Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo denied allegations he has politicized social assistance (bansos) in a bid to support his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the running mate for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming presidential election.

Nivell Rayda, Medan, Indonesia – It was Sunday morning in December, but there were hardly any customers stopping by at Mdm Teti Gusyana's store, one of the few remaining snack shops still standing in Pasar Bengkel, a once bustling town on the eastern coast of Sumatra that has become increasingly deserted.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – With just over a week left before the 2024 simultaneous elections, the government has highlighted its commitment to assisting thousands of people with mental disorders or disabilities across Indonesia to exercise their voting rights on Feb. 14.

Farida Indriastuti – The debate of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for 2024 will enter its fifth round. Ironically, in the four debates the candidates eliminated the crucial issue of women's rights.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest banks posted positive results as the country's economy continued its recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government will begin discussion on the Special Jakarta Region Bill, which is a result of Indonesia's capital relocation to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Chairman of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) M. Fanshurullah Asa assessed that flight tickets in Indonesia are pricey, and one of the factors is the high price of jet fuel or avtur, which is 22-43 times more expensive than in other countries in Southeast Asia.

Jakarta – In the corruption case in Sidoarjo, the KPK gives the impression of having become a political tool. A thorough investigation is needed to remove this impression.

Reno Reza Mahendra, Jakarta – A spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, denied issues that his side would release New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2024.

Antara, Jakarta – Acting Deputy of Medicine and Narcotics Control of BPOM (The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority) Rita Endang estimated that by 2050, 10 million deaths each year are possible due to antimicrobial resistance or AMR. AMR causes infections to be more difficult to treat which risks spreading disease and death.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the government has raised the fertilizer subsidy budget by Rp14 trillion. With a higher budget, 2.5 million more farmers can receive the fertilizer subsidy.

Previously, the government allocated a budget of Rp26.68 trillion for fertilizer subsidies in 2024.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia asks presidential candidates to support the transition towards a green economy. Head of Greenpeace Indonesia, Leonard Simanjuntak, said the issue of green economic transition is important to discuss because it has a long-term impact, citing the climate crises currently occurring throughout the world.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that Rp50.14 trillion of the ministry/agency budget has been blocked in order to become one of the financial sources for the temporary unconditional cash transfer (BLT) food risk mitigation and subsidized fertilizer.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is inviting the public to impose ethical sanctions on presidential and vice presidential candidates number 2, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Roy Triono & Heru Andriyanto, Bandar Lampung – Comedian Aulia Rakhman is set to face a blasphemy trial in connection with a joke he made during a campaign rally supporting presidential nominee Anies Baswedan.

Han Revanda Putra, Antara, Jakarta – The national campaigning team of Prabowo-Gibran claimed the ethical decision of the General Elections Ethics Council or DKPP against General Elections Commission (KPU) members including Hasyim Asy'ari could be weaponized.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – Anti-corruption activist Hanifa Sutrisna denied having accused Raffi Ahmad of money laundering despite an earlier video appearance in which he urged law agencies to investigate the celebrity tycoon.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economic growth slowed last year owing to weak exports driven by lower commodity prices, official data showed Monday.

Indonesian economy expanded 5.05 percent, slightly above government projections but down from 5.3 percent in 2022, Statistics Indonesia said.

Benjamin Plummer – Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appealed for the immediate release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens nearly a year after his capture in Papua, Indonesia.

The Susi Air pilot was taken hostage by West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters on February 7 last year, shortly after landing on a remote Paro airstrip in Nduga, Highland Papua.

Eka Yudha, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Bagus Pribadi, Jakarta – The police are suspected of intimidating several professors and academics taking part in the current stream of criticism over the collapse of democracy under the leadership of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Michael Rose – In September, Timor-Leste will mark a quarter century since its vote for independence from Indonesia, the conclusion of a 24-year long struggle that left few Timorese families untouched.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Several Indonesian ministers are discontented with President Joko Widodo's overspending on social aid and seeming partiality ahead of elections on Feb 14, but they are likely to remain in their posts to maintain government stability, sources told The Straits Times.

Resty Woro Yuniar – Less than two weeks before voters head to the polls to choose Indonesia's next leader, presidential front runner Prabowo Subianto found himself on the defensive following the final televised debate.

Zannie Langford – Indonesia, the world's second-largest seaweed producer, plans to introduce a nationwide export ban on seaweed, following a ban at a provincial level in 2022.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo argued in November that the ban would encourage investment in domestic seaweed processing, as part of a larger suite of export restrictions.

Wellington, New Zealand – New Zealand has called for the immediate release of Kiwi pilot Phillip Mehrtens, a year after he was taken hostage by rebels in Papua region, its foreign minister said on Monday.

Jakarta – With voting day just 10 days away, the 2024 presidential candidates struck a more conciliatory tone in their final televised debate on Sunday, as they addressed issues of education, health, human resources, culture, information technology, social welfare and policy inclusiveness.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – More than 11 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia last year, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), signaling a strong post-pandemic recovery, but businesses expect greater challenges this year as potential visitors and politicians keep their eye on the general election.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Flooding and landslides caused by a series of severe weather events have damaged homes and displaced people in many regions of the country, prompting local and national authorities to issue a public advisory on potential hydrometeorological disasters.

Jakarta – Indonesia needs all the help it can get to accelerate its gaming industry development. However, acting as if the country can set a bunch of terms and pretend not to care if anyone follows through or not, will not be of much help.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Mahfud MD is stepping down from his job as coordinating minister for politics, law and human rights, citing the need to prevent a potential conflict of interests given that he is running for the vice-presidential office in the Feb. 14 election.

Jakarta (Agencies) – Presidential front runner Prabowo Subianto drew flak in his final debate with election rivals Sunday over issues from women's rights to remarks about voters' intelligence, as they battle to run the world's third-largest democracy.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported that Indonesia's economy expanded by 5.05 percent in 2023.

Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) is asking Papuan rebel leader Egianus Kogoya to immediately release Susi Air pilot Captain Philip Mark Mehrtens, who is being held captive by the armed group.

Siwage Dharma Negara and Maria Monica Wihardja – Indonesian Millennials and Gen-Z would like their next president to create jobs, eradicate poverty and combat corruption. While personality dominates the Indonesian election, policy platforms will impact the country's future – and may tilt the election outcome.

Helmut Timothy & Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Despite a "strong reprimand" from the ethics council against top election organizers regarding the candidacy of Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, he remains a legitimate vice-presidential candidate for the upcoming election, an election official said on Monday.

Dio Suhenda and Nur Janti, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) has its integrity put under public scrutiny once again after its leadership was found to have committed ethics violations surrounding Gibran Rakabuming Raka's vice presidential registration.

Yuni Rochmawati, Jakarta – Acting DG of Higher Education of the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry Nizam responded to the wave of campus criticism of the current administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Andika Dwi, Jakarta – Presidential candidate number 2 Prabowo Subianto apologized to his rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo in his closing statement during the final presidential debate on February 4, 2024.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Presidential candidate number two Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia currently lacked doctors and he will add more medical faculties in the country as a measure to tackle the issue. Prabowo relayed his promise during the last presidential debate on Sunday evening, Feb. 4, 2024.

Dicky Kurniawan, Yohanes Maharso Joharsoyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has received 462 electric buses from the World Bank. The buses will operate in a number of cities, such as Bandung and Medan.

Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has promised to appoint Democratic Party chair Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) to a "very important and strategic" position in the next government if he wins the election on Feb. 14.

Jakarta – As many as 14 bands performed at the "High Voltage – Save Our Democracy" concert that was held on the grounds of the March 1, 1949 General Offensive Monument or in front of the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace Agung Building in Central Java on the evening of Saturday February 3.

Jakarta – Ganjar Pranowo plans to turn North Sulawesi into an import-export hub if elected president, saying that doing so would contribute significantly to the province's economic growth.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo pledged on Sunday that he will construct at least one healthcare center in every village across Indonesia should he emerge victorious in the Feb. 14 election.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – In the final presidential debate of the 2024 election on Sunday, presidential candidate Anies Baswedan addressed the critical issues of economic inequality and unequal access in Indonesia.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – As Indonesia eagerly anticipates the 2024 Presidential Election on Feb. 14, 2024, the potential for a single or dual-round election looms. Regardless of the outcome – Anies Baswedan, Prabowo Subianto, or Ganjar Pranowo – business leaders, economists, and investors express a preference for a single-round election.

Madeline Croad, Jakarta, Indonesia – After spa therapist Murniyati survived COVID-19 on a sparse salary, she thought the worst was over.

But after the Indonesian government's announcement of a steep rise in taxes on entertainment services, she fears the salon where she works could be forced to close, leaving her unemployed.

Hariz Baharudin, Jakarta – For months, Indonesia's three presidential contenders have been brandishing hand signs matching their election registration numbers, but now, a new "four-finger" movement has gone viral.

It signals to voters to choose either candidate No. 1, Mr Anies Baswedan, or No. 3, Mr Ganjar Pranowo.

Amy Sood and Resty Woro Yuniar, Jakarta – A year ago, Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo had seemed to be the obvious front runner for the country's top job.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – The frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election speaking fluent Arabic. A long-deceased president praising the incumbent. A presidential candidate being scolded by one of his political backers.