Thousands of military personnel from Indonesia, the US, and eight other countries began two weeks of exercises Monday, focused on joint capabilities in the Asia-Pacific.

The region, particularly in the South China Sea, has seen tensions rise this year with flashpoints between littoral states claiming sovereignty over disputed islands and waterways.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the Central Java and South Sulawesi police to immediately evaluate how they handled protests and demonstrations in Semarang and Makassar, following reports of repressive force by officers during Monday night's protests.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the Central Java Police's Public Relations Sr. Comr. Artanto stated that 32 vocational high school and college students remained under investigation at the Semarang Police Headquarters following the demonstration in front of the Semarang City Legislative Council (DPRD) Building on Monday, August 26, which ended in chaos.

Jakarta – The sudden resignation of Airlangga Hartarto as Golkar Party chairman on Aug. 12 and the uncontested election of Bahlil Lahadalia as his successor nine days later show how dependent Indonesia's oldest political party is on the country's ruler. Golkar changes guard when the government wills it.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Yogyakarta – Students and activists in Yogyakarta joining the Aksi Jogja Memanggil or Jogja is Calling movement have taken to the streets again on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, demanding an end to the political dynasty of Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto says a European Union embargo on Indonesian palm oil products is "a blessing in disguise", as it could strengthen the country's energy self-sufficiency.

The president-elect said he had conveyed that message during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last month.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Businesses want to see the state allocate more funds to Nusantara's development before they themselves feel confident about investing in the future capital city.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Ahmad Luthfi, the gubernatorial candidate for Central Java from the Coalition for Advanced Indonesia (KIM) Plus, has welcomed the candidacy of his rival, former Army Commander Andika Perkasa, in the upcoming 2024 Regional Election.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Golkar chairman Bahlil Lahadalia denied Tuesday that his party endorsed Airin Rachmi's Banten gubernatorial bid out of fear that the female politician would jump ships to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government announced Tuesday it would continue to entirely exempt value-added tax (VAT) for house purchases until the end of 2024.

Jakarta – Newly-appointed Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Tuesday the party's endorsement of Airin Rachmi Diany and her running mate Ade Sumardi for the upcoming Banten gubernatorial election. The announcement comes just three days after Bahlil had stated that the party would support a rival candidate.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The populous Indonesia is aiming to be free of extreme poverty in 2025 as the government allocates hundreds of trillions of rupiahs for social protection programs in Prabowo Subianto's first year in office.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A total of 28 Expert Council Members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have resigned from the party, citing disagreements with the leadership's decision to join the broader Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM Plus) in the 2024 regional elections.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has confirmed plans to limit the purchase of subsidized fuel starting October 1, 2024.

"There is indeed a plan [to limit it]," Bahlil told reporters after a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII at the Parliament Building, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo, Jakarta – Tempo Media Group has established the Tempo Creator Network to safeguard artists, activists, and content creators from the potential threats posed by the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

Daniel A. Fajri, Ade Ridwan, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has instructed the police to release arrested protesters, emphasizing that Indonesia is a democratic country where the expression of aspirations and opinions is a fundamental right.

Nava Nuraniyah, Indonesia – On 22 August, following a massive social media backlash and star-studded protest movement organised by civil society groups, Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) capitulated to protesters' demands to abort a controversial Local Elections Bill that was scheduled for passage that day.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian democracy is facing the gravest threat to its survival since authoritarian President Suharto fell in 1998, with recent student-led protests reflecting that citizens are pushing back, analysts said.

Heru Andriyanto, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's hopes for reelection were dashed on Tuesday when the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) decided against nominating him for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta has termed the preparations for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis a "logistical nightmare" due to various challenges, but expressed hope everything will go as planned, says a report.

Marcus Wong and Ruth Carson – The massive foreign inflow into Indonesian bonds this month may extend, if investor positioning is anything to go by.

Annisa Febiola, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro highlighted the violence perpetuated by authorities at protests in various Indonesian regions.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his supporting political parties might have thought that they could do just about anything and get away with it. But clearly, they couldn't.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has finally approved the General Election Commission Regulation (PKPU) on the requirements for the nomination of regional heads in accordance with the Constitutional Court's (MK) ruling on Sunday August 25.

Ian Seow Cheng Wei – Following Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's victory in the 2024 presidential elections, he made his first overseas visit as president-elect to China, where he was warmly welcomed by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – A landmark decision by the Constitutional Court on Tuesday has removed the legislative threshold for political parties or electoral alliances to nominate candidates in the regional head elections in November.

Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) secured the House of Representative's nod on Sunday to issue new rules in line with demands from protesters, who have been furious over an attempt by allies of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to change eligibility requirements in their favour.

Jakarta – Local leaders of the National Awakening Party (PKB) reelected incumbent party chairman Muhaimin Iskandar over the weekend in a national congress in Bali that was marred by a raucous street protest.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) formally announced on Sunday that it was backing Golkar Party politician Airin Rachmi Diany in the Banten gubernatorial race later this year, after the former South Tangerang mayor failed to secure her party's support.

Jakarta – Runway testing at the airport in the new capital city Nusantara in East Kalimantan has been conducted successfully using a calibration aircraft, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said on Sunday.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto said there's no need to worry for Indonesia once it achieves food and energy security. He even mentioned that Indonesia would not have to fear anyone in the world.

Novali Panji Nugraha, Jakarta – The Chair of the Legislative Body of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Indonesia, Wihadi Wiyanto, said the DPR Legislative Body will suspend the discussion of the Indonesian Military or TNI Bill and the National Police or Polri Bill.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs has responded to public inquiries regarding the controversy surrounding luxury goods belonging to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, and his wife Erina Gudono.

Peter Milne – Santos could lose control of its Bayu Undan gas project north of Darwin on Friday unless it agrees with the Timor-Leste government to give it a share of the project, according to a letter from the country's minister of petroleum seen by this masthead.

Max Lane – Throughout Indonesia on 22 August, thousands of students, workers, the urban poor and middle class people took to the streets to protest the passing of a law annulling a ruling of the Constitutional Court (MK) delivered two days prior.

Lydia Lewis, Nuku'alofa, Tonga – West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia, so responsibility lies with them in addressing independence demands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, James Marape, says.

But the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, told RNZ Pacific the issue was not about sovereignty.

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attended a National Democratic Party (Nasdem) gathering on Sunday evening, signaling a renewed friendship with his old ally and the party's chairman, Surya Paloh, after a period of political distance.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is keeping an eye on the US election as ex-American president Donald Trump will go up against the Democrats' presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Dear Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,

I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.

Jakarta – The multinational joint exercise Super Garuda Shield 2024 commenced on Monday with an opening ceremony at the Juanda Naval Air Base in Sidoarjo, East Java, which includes cyber threat exercises for the first time.

Antara, Jakarta – Islamic organization Muhammadiyah is expected to receive management rights over former coal mining concessions previously held by Adaro Energy or Arutmin Indonesia, as announced by newly-appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia after a meeting with Commission VII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The 2025 Draft State Budget (RAPBN) integrates the programs of President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, ensuring continuity in development projects and a smooth government transition.

Muhammad Fakhruddin, Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has unveiled its gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates for the 2024 Regional Elections. However, among the six pairs of candidates announced on Monday, the anticipated nomination of former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan was notably absent.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Reports of discord between President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto have surfaced recently, but the Presidential Palace has dismissed these claims as attempts to sow division and disrupt the continuity of government.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – President-Elect Prabowo Subianto expressed his desire to unite all political forces and collaborate with his upcoming government to foster national prosperity. However, he acknowledged that certain factions seek to perpetuate post-election tensions.

Rifky Anwar and Edna Tarigan – A flash flood following torrential rains on Indonesia's eastern Ternate Island left 13 people dead on Sunday.

Search and rescue teams working with local residents recovered 10 bodies in Rua village in North Maluku province.

Jakarta – Indonesia's election body secured Parliament's nod on Aug 25 to issue new rules in line with demands from protesters, who have been furious over an attempt by allies of outgoing President Joko Widodo to change eligibility requirements in their favour.

Marc Walker – Animal activists hope to free a troupe of monkeys forced to dance for tourists. They are dressed in costumes and made to do jigs, ride bicycles and smoke cigarettes.

The monkeys were captured while babies before being used to make money on the streets.

Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto said on Saturday that politics was necessary to improve people's welfare, but denounced politicians whose hunger for power had put their own interests above the people.

Jakarta – Thousands of people rallied in several cities in Indonesia on Friday, pressuring its poll body to issue rules for regional elections amid outrage over an attempt by the political allies of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to change them in their favour.