Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Separatist rebels in Indonesia's restive Papua region on Wednesday said they would like to release a New Zealand pilot taken hostage nearly a year ago, but officials in Jakarta and Wellington were delaying negotiations for his freedom.

Jack Moore – Joko Widodo has led Indonesia for a nearly a decade pledging to do things differently, but he stands accused of manoeuvring to build his own political dynasty in next month's presidential vote in a country long known for its nepotistic politics.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – West Sumatra and West Java have joined Bali in implementing an entertainment tax of less than 40 percent for establishments like nightclubs, karaoke spots, bars, and spas, as announced by Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto will not bring back the tax amnesty program and instead aims to enhance the tax ratio as a means to increase state revenue.

"Indonesia has exercised several tax amnesties. We will not continue that," Eddy Soeparno, a member of Prabowo's expert council said at a conference in Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The increased distribution of subsidized fertilizer has done little to improve agricultural production in the country, industry players and experts say, noting that other aspects must be enhanced for Indonesia to achieve agricultural self-sufficiency.

Su-Lin Tan, Singapore – The Australian government has pledged A$35 million (US$23 million) towards supporting East Timor's policing services and another A$4 million (US$2.6 million) in aid to help Timorese workers integrate in Australia, as Canberra continued to make good on its intentions to improve regional relations amid China's increased influence.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) assessed that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has failed to contribute to strengthening the anti-corruption agenda. This is in consideration of the stagnant discussion on the asset forfeiture bill.

Jakarta – When we reflect, in the years ahead, on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decade in power, we may recall it as a Big Bang for the country's infrastructure – with all of that cosmic event's chaotic consequences.

Johannes Nugroho – The arrest of an Indonesian social media celebrity for her alleged involvement in an adult film ring has again sparked debate over the Muslim-majority country's strict anti-pornography laws amid calls for legal and social reform.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Singkawang, a city in West Kalimantan, has once again been named Indonesia's most tolerant city for the third consecutive time by the human rights group Setara Institute.

Officials in Indonesia's tourism hotspot of Bali are on the hunt for a British influencer after she took a swipe at the island's "unbearable" traffic and called the famous Kuta beach "absolutely awful" in viral TikTok videos.

Aisyah Llewellyn – Families and friends of those who died in a deadly bomb attack in Bali in Indonesia that killed 202 people and injured another 200 have expressed shock and anger after two Malaysians incarcerated at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for their roles in the attack had their jail sentences cut from 23 years to five.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has invited Turkish investors to help develop an offshore tuna farm in the country's eastern Papua region, which it aims to turn into a major tuna export hub.

Timika, Jubi – On Saturday (27/1/2024), the Acting Regent of Intan Jaya, Apolos Bagau, facilitated a meeting between the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of Intan Jaya Regency and the Intan Jaya people, as well as religious figures in Sugapa, the capital of Intan Jaya.

Jayapura, Jubi – Jayapura Bishop Yanuarius Theofilus Matopai You emphasizes that violence and conflict in Papua can only be resolved through peaceful dialogue. This sentiment was expressed during a public discussion organized by the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Secretariat of the Franciscans in Papua, held in Jayapura City on Monday (29/1/2024).

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – A judge in Jakarta ruled for former vice justice minister Edward Omar Sharief Hiariej on Tuesday and ordered the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to drop corruption charges against him.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – A recent poll by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) of Denny JA indicated that 80.8 percent of respondents are satisfied with the performance of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in his final year in office.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi handed over rice assistance from the government's rice reserves (CBP) at the Bulog Purwomartani warehouse in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta on Monday, January 29. He said the aid was given in response to the surge in rice prices due to crop failures in almost all countries.

Bilal Ramadhan, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has responded to Indonesia's latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score which was recently released by Transparency International Indonesia (TII). Indonesia's score in 2023 experienced a stagnation compared with previous years.

Jakarta – The Four Finger Salute (Salam 4 Jari) movement or campaign initiated by Indonesian Green Party president John Muhammad has gone viral on social media platforms X (Twitter) and Instagram.

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – Institute for Economic and Social Research – Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB UI) has recently released Indonesia's Q1 of 2024 economic outlook report, highlighting the country's economic growth, titled 'Transitional Year'.

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – IKN Authority head Bambang Susantono said the Nusantara capital city (IKN) will be built differently than other Indonesian metropolitans.

According to Bambang, IKN will be free of traffic jams which is so often a plight in other big cities in Indonesia, especially Jakarta.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani is planning to introduce a student loan program funded by the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), modeled after a similar program in the United States.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A German diplomat said Tuesday that his country was keeping a close eye on Indonesia's capital relocation amidst the government's attempts to convince foreign investors.

Jakarta – Sholeh, the owner of a meatball soup shop in the Magelang district of Bandongan, said he did not expect to see President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.

Jokowi and Prabowo recently made headlines for having lunch at Sholeh's meatball soup shop. They were in Magelang for the inauguration ceremony of a new military academy facility.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Magelang – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, accompanied by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, officially inaugurated the main building of the Military Academy (Akmil) in Magelang, Central Java, on Monday.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – GoTo CEO Patrick Walujo has dismissed allegations that the government's recent curbing of TikTok's operations in Indonesia was a collusive act intended to compel the Chinese short-video platform to strike a deal with the Indonesian tech giant's e-commerce arm, Tokopedia.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) neutrality pledge for the upcoming presidential election has come under scrutiny following reports of its leadership mobilizing support for candidate pair Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Indonesia's nickel miners are bracing for a price slump in 2024, as the global glut is expected to continue growing while demand growth has declined.

A slew of announcements by companies worldwide about cutting production and closing mines has yet to prop up the metal's prices, and analysts do not expect the reduced supply to lift them soon.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo claims he is within his legal rights in taking sides and taking part in campaigns in the coming general election, literally thumbing his nose at a petition calling for his impeachment because of his constant interventions in the race.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Jakarta City Administration has doubled the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax (PBBKB) from 5 percent to 10 percent, but according to an expert, the increase is not expected to have a significant impact.

Jakarta – Thousands of lawyers from the Indonesian Advocate Alliance recently declared their support for the presidential candidate pairing of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2024 election.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) called for increased participation from young voters in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for this year.

Jakarta – In just two weeks, voters will head to the polls for one of the world's largest single-day elections. However, many people are still uninformed about how the legislative race fits into the grander scheme of things.

Jakarta – Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan has lamented the fact that North Maluku, one of the country's richest provinces, still lives in poverty and faces teacher shortages and poor school infrastructure.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – North Maluku's Halmahera Study Forum of Foshal, The Indonesian Forum for Environment, Trend Asia, and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation revealed a plethora of problems found in the nickel downstream agenda. The Jokowi-initiated program in North Maluku, for example, led to a massive deforestation issue.

Sydney – Australia said it will spend $23 million to support policing in East Timor, boosting disaster response and technology capabilities in the small Southeast Asian neighbor that recently upgraded ties with China.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy arrived in East Timor on Monday and met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Jayapura, Jubi – Frits Ramandey, the Head of the Papua Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua), emphasized that mining activities in the Wabu Block in Intan Jaya should obtain permission from the indigenous landowners.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has set a goal of attracting a minimum of 1,000 individual investors through the introduction of the 'golden visa' program, granting an extended stay permit in the country.

Surya Lesmana, Semarang – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto said Sunday his chance to win the February 14 election has improved significantly since he appointed Gibran Rakabuming Raka as his running mate.

During a campaign rally in Semarang, Prabowo pointed to many polls suggesting that he now even has a chance to secure an outright win in the three-person race.

Jakarta – Presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto discussed the upcoming 2024 presidential election with Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo, as well as members of the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia (KWI) in Jakarta recently.

According to Cardinal Suharyo, Prabowo talked of his commitment to preserving unity among the people ahead of the 2024 election.

Antara, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency or BMKG Balikpapan detected 77 hotspots across East Kalimantan.

Michelle Gabriela Momole, Jakarta – Economist Thomas Trikasih Lembong, popularly known as Tom Lembong, highlighted the second-term curse of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's administration in a podcast with Novel Baswedan, a former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), released on Sunday, January 28.

Aisyah Amira Wakang, Jakarta – Former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Yudi Purnomo Harahap expressed his concern about the decline in the National Integrity Index in 2023. "This decline is certainly worrying," he told Tempo on Sunday, January 28.

Ternate – The North Maluku Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Halmahera Study Forum (FOSHAL), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and Trend Asia have revealed the adverse effects caused by nickel downstreaming in the country of kings.

Human rights observers have expressed concerns regarding a series of armed clashes in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, from 19 to 24 January 2024, which resulted in two Papuan men killed and one Papuan woman injured by joint security forces.

Magelang – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has responded to a statement by presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto, who referred to the Onward Indonesia Coalition (KIM) of political parties backing his presidential bid as "Team Jokowi".

Ashlynn Hannah, Jakarta – Indonesian companies are lagging behind their counterparts in Asia Pacific on generative artificial intelligence adoption, according to the PwC's 27th Annual Global CEO Survey.

Around 53 percent of CEOs in Indonesia report generative AI has not yet been implemented in their companies, compared with 41 percent in the Asia Pacific region.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Magelang – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo shared a meal with his potential successor, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, at a restaurant in Magelang on Monday.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia's election lineup next month will be dominated by men, but a number of women are trying to break into a political scene long overshadowed by patriarchal elites.