Ririe Ranggasari, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military's TNI headquarters has confirmed that it will not withdraw or increase its troop presence in Papua despite the completion of an operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens from hostage.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Indonesia's tourism industry has surged over the past decade, surpassing nations like Belgium, Turkey, and New Zealand, according to Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno.

Chandra Asmara – A Chinese property developer is set to be the first foreign investor to build in Indonesia's planned capital of Nusantara, giving President Joko Widodo's signature project a modest boost weeks before his term ends.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) is currently embroiled in a leadership dispute, with two figures – Anindya Novan Bakrie and Arsjad Rasjid – each claiming the position of chair.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The smooth transition of power from the outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to President-elect Prabowo Subianto is expected to positively impact Indonesia's investment climate, according to an economist.

Chandra Kurnia, Ichsan Ali, Cirebon – Approximately 18,000 students participate in a five-day trial of free nutritious meals program in Cirebon, West Java, on Wednesday.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Former Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita said Tuesday that President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's free meal plan could help unlock Indonesia's golden era.

Cirebon, Indonesia – A programme backed by the Group of Seven (G-7) to close coal power plants in emerging markets is facing further delays, after a July deadline passed without a deal on the early closure of an Indonesian power plant that would be the first to shut under the initiative.

Delfi Neski, Padang – Three newly-elected members of a local legislative council in West Sumatra were arrested during a "meth party" at a hotel in the provincial capital, Padang, police said on Monday.

A private citizen who was with the councilors in the hotel room was also taken into custody.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The headquarters of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) said the involvement of former acting regent of Nduga, Edison Gwijangge, in the operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was full of political interests ahead of the 2024 regional election.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – An economist from Paramadina University, Didin S. Damanhuri, said the manufacturing industry sector in Indonesia is experiencing a significant drop, especially when compared to the New Order era. According to Didin, this decline is drawn by comparing industrial growth and the country's economic growth.

Oyuk Ivani S, Jakarta – The Ministry of Trade reported that Indonesia's import value in August 2024 amounted to US$20.67 billion, a 4.93 percent drop compared to July 2024 at US$21.47 billion.

Jakarta – Farmers called on the government to carry out agrarian reform during a protest near the Arjuna Wiwaha Monument in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to mark this year's National Farmers' Day.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – Indonesia has witnessed massive infrastructure development during Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's 10-year presidency.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently launched the production of mining giant Freeport Indonesia's smelter at Gresik Special Economic Zone in East Java.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – A contract teacher from Banyuwangi, identified as Barik Abdul Ghofur, 25, has been arrested for hacking into the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) website and selling the stolen data on the dark web, allegedly earning $8,000 (approximately Rp 121 million).

Nick D – When the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) government crumbled in the face of Japan's military offensive in Southeast Asia, moves were made to evacuate the colonial regime. A month after General ter Poorten surrendered unconditionally to the Japanese Commander in-Chief on 8 March 1942, the NEI Commission was established in Australia to set up a colonial government in exile.

Geneva – The Mandalika urban development and tourism project in Indonesia poses the risk of irreparable harm to Indigenous Peoples' rights, UN experts* warned today, calling on all responsible parties to suspend the project until these concerns are addressed.

Jakarta – Protesters from various different organisations commemorating National Farmers Day (HTN) in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) parliamentary complex on Tuesday September 24 brought a number of demands related to agrarian reform, which they see as still not siding with the ordinary people.

Jakarta – It would not have come as a surprise to the informed reader that Indonesia is on course to miss its clean power target by a wide margin.

The writing has been on the wall as investment in renewable energy generation has been hampered by a host of factors.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Three pairs of gubernatorial and vice-gubernatorial candidates officially launched their campaigns for the Jakarta gubernatorial election by signing a declaration for a peaceful campaign on Tuesday.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – Pertamina Patra Niaga, a subsidiary of state-owned oil and gas giant Pertamina, affirmed that the company would comply with the government's policy regarding the distribution of subsidized fuel, including both Pertalite and Biosolar.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Bella Evanglista, East Kalimantan – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's presidential plane, the RJ-85, successfully made its inaugural landing at the VVIP Nusantara Airport in Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, on Tuesday. The historic touchdown took place at around 4 p.m. local time and was met with cheers and applause.

Sekarsari Sugihartono – Recently, Indonesia made headlines when it announced the lifting of a long-standing ban on the export of sea sand. This move, reversing a 2003 prohibition, opened the door to significant economic opportunities, but also stirred concerns about the environmental implications.

Antara, Jakarta – The launch of Indonesia's National Data Center (PDN) 2 in Surabaya, originally planned for October 2024, faces delays due to budget constraints, Deputy Minister of Communications and Informatics Nezar Patria announced.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is open to joining the upcoming government led by President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka, according to the party's Political Affairs Chair, Puan Maharani.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo launched Monday a copper smelter belonging to mining giant Amman Mineral Internasional in West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara.

Jakarta – Jakarta and Wellington denied Monday a claim by rebels in Indonesia's restive region of Papua that a New Zealand pilot was freed from captivity over the weekend after they received payment from a local leader.

Phillip Mehrtens, 38, was released on Saturday by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group after 19 months in captivity.

The family of freed New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens say they are "extremely grateful and relieved" he has been released and will soon be reunited with them.

Local police announced on Saturday the New Zealand pilot had been freed after more than one and a half years in captivity in West Papua, Indonesia.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus and Victor Mambor – Jakarta and Wellington on Monday denied claims by a Papuan rebel spokesman that Indonesian authorities had paid a guerrilla commander to free a New Zealand pilot from 19 months of captivity.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Gresik – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo confirmed that Indonesia has not yet left the negotiation table regarding an increase in its stake in gold miner Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), a subsidiary of Freeport McMoRan, by an additional 10 percent, aiming to raise its ownership to 61 percent.

Singgih Wiryono, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) spokesperson Sebby Sambom has denied claims by the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Police (Polri) that the release of Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens was a result of their efforts.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – Environmentalists and broad sectors of Indonesian civil society have welcomed with shock and disapproval the decision by outgoing President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, whose term expires on 20 October, to lift the ban on the export of ocean sand, used mainly in the construction industry.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Weak passwords and negligence in accessing the data center may have contributed to a recent breach of the taxpayer identification number database, a senior official said on Monday.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remains the sole party that has not officially announced support for the upcoming government under Prabowo Subianto.

PDI-P Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri plans to meet President-Elect Prabowo soon, according to House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani – who is Megawati's daughter.

Eva Corlett in Wellington – On 7 February 2023, Phillip Mehrtens' life took an unexpected and harrowing turn.

Indonesia, West Papua – A new report has revealed the devastating impacts of palm oil investment in Papua, Indonesia, on both the environment and indigenous communities. The study, conducted by researcher Wiko Saputra, found that while the economic benefits of the industry are limited, the environmental and social costs are significant.

Antara, Jakarta – A decision by the Indonesian government to reopen sea sand export has been met with opposition from experts and environmental groups. The government justifies the decision by claiming the sand is a result of natural sedimentation.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A researcher from the Economic and Social Research, Education, and Information Institute (LP3ES), Herlambang Wiratraman, said the possibility of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) joining the Prabowo-run government will worsen the condition of democracy in Indonesia.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The House of Representatives has passed a revision of the Presidential Advisory Council Law, which will allow president-elect Prabowo Subianto to reward those who contributed to his electoral win with seats on the council.

Dayat, Jakarta – The Jakarta Election Oversight Body (Bawaslu) announced on Sunday that heckling gubernatorial candidates or obstructing their campaigns could lead to criminal prosecution.

The campaign period is set to run from Wednesday until four days before the election, which will be held on November 27.

New video footage has been released of a peaceful hand-over ceremony of Kiwi pilot Phillip Mehrtens' release in West Papua.

The footage, sent to RNZ Pacific by a member of the West Papua Council of Churches, shows a formal ceremony followed by Mehrtens shaking hands with a number of locals before entering a helicopter and being flown away.

Jakarta – The recent leadership turmoil within the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has sparked widespread concerns about political interference by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration.

Ayos Carlos, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's massive tollway expansion during his 10-year presidency has bore fruits for the logistics industry.

Jakarta – The Urban Poor Network (JRMK) held a demonstration in front of the Jakarta provincial National Elections Commission (KPU) offices on Monday morning, September 23, supporting the three-candidate ticket movement or golput (to abstain from voting or invalidate the ballot paper) in the 2024 Jakarta election or election of regional heads on November 27.

Caleb Fotheringham – The Foreign Minister has called claims a Papua New Guinea politician paid a bribe ahead of the release of kidnapped New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens "a disgrace".

Rachel Farahdiba Regar, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police Chief Insp. Gen. Karyoto asserted that the patrol activities of the force's Precision Team could not be blamed in the case of the discovery of 7 bodies in the Bekasi River on Sunday, September 22.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian government's Illegal Import Task Force found 2,929 rolls of illegally imported prayer mats and carpets worth approximately Rp10 billion. Minister of Trade, Zulkifli Hasan, confirmed the finding in an expose on Monday, September 23, 2024.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Jakarta – A total of 8.2 million voters in Jakarta are set to cast their ballots at nearly 15,000 polling stations in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

The number of polling stations has been reduced by more than half compared to the voting booths available during the general election in February.

Antara, Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidates Pramono Anung, Ridwan Kamil, and Dharma Pongrekun have pledged to keep their campaigns free of religious and identity politics, calling for a peaceful and exemplary election as they secured their ballot numbers for the 2024 race.