, Mumbai, India – Indonesia's palm oil exports are expected to decline in 2024 due to increased domestic consumption because of a higher biodiesel blending mandate and a slight decrease in production, an industry official told Reuters on Thursday.

Indonesia, West Papua – As of September 2024, more than 79,867 people in West Papua remain internally displaced as a result of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Greg Earl – There is a somewhat careworn characterisation of modern Indonesia as a country that keeps on changing in order to remain the same, with the rider that the more it changes the more it becomes familiar.

Chandra Asmara – Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto won sweeping new powers to create new ministries and restructure existing ones, giving him more room to both pursue his agenda and reward allies.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 August 2024, members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) in the Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, experienced acts of intimidation and unauthorised search by members of the 1715 Kodim (military district command) and Brimob (mobile brigade corps).

Tria Dianti and Victor Mambor in Jakarta and Jayapura, Indonesia – An international human rights watchdog has detailed what it calls entrenched racism and systemic discrimination against the indigenous ethnic Melanesian people in Indonesia's Papua region in a new report released on Thursday.

Antara, Jakarta – Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) visited President-elect Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Thursday to reiterate his full support and share his experience in leading the nation.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia welcomed a freshly adopted UN General Assembly resolution that demanded Israel to end its "unlawful presence" in Palestinian territories.