Petir Garda Bhwana, Jakarta – The extent of palm oil plantations encroaching and even taking over forests has drastically increased since 2019. As a result, wildlife habitats such as tigers, orangutans, and elephants are continuously eroded.

Jakarta – Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto has defended his plan to expand government agencies, saying it is needed for a strong administration even if critics call it a "fat" Cabinet that will bloat the bureaucracy.

Dewi Elvia Muthiariny, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani claimed that there have been 11 million new job openings in the past three years which coincided with a surge in layoffs. However, she did not provide specific details about the statistics she cited. Previously, she talked about the issue of mass layoffs in the previous year.

Dayat, Jakarta – After being granted parole, Jessica Kumala Wongso filed an appeal concerning the Supreme Court's decision in her premeditated murder case against Wayan Mirna Solihin at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.

This case gained international attention when it was featured in the Netflix documentary "Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso."

Edo Rusyanto, Jakarta – Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo, Chairman of the Housing Task Force for President-elect Prabowo Subianto, announced that the administration plans to build 3 million houses annually. This target includes 2 million houses in rural and coastal areas and 1 million units in urban regions.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Pabowo Subianto's free nutritious meal program, which was initially designed to provide lunch to students, will now provide two daily meals at schools nationwide, the president-elect's top advisor Hashim Djojohadikusumo has said.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is expected to exceed US$7,000 in 2029, according to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who added that he expected the figure to reach $9,000 in the next 10 years. The country's GDP per capita currently stands at $5,060.

Jakarta – The government's decision to allow the resumption of sea sand exports will badly impact the environment and the livelihood of fishing communities, while the tax revenues and income it collects from licensing fees and export duties will be minimal, possibly even negligible.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 3 September 2024, Mr Yeremias Magai, 34, a catechist at Stasi Kristus Raja Damai Nabire and a member of the Nabire District Government Pamong Praja Unit, reportedly died during custody at the Nabire Regional Police, Papua Tengah Province.

Erin Cook – If Indonesia's 200 million-plus voters thought they would get a breather after February's presidential election, next month's regional elections have other plans. Governor offices, mayoral seats and other positions all the way down to the district level are up for grabs on 27 November.

Stephen Dziedzic – Timor-Leste's president has sharply criticised exploitation in Australia's Pacific labour scheme, warning that unscrupulous employers are soaking workers from his country by over-charging them for accommodation and transport.

Ali Mirin – The Indonesian military announced the deployment of five battalions – an estimated 5000 soldiers – to occupied West Papua on October 2 to protect key government projects and help the expansion of industrial development.

Jakarta – The 2024 Indonesian Student and Youth Congress (KMPI) says that they were blocked by police when they were about to hold a demonstration demanding that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo be tried.

Herman, Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has warned that he will revoke licenses for idle oil wells as part of his plan to enhance Indonesia's oil and gas production.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – The CEO of Freeport Indonesia voiced his support on Tuesday for the potential removal of government regulations that limit the duration of mining concessions.

Tony Wenas said several countries impose no time restrictions on mining activities, provided the concession holders follow responsible and sustainable mining practices.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – There are fears that the involvement of the TNI (Indonesian Military) in food security programs in the Land of Papua will increase the risk of violence against civilians and human rights violations.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto hinted on Wednesday that several ministers from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration will be part of his new cabinet, which will be announced following his inauguration on October 20.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto aims for Indonesia to achieve food self-sufficiency within four years of taking office.

Speaking at the BNI Investor Daily Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday, the Great Indonesia Party (Gerindra) chairman emphasized the importance of reducing the nation's reliance on imports.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The two-day BNI Investor Daily Summit opened with remarks from outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and concluded with a vision statement by incoming President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday evening, symbolizing a smooth transition of presidential power and ensuring continued political stability.

M Rafi Azhari, Yudono Yanuar, Tim Tempo.Co, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – A year into Israeli aggression in Gaza that intensified on October 7, 2023, the world remains a witness to the humanitarian crisis that has occurred in the enclave. The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, sparks a wave of global solidarity, including in Indonesia.

Tempo.Co, Kemlu.Go.Id, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – ASEAN foreign ministers convinced for ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) in Vientiane, Laos, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The ACC meeting discussed ASEAN's institutional process prior to the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit in Laos.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Minister of State Secretary Pratikno emphasized that the Palace had sent representatives to attend President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's first trial in the lawsuit filed by Indonesian cleric Rizieq Shihab on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. He did not want to comment much on the postponement of the trial.

Jakarta – There is an important question asked every time a new Supreme Court Chief Justice is chosen: will the person selected be able to preserve the integrity of the court. Now, two weeks before the selection, it is difficult to answer this question because of the lack of transparency in the selection of candidates.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – Indonesia has an annual surplus of 200,000 tons of eggs and 600,000 tons of chicken meat, which will be utilized to support the government's free nutritious meal program for students, according to the National Nutrition Agency.

Jakarta – An Indonesian celebrity with a "questionable" university degree is under online scrutiny in Indonesia over his new role.

Mr Raffi Ahmad has been appointed as the deputy chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) from 2024 until 2029.

Duncan Graham – "Religion is being used as an instrument of power in Indonesia, manipulated by the State and big business. Politicians are continuing to use religion for their own ends and consequently risking harmony."

Reinhard Soplantila, Maros – Billboards and banners inviting people to vote for an empty box have appeared scattered around a number of points on roads in Maros regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel). The banners appeared ahead of the election of the of the Maros regent (Pilbup).

Nabiila Azzahra, Antara, Han Revanda Putra, Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is trying to remove Temu, a marketplace owned by a Chinese company, from online application stores in Indonesia. The Temu application is available at Android and iOS application stores in the country.

Tory Shepherd – The $74bn Greater Sunrise gas project – which has been decades in the making – could be under way by the end of the year, the Timor-Leste president, Jose Ramos-Horta, said.

But he also said the pipeline and the accompanying processing work must go to his nation, not Darwin.

Jakarta – Indonesia will open thousands of kitchens across the country next year as the incoming government led by president-elect Prabowo Subianto kicks off his multibillion dollar free meals program, the head of the agency running the initiative said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – Judicial Commission spokesman Mukti Fajar Nur Dewata has said president-elect Prabowo Subianto supports efforts to improve the welfare of Indonesian judges.

Mukti noted that Judicial Commission member Amzulian Rifai had met with Prabowo recently.

Jakarta – In the lexicon of every parent, school is deemed as a safe haven for their offspring to grow into responsible and decent human beings. No parent expects educators, who are supposed to act as guardians of their children, to set a bad example, let alone destroy their children's futures and lives.

Arnoldus Kristanus, Jakarta – The State Asset Management Agency (LMAN) has spent Rp 2.8 trillion ($178.73 million) for land acquisition related to the construction of Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara (IKN).

"In total, from mid-2023 to October 4, 2024, we have spent Rp 2.8 trillion for IKN," LMAN President Director Basuki Purwadi said on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's outgoing leader Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Tuesday that Indonesia's resource nationalism will extend outside of the mining sector as the country mulls banning exports of unprocessed agricultural products like coffee and cocoa.

Resource nationalism has been at the core of Jokowi's economic policies over the past years.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, has unveiled the investment-related obstacle hindering the entry of the iPhone 16 mobile phone into the Indonesian market.

Jakarta – Jokowi passed a number of strategic policies at the end of his administration. Making the president-elect a hostage to fortune.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian Judges Solidarity (SHI) organization have appealed to the House of Representatives (DPR) for a salary increase, citing their current monthly pay of Rp 12 million ($765) as insufficient to support their families.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addressed the shortfall in private investment for Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara (IKN), which has yet to reach the targeted Rp 100 trillion ($6.38 billion) by the end of 2024. Currently, investments have only reached Rp 58 trillion.

Tempo.Co, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB) Abdullah Azwar Anas said President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had ordered state civil servants (ASN) to move to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) by January 2025.

Han Revanda Putra, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – The Vice Chair of the Gerindra Party Advisory Council, Hashim Djojohadikusuma, claims the World Bank is ready to help Indonesia boost its tax ratio. Last year, Indonesia's tax ratio only reached 10.31 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Vinnilya, Jakarta – NH Korindo Sekuritas warns that the ongoing deflation trend poses urgent concerns for the Indonesian economy, suggesting that the working class has limited disposable income for spending.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Penajam Paser Utara – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) asked the public not to rush to request that the capital be immediately moved from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Jokowi argued the haste in relocating the capital will bring more problems in the future.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves has gone down slightly to $149.9 billion as of end-September, according to the country's central bank.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have identified a total of nine suspects in connection with the vandalism and assault on a political discussion at the Grand Kemang Hotel in South Jakarta late last month.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – Indonesia's new capital project of Nusantara has recorded Rp 58.4 trillion ($3.7 billion) worth of private investments so far.

Rino Fajar Setiawan, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Thousands of judges across Indonesia began a week-long strike on Monday, demanding higher wages. They argue that their salaries have remained stagnant for the past 12 years despite rising inflation.

Jakarta – Wolbachia has made headlines again recently, following the health authorities' plan to step up their fight against dengue fever using mosquito eggs infected with the bacteria.

Stefanno Sulaiman – President-elect Prabowo Subianto will increase the country's debt-to-GDP ratio level gradually, alongside efforts to boost tax revenues, his top adviser and brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo told a seminar on Monday.

Jakarta – A wild Sumatran elephant has been found dead in the forest of Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) in East Lampung regency, Lampung.

The adult elephant was discovered at the Toto Projo Resort, Bungur Region II Section, around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 15 July 2024, Mr Herik Gombo died under suspicious circumstances during custody at the Merauke Police. Mr Gombo and his colleague had been detained following a motorcycle accident earlier that day. His family and legal representatives demand clarity and accountability from the police regarding his death inside the detention cell.