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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati on Thursday directed the tax directorate to launch an internal investigation following reports of a data breach affecting around 6 million taxpayers, including President Joko Widodo and other top state officials.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – General Chair of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal, has called upon President-elect Prabowo Subianto to review the Job Creation Law (UU Cipta Kerja), or Omnibus Law. He emphasized the need for a specific review of the employment cluster within the regulation.

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.

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 – 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).

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has issued a strong appeal to Harun Masiku, a fugitive wanted in connection with a bribery case involving civil servants to secure a seat at the House of Representatives (DPR). Harun has been on the KPK's Most Wanted List (DPO) since January 17, 2020.

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.

Hammam Izzuddin, Anwar Siswadi, Jakarta – The West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that the 4.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Bandung Regency, Garut, and surrounding areas on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, resulted in losses totaling Rp385,017,956,250. The damage primarily affected hundreds of residential homes and dozens of public facilities.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Excavators have begun clearing land in the Indonesian region of Papua in what's been described as the largest deforestation undertaking in the world.

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.

A'an Suryana and Norshahril Saat – Negative reactions in Aceh to the ritual of rain shamanism do not mask the contradiction of parts of the Islamic community tolerating 'Islamic shamanism' or mysticism and ritual over science and modernity.

Amendments may increase political patronage and decrease efficiency, observers say.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesia's Parliament on Thursday passed amendments to laws that analysts said have revived concerns about the country's democratic trajectory because they may increase political patronage and reduce the efficacy of state institutions.

Badung, Bali – Virgin Australia Airlines has become the first international airline to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by Indonesia's state-run oil company Pertamina.

The SAF is made of 38.43 percent of synthetic kerosene and 61.78 percent of regular fossil fuel. The synthetic kerosene is produced with used cooking oil.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta – Residents of Rempang Island once again experienced acts of intimidation and violence on Wednesday afternoon, September 18, 2024. In response, Wirya Adiwena, Deputy Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, urged the government to immediately halt the Rempang Eco City project, which is included in the national strategic project (PSN) list.

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.

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.

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 – Alibaba, one of GoTo's largest investors has confirmed its intention to remain a long-term shareholder of the Indonesian tech company, addressing market fears about overhang in GoTo's stock.

Jakarta – Most people would be reluctant to have their salaries cut to feed into a state-sponsored program, especially at a time when everyone is concerned about weakening purchasing power.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 6 percent, following a review of inflation forecasts and the strengthening rupiah.

The central bank also lowered the deposit facility rate to 5.25 percent and the lending facility rate to 6.75 percent during its meeting on September 17-18, 2024.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Wednesday that he had decided to not rush with the signing of the presidential decree on the new capital, even saying that there is a possibility for his successor Prabowo Subianto to ink the document.