Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has established a task force to expedite investment in the new capital city of Nusantara or IKN project. Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 25 of 2024, signed on August 5, 2024, officially formed the IKN Investment Acceleration Task Force.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta and the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) have urged the police to thoroughly investigate the alleged act of intimidation against Tempo journalist Hussein Abri Dongoran. Hussein's car was vandalized on August 5, 2024, as he was returning home from a meeting in Central Jakarta.

Teguh Suprayitno, Muaro Jambi, Indonesia – Mbok Hawo picked a clutch of galangal, lemongrass and turmeric as the gaggle of schoolkids assembled by an array of potted plants, arranged in Hawo's garden like bottles in a medicine cabinet.

"Turmeric isn't only for flavoring cooking," the 64-year-old healer explained to the children. "It can also be a medicine for the stomach."

Alfian Kartono and Niniek Karmini, Jayapura, Indonesia – Gunmen stormed a helicopter and killed its New Zealand pilot shortly after it landed in Indonesia's restive Papua region on Monday, and they released two health workers and two children it was carrying, police said.

Manokwari, West Papua – Public organisation Papua Peace Network (JDP) condemned the armed criminal group that killed New Zealander pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Mimika District, Central Papua, on Monday (August 5) morning.

Jakarta – Chairman of the youth-oriented Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Kaesang Pangarep, the 29-year-old son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, said on Monday that he could go toe-to-toe in the Jakarta gubernatorial election with stronger candidates like Anies Baswedan and Ridwan Kamil.

Jakarta – A group of consumers filed a lawsuit against Communications and Information Minister Budi Arie Setiadi with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) for his perceived failure to protect the temporary national data center (PDN) facility from a cyberattack in June.

Jakarta (Agencies) – The body of a New Zealand helicopter pilot shot dead by rebels in Papua has been retrieved, the joint task force of police and soldiers leading the search said Tuesday.

Glen Malcolm Conning, 50, a pilot for PT Intan Angkasa Air Service, was killed Monday after landing in Papua with two Indonesian health workers and two children, all of whom survived.

Jakarta – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua on Monday killed a helicopter pilot from New Zealand after he landed his aircraft in a remote area, authorities said, adding four other passengers on board were safe.

Jakarta – Who is taking care of the elderly? Under the prevailing Indonesian cultural concept of extended family, it is a no brainer that their children and grandchildren are. But now, with modernization, and the trend toward smaller and two-income families, there is no longer a guarantee the elderly can count on the support of their offspring in their twilight years.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The government is looking to partner with Chinese state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec to set up enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects in several depleting oil fields in the country.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – In preparation for the country's simultaneous regional elections in November, political parties have been forming large alliances and jointly nominating candidates, putting popular hopefuls on shaky ground and leaving little room for competition.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin denied Tuesday that taxes were what had caused drug prices to soar, and blamed the expensive medicines on the huge costs needed to promote the products.

Drugs sold in Indonesia can be five times more expensive than those in other Southeast Asian countries.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin clarified that the provision of contraceptives for school-aged children and adolescents aims to reduce maternal mortality rates among teenagers, rather than promoting premarital sex.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Jakarta police have addressed the controversy surrounding a transgender beauty pageant held recently at a hotel in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, after it garnered significant attention on social media.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Transportation Ministry is set to trial a new urban transport system called the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) in the future national capital, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Saturday, an official said on Tuesday.

Despite its name, the ART doesn't require rails to operate.

Antara, Jakarta – The Health Ministry clarified that the provision of contraceptives for adolescents, as stated in a new government regulation, only applies to those who are married and is not intended to promote premarital sex.

Antara, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has revoked the business licenses of 14 banks in Indonesia since early 2024 due to financial collapse.

"In 2014, 14 banks in Indonesia collapsed and had their business licenses revoked. These banks were rural banks (BPR)," said Dian Ediana Rae, OJK's Executive Head of Banking Supervision, on Monday.

Aceh – The Aceh Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) has rejected Government Regulation (PP) Number 28/2024 on Health, one of the points being that it regulates the provision of contraception for school-aged children.

Responding to the reported death of New Zealand pilot Glen Malcolm Conning, who was allegedly killed in Alama District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said:

Zul Akhyar, Banda Aceh – The Ulama Consultative Assembly (MPU) in Indonesia's northern-most province of Aceh has strongly condemned the Miss Beauty Star Indonesia 2024 transgender beauty contest that was held at the Orchardz Industri Hotel Grand Ballroom in Central Jakarta on August 4.

Antara, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority is planning to transform local wisdom in East Kalimantan into a tourist village and living museum, mirroring the success of Bali.

Makassar – Dozens of students were arrested after holding a demonstration in front of the Alauddin Makassar Islamic State University (UIN) campus in South Sulawesi (Sulsel). They were demanding the annulment of a policy which they consider restricts student activities.

Maria Gabrielle Putrinda, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has publicly dismissed speculation about a strained relationship with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Speaking during a ceremony in North Jakarta on Monday, Megawati insisted that her relationship with the president remains positive and without issues.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Jakarta – Indonesian lawmakers Luqman Hakim and Abdul Fikri Faqih have voiced strong concerns about a new government regulation providing contraceptives to school-aged children and adolescents.

Aninda Dewayanti, Muhammad Fajar – Environmental activism remains a cottage industry for the youth who champion Earth's cause in Indonesia. Besides financial pull, they will need organisational evolution before any significant green movement can break the cosy ties between state and dirty business.

Amy Chew – Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto will face a challenging economic landscape when he takes office in October, marked by slowing growth and heightened geopolitical uncertainties.

Ahmad Shoim, Surabaya – Robert Simangunsong, former chair of the National Democrat (Nasdem) Party Surabaya Regional Leadership Council, has been found guilty of falsifying a Master of Law degree.

The Surabaya District Court presided over by Judge Tongani, sentenced him to five months in prison.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The rivalry between National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar and the ruling Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) brothers Yahya Cholil Staquf and Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has taken a new turn as they use the organizations to undermine each other.

Jakarta – The clock is ticking for Indonesia and the European Union to conclude their Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) if both parties wish to finalize it before President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo leaves office on Oct. 20.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesian manufacturers have turned pessimistic about growth prospects on the back of weakening demand, supply chain snarls and rising costs, prompting finger-pointing among politicians and calls for action from business representatives.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Former vice president Jusuf Kalla paid his last respects to Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh at his funeral in Doha, Qatar, on Friday and called for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict during his visit.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government does not intend to change its plan of setting aside Rp 71 trillion (around $4.4 billion) next year to accommodate President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's flagship free lunch program.

Budhy Nurgianto, Jakarta – The Presidential Palace has denied allegations that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's daughter, Kahiyang Ayu, and her husband, Bobby Nasution, hold mining permits.

State Secretary Minister Pratikno denied the issue in response to claims made during the corruption trial of former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Two elite officials from the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) have met with activists and family members of victims of the abduction of pro-democracy activists and riots in Jakarta in 1997-98.

Adhyasta Dirgantara, Diamanty Meiliana, Jakarta – Two senior officials from president elect Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Executive Director Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and Gerindra Deputy Chairperson Habiburokhman, visited former Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) spiritual leader Rizieq Shihab on Sunday August 4.

Victor Mambor and Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jayapura and Jakarta – Rebels in Indonesia's Papua are suspected of killing a New Zealand pilot after he landed a helicopter in a remote part of the province on Monday, Indonesian police said.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB, reported that prolonged rain caused flooding in Dekai District, Yakuhimo Regency, PapuaPegunungan. Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center of BNPB, Abdul Muhari, said two bridges and two places of worship were damaged. A police station and a health facility were also affected.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian economy grew 5.05 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the second quarter of 2024, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – The coalition of political parties that successfully nominated Prabowo Subianto for president has endorsed former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil for the upcoming gubernatorial race in Jakarta, a senior politician announced on Monday.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, recently said that it is very unlikely his party will support Anies Baswedan for the Jakarta gubernatorial election due to "principle matters."

Antara, Jakarta – The Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Ministry prepared a budget of Rp90 billion (US$5.5 million) to compensate people whose land parcels are affected by the development of Nusantara Capital City (IKN), East Kalimantan.

Karunia Putri, Annisa Firdausi I Haris Setyawan, Jakarta – The issue of buying and selling islands has again become a topic of discussion among the Indonesian people.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Regional Leadership Board (DPW) of the People's Justice and Prosperity Party (Prima) held a regional conference at the Sunter Sports Centre in North Jakarta on Sunday August 4.

A 45-year-old man in Indonesia allegedly killed his 60-year-old neighbour after he was hurt and became annoyed by the latter's persistence in asking him why he was not married.

Indonesian media reported that the incident took place in South Tapanuli regency, located in North Sumatra, on July 29.

Jakarta – A separatist group in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua has agreed to free New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens from more than a year in captivity since kidnapping him, according to an audio message issued by a spokesperson on Saturday.

Jakarta – People under the banner of the Alliance of Indonesian Defenders of Palestine (ARI-BP) organized a peaceful demonstration in front of the Embassy of the United States in Central Jakarta to voice support for Palestine.

On Saturday morning, the masses thronged the embassy and demanded that Israel stop the genocide it is committing on Palestinian soil.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), known for its strong opposition to the government, has decided to nominate Bobby Nasution, the son-in-law of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, for the North Sumatra gubernatorial election.

Bobby, currently the mayor of Medan, has now been endorsed by seven political parties.

Ha Noi – Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta left Ha Noi on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of President To Lam.

During his stay, the leader paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid wreaths at the monument to war heroes and martyrs on Bac Sin Street in Ha Noi.

Jakarta – Indonesia has never given up on its dream of hosting the Olympic Games.