Ati Nurbaiti, Dili – The crowd called out one name: "Hakim, Hakim!" Drink in hand, Hakim Afonso happily joined the singer on stage. He waved his hands to the beat with revelers who sang along to "Labarik Lakon" – the missing children. "Yes, I must learn" the Tetun language, he told me.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has decided to pass on his final opportunity to speak directly to an annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in New York.

Ririe Ranggasari, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military's TNI headquarters has confirmed that it will not withdraw or increase its troop presence in Papua despite the completion of an operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens from hostage.

Vitorio Mantalean, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – On September 24, 1999, thousands of students and ordinary people rallied at various locations in Jakarta, including around the Salemba University of Indonesia and the Semanggi Bridge in Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – Wednesday marks the start of the campaign season for the single-day regional head elections slated for Nov. 27 nationwide. Celebrities across generations, from actors to comedians, will join political parties and their candidates on the campaign trail, hoping to boost their chances of winning office.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Former Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said Tuesday that President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's free meal plan could help unlock Indonesia's golden era.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is currently embroiled in a leadership dispute, with two figures – Anindya Novan Bakrie and Arsjad Rasjid – each claiming the position of chair.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The World Bank has thrown cold water on Indonesia's dream of becoming a high-income economy by 2045 and outlined some of the challenges middle-income countries face in making such a leap.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Jakarta Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has urged the three pairs of candidates for the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election to avoid repeating the negative incidents that marred the 2017 election. Chair Munandar Nugraha emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and integrity throughout the upcoming contest.

Antara, Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, East Kalimantan – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially inaugurated three projects in Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara: the Australian Independent School (AIS) campus, the Teras Hutan Ibu Kota Nusantara restaurant by Plataran, and the Magnum Resort Nusantara.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The smooth transition of power from the outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to President-elect Prabowo Subianto is expected to positively impact Indonesia's investment climate, according to an economist.

Chandra Kurnia, Ichsan Ali, Cirebon – Approximately 18,000 students participate in a five-day trial of free nutritious meals program in Cirebon, West Java, on Wednesday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has officially become a part of the world's anti-nuclear pact after Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi presented the country's ratified document to the UN Secretariat on Tuesday local time.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Indonesia's tourism industry has surged over the past decade, surpassing nations like Belgium, Turkey, and New Zealand, according to Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno.

Max Lane – Art has power to inspire activism and challenge political taboos. In Indonesia, a recent exhibition highlighted this dynamic.

Chandra Asmara – A Chinese property developer is set to be the first foreign investor to build in Indonesia's planned capital of Nusantara, giving President Joko Widodo's signature project a modest boost weeks before his term ends.

Jakarta – Indonesia's President Joko Widodo broke ground on Sept 25 for a Chinese firm's property complex in the South-east Asian nation's troubled new capital on the island of Borneo, hailing it as a pioneering foreign investment that will lure others.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – A proposal to import cows and open a large dairy farm in the country to support president-elect Prabowo Subianto's trademark free meal program has sparked concerns about its potential impact on the environment and climate, with experts urging the government to study the plan further and consider relying on local food sources instead.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The host of Bocor Alus Politik and Tempo journalist Hussein Abri Dongoran reported the vandalism of his vehicle to Jakarta Metro Police on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Jakarta – Not many remember that back in 1988 to 1993, President Suharto once formed a cabinet with 41 ministers. Now, 36 years later, Prabowo Subianto, who was once Suharto's son-in-law, is likely to form a cabinet with approximately the same number of ministers.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to export sea sediment that sparked debate about sea sand export after a two-decade hiatus. The sea sediment will be dredged in the waters of seven Indonesian regions; Demak, Surabaya, Cirebon, Indramayu, Karawang, Kutai Kartanegara, and Balikpapan; as well as Karimun Island, Lingga Island, and Bintan Island in Riau Islands.

Nandito Putra, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – The Indonesia Parliament Watch (Formappi) notes that 79 elected legislative candidates for the House of Representatives 2024-2029 are affiliated with a political dynasty.

Asad Asnawi, Lamongan, Indonesia – Sulaiman is so practiced at stripping a zebra shark that he can skin the animal in just a few minutes. He sticks a knife into the meter-long (3-foot) fish and strips the skin away clean from the flesh and cartilage as morning breaks over East Java province.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, experienced heavy rainfall on Wednesday afternoon, September 25, resulting in flooding in one residential area (RT) and two road sections. The Jakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that a residential area in Lubang Buaya, Cipayung Sub-district, East Jakarta, was inundated.

Raden Putri, Avit Hidayat, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is developing a new food estate program in Merauke, South Papua. This mega project, listed as a national strategic project (PSN), encompasses a vast area of 2.29 million hectares, seventy times the size of Jakarta.

Cirebon, Indonesia – A programme backed by the Group of Seven (G-7) to close coal power plants in emerging markets is facing further delays, after a July deadline passed without a deal on the early closure of an Indonesian power plant that would be the first to shut under the initiative.

Jakarta – BP Batam handed over Wednesday new houses for three Rempang locals.

The three families were those who were willing to move voluntarily out of their original homes back in September 2023 to support the Rempang Eco-City project. BP Batam's acting head Purwiyanto thanked the people who had supported the Rempang project.

Syakirun Ni'am, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – Former Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti and Lokataru Foundation founder Haris Azhar have won a Supreme Court appeal in the criminal case of alleged defamation against Coordinating Minister for Investment and Maritime Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Oyuk Ivani S, Jakarta – The Ministry of Trade reported that Indonesia's import value in August 2024 amounted to US$20.67 billion, a 4.93 percent drop compared to July 2024 at US$21.47 billion.

Geneva – The Mandalika urban development and tourism project in Indonesia poses the risk of irreparable harm to Indigenous Peoples' rights, UN experts* warned today, calling on all responsible parties to suspend the project until these concerns are addressed.

Nick D – When the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) government crumbled in the face of Japan's military offensive in Southeast Asia, moves were made to evacuate the colonial regime. A month after General ter Poorten surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese Commander in-Chief on 8 March 1942, the NEI Commission was established in Australia to set up a colonial government in exile.

Jakarta – It would not have come as a surprise to the informed reader that Indonesia is on course to miss its clean power target by a wide margin.

The writing has been on the wall as investment in renewable energy generation has been hampered by a host of factors.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently launched the production of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's smelter at Gresik Special Economic Zone in East Java.

Delfi Neski, Padang – Three newly-elected members of a local legislative council in West Sumatra were arrested during a "meth party" at a hotel in the provincial capital, Padang, police said on Monday.

A private citizen who was with the councilors in the hotel room was also taken into custody.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – Indonesia has witnessed massive infrastructure development during Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's 10-year presidency.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – Pertamina Patra Niaga, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina, affirmed that the company would comply with the government's policy regarding the distribution of subsidized fuel, including both Pertalite and Biosolar.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The headquarters of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) said the involvement of former acting regent of Nduga, Edison Gwijangge, in the operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was full of political interests ahead of the 2024 regional election.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – An economist from Paramadina University, Didin S. Damanhuri, said the manufacturing industry sector in Indonesia is experiencing a significant drop, especially when compared to the New Order era. According to Didin, this decline is drawn by comparing industrial growth and the country's economic growth.

Sekarsari Sugihartono – Recently, Indonesia made headlines when it announced the lifting of a long-standing ban on the export of sea sand. This move, reversing a 2003 prohibition, opened the door to significant economic opportunities, but also stirred concerns about the environmental implications.

Jakarta – Farmers called on the government to carry out agrarian reform during a protest near the Arjuna Wiwaha Monument in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to mark this year's National Farmers' Day.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – A contract teacher from Banyuwangi, identified as Barik Abdul Ghofur, 25, has been arrested for hacking into the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) website and selling the stolen data on the dark web, allegedly earning $8,000 (approximately Rp 121 million).

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Three pairs of gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates officially launched their campaigns for the Jakarta gubernatorial election by signing a declaration for a peaceful campaign on Tuesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is open to joining the upcoming government led by President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, according to the party's Political Affairs Chair, Puan Maharani.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Bella Evanglista, East Kalimantan – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's presidential plane, the RJ-85, successfully made its inaugural landing at the VVIP Nusantara Airport in Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Tuesday. The historic touchdown took place at around 4 p.m. local time and was met with cheers and applause.

Antara, Jakarta – The launch of Indonesia's National Data Center (PDN) 2 in Surabaya, originally planned for October 2024, faces delays due to budget constraints, Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatics Nezar Patria announced.

Jakarta – Protesters from various different organisations commemorating National Farmers Day (HTN) in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) parliamentary complex on Tuesday September 24 brought a number of demands related to agrarian reform, which they see as still not siding with the ordinary people.

Ayos Carlos, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's massive tollway expansion during his 10-year presidency has bore fruits for the logistics industry.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remains the sole party that has not officially announced support for the upcoming government under Prabowo Subianto.

PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri plans to meet President-Elect Prabowo soon, according to House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani – who is Megawati's daughter.

Dayat, Jakarta – The Jakarta Election Oversight Body (Bawaslu) announced on Sunday that heckling gubernatorial candidates or obstructing their campaigns could lead to criminal prosecution.

The campaign period is set to run from Wednesday until four days before the election, which will be held on November 27.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Jakarta – A total of 8.2 million voters in Jakarta are set to cast their ballots at nearly 15,000 polling stations in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The number of polling stations has been reduced by more than half compared to the voting booths available during the general election in February.