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.

Yogyakarta – A demonstration by Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta Tuesday August 27 held a theatrical action in which they tried President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace or the Agung Building.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – The Golkar Party has unexpectedly withdrawn its nomination of senior party member Airin Rachmi Diany for the Banten gubernatorial election, effectively ending its potential collaboration with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

The news surfaced on Sunday as Airin was attending a ceremony to formally declare her candidacy.

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.

President elect Prabowo Subianto took the opportunity recently to mention the crisis that occurred in 1998. Prabowo said that the government, which was then led by former president Suharto, was in fact already on the right track.

Nirmala Maulana Achmad, Diamanty Meiliana, Jakarta – President elect Prabowo Subianto says it's not a problem that he is often condemned and vilified. Prabowo said that he was once accused of committing makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) and planning a coup d'etat. He has also been accused of violating human rights.

Theressia Silalahi, Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) has officially thrown its support behind President-elect Prabowo Subianto and his vice president, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, despite previously backing Anies Baswedan in the 2024 Presidential Election. PKB's chairman, Muhaimin Iskandar, was Anies' running mate during the campaign.

Joko Laksono, Boyolali – Mount Merapi, situated on the border between Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), released 18 pyroclastic flows early this morning, moving southwest towards Bebeng River with a maximum runout distance of 1,800 meters.

Jakarta – It has only been a year since the world was declared free from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the celebration proved to be short-lived, as we are now facing another emergency health status from monkey pox, or mpox.

While many countries are downsizing their military forces, Indonesia is going in the opposite direction. The military is expanding, particularly in terms of personnel. This growth is largely driven by the current administration's shift away from post-1998 military reforms, resulting in the military's increased presence in economic, political and social spheres.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – Just days before Pope Francis' apostolic trip to the Asia-Pacific region, with a stop in Indonesia (the world's most populous Muslim nation), Jakarta yesterday was the scene of violent protests over "nepotistic policies" and "familist" conception of power of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Jakarta – Protesters gathered outside Jakarta's Parliament complex for the second day on Aug 23, keeping up the pressure on lawmakers who have promised to scrap a controversial Bill to block candidates not backed by President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto from participating in regional elections come November.

Chandra Asmara, Soraya Permatasari and Adrian Kennedy – It took little more than 24 hours for Indonesian protesters to end a power grab by the nation's elite, showing the depth of anger at dynastic politics and democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

The case of Papuan journalist Victor Mambor, who was the victim of a Molotov bomb attack in early 2023, continues to be a source of controversy and concern. Despite multiple attempts to seek justice, the perpetrators of the attack remain at large.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, and his wife Erina Gudono have faced significant backlash from Indonesian social media users for their lavish trip to the United States while massive domestic protests against government policies are ongoing.

Jakarta – Chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Yahya Cholil Staquf, on Thursday held a meeting with outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Presidential Palace to discuss the outfit's plan to invest in the mining industry.