Niniek Karmini – East Timor has been criticised for the cost of Pope Francis' historic visit. The Pope made the visit to one of the world's youngest and poorest countries to the tune of 12 million dollars (#9.1 million), drawing rebuke from activists and human rights organisations.

Ian Wilson – Recent student-led demonstrations throughout Indonesia show that popular support for democracy remains high. This support is not necessarily shared, however, by political parties who are collaborating in an increasingly cartel-like fashion to shrink electoral competition.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil and his running mate Suswono have pledged to prioritize the revitalization of Jakarta's slum areas if they win the upcoming November election.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia announced Monday that people had become more confident in the country's economy, thus maintaining the trend of growing consumer optimism.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is set to establish the Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO) this year, a key step in its nuclear energy strategy that includes plans for domestic uranium production. This initiative will be officially announced to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna next week.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung has announced plans to extend the contract duration for the city's Orange Troops (PPSU) from one year to three years and to double the incentives for neighborhood and community leaders (RT/RW).

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir and Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi have officially inaugurated Angkasa Pura Indonesia, known as InJourney Airports, following the merger of state airport operators Angkasa Pura I and Angkasa Pura II. This merger is expected to enhance the global competitiveness of Indonesian airports.

Jakarta – The state-owned Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) is planning to use facial recognition technology to identify millions of its policyholders and to prevent fraud in the National Health Insurance (JKN) system.

Ato 'Lekinawa' da Costa, Dili, Timor-Leste – A solidarity group for the independence of West Papua raised West Papuan flag during Pope Francis' visit to Timor-Leste.

Tria Sutrisna, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has officially revoked Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree (TAP MPRS) Number 33/1967 on the Revocation of Executive Powers from President Sukarno, Indonesia's founding president.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) expresses concern following the recent arrest of journalist Antonieta Kartono Martins, who was covering the eviction of street vendors in Timor-Leste's capital. This obstruction of journalism in a country widely regarded as a regional model of press freedom sends a troubling signal.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Residents of Indonesia's South Sumatra province have filed a lawsuit against three pulpwood companies for a toxic haze that they blame on repeated burning in their concessions.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported a coastal flooding in Medan City, North Sumatra on Saturday, September 7, 2024, due to heavy rainfall that coincided with high tide.

Antara, Jakarta – Ten medical workers from three branches of the Indonesian armed forces (TNI) have entered Rafah, Gaza Strip, Palestine, to treat refugees and victims of Israeli strikes at the field hospital operated by the Uni Arab Emirates.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ceramic Industry Association (Asaki) has written to the Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, on Friday, September 6, 2024. They urged the State Treasurer to issue a Ministerial Regulation concerning the anti-dumping import duties (BMAD) on imported ceramic tile from China.

Antara, Jakarta – Banyumas Regency, Central Java, was struck by severe floods and landslides on Sunday night, September 8, 2024. The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is currently responding to the disaster, which was caused by extreme weather conditions characterized by prolonged heavy rainfall.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Indonesia has already done a significant portion of the construction work for the airport in Indonesia's new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan and everything is on track for the project to finish by Dec. 31, according to Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

Dili – When Pope Francis touches down in the Timor-Leste capital of Dili this week, he will be landing in a totally different nation to the one visited by his predecessor.

Lillian Rangiah – Twenty-five years since Timor Leste voted to end more than two decades of Indonesian occupation, Lurdes Pires is still haunted by the memory of what came next.

"When I left, Dili was on fire," she said. "I went back ... and the whole place smelled of death – rotten flesh, rotten blood."

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Bekasi, Indonesia – Former senior leaders of the now-defunct terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) held a gathering in Bekasi, a satellite town of Jakarta on Sept 8, urging former comrades to stand down, turn themselves in and to contribute to peace and economic development in Indonesia.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil's unique campaign promise to offer an architect in every district is facing early challenges, as a recent survey shows that it may not resonate with Jakarta voters.

Widy Wicaksono, Semarang – Andika Perkasa is projected to secure a decisive victory in the upcoming Central Java gubernatorial election, according to a recent survey by the Indonesian Election Study Institute (LKPI).

This survey marks the first since candidates officially registered with the General Election Commission late last month.

Niniek Karmini, Dili, East Timor – East Timor pulled out all stops for Pope Francis' historic visit to one of the world's youngest and poorest countries to the tune of $12 million, drawing rebuke from activists and human rights organizations in a nation where almost half the population lives in poverty.

Liam Gammon – With six weeks left in Indonesia's presidential office, Joko Widodo continues to try tie up loose ends before handing over power to his successor, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, on 20 October.

Muhammad Fakhruddin, Jakarta – The long-anticipated asset forfeiture bill will not be passed into law by the current House of Representatives despite mounting pressure from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, a senior lawmaker confirmed on Sunday.

Harlyne Joku and Sue Ahearn, Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, and Melbourne – A visit by the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis to a small remote town in north-west Papua New Guinea has seen an historic opening of the land border with Indonesia.

Amy Sood – When Joko Widodo was first elected a decade ago, he was hailed as a "New Hope" while gracing the cover of Time magazine, reflecting the widespread belief that he would root out government corruption and curb elite dominance as Indonesia's president.

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – In the heart of Bali, where yellow-green paddy terraces ripple across the landscape like waves, ancient subak rice fields stand as witness to the island's rich cultural heritage. These intricate, community-led irrigation systems have nourished both the land and its people, a symbol of the delicate balance between nature and tradition.

Jakarta – The warm welcome afforded by the Indonesian people and government to Pope Francis during his three-day stay in Jakarta shows how eagerly awaited was his arrival.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – The Political Strategy Group (PSG) has revealed that 73 percent of Jakarta residents are satisfied with the performance of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, according to the pollster's latest survey.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – The Political Strategy Group (PSG) has released a survey showing that Jakarta residents still favor former Jakarta governors Anies Baswedan and Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the upcoming 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election, despite neither of them competing in the race.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Surabaya – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo bid an emotional farewell during his visit to Surabaya on Friday, as his presidency enters its final weeks before his upcoming retirement.

Hanaa Septiana, Jakarta – The National Strategic Project (PSN) plan for Surabaya Waterfront Land (SWL) has been rejected by local fishers who fear losing their homes and livelihoods.

The central board of the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen's Union (KNTI) said that the SWL Integrated Coastal Area Project had been imposed as a PSN.

Antara, Jakarta – Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Capital A Berhad, AirAsia's parent company, has expressed concern over Indonesia's soaring aviation fuel (avtur) prices, which he claims are the highest in the ASEAN region.

Antara, Jakarta – Prospective Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil, known as RK, responded to the rejection of support from a group of North Jakarta residents and the Jakmania, fans of the Persija Jakarta soccer club, ahead of the 2024 Jakarta Regional Election.

Jakarta – Allegations of hidden backers in the alleged corruption involving the company Timah have come out into the open. The mention of the name of Brig. Gen. Mukti Juharsa at the tin corruption trial is a strong indication that law enforcement officers have been involved in wrongdoing.

Jakarta – In 41 regencies and cities across Indonesia and, local elections will feature only one candidate for each office in the upcoming November 27 vote. Despite an extended deadline, no challengers emerged for these single pairs of candidates and their running mates.

Jakarta – Over the past decade, our para-athletes have proven their ability to win medals in Paralympic Games, the highest level of para-sports competition.

And we are truly proud of them.

Pope Francis' embrace of transgender Catholics has extended from the Vatican around the world to Indonesia, where he's on a four-day official visit to the Southeast Asian island nation.

But trans women on a pilgrimage there to see the pontiff in person were left with only "dreams" of an audience with him after local bishops refused their request to meet him.

Erwin Renaldi – Pope Francis has just left Indonesia as part of his historic, ambitious tour of South-East Asia and the Pacific.

A predominantly-Muslim nation was interestingly the first stop on his journey, the first papal visit in 35 years.

And his visit to Indonesia left a lasting impression on the population – only about 3 per cent of who are Catholic.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo inaugurated Friday the Health Ministry Hospital in East Javan capital of Surabaya which cost the government around Rp 1.6 trillion ($104 million).

Jokowi is hoping that the government hospital will prevent foreign exchange losses from people favoring to get their medical treatment overseas.

Hening Wikan – The term 'energy transition' has become increasingly popular in recent years to describe government-mandated green policies. Before, terms like 'decarbonisation' and 'low carbon development' dominated global policy discourses.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Medan, Indonesia – Indonesian workers who paid thousands of dollars to travel to the United Kingdom to pick fruit say they face the prospect of returning home heavily in debt after being sacked for not meeting unrealistic targets.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – The Indonesian police have detained seven people in a failed plot to attack Pope Francis, who wrapped up the first leg of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour in the archipelago on Sept 6.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 13 August 2024, an incident of arbitrary arrest and intimidation against Papuan activists occurred in the town of Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua Province.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 29 August 2024, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) arbitrarily arrested two indigenous Papuans in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province.

Jakarta – Representatives of a protest action by an alliance of civil society organisations including the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and the Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (KASUM), handed over 82 dossiers and a flash disk to a commissioner from the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM)

Dorian Malovic, Jakarta – "Papua has been living a nightmare of unimaginable violence for over half a century. No one cares about the tragic fate of the Papuan minority, who suffer from the injustices of the ruling powers and the Indonesian military, who accuse them of being separatists," said Father Alexandro Rangga.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Pramono Anung, alongside his running mate Rano Karno, has proposed an extensive plan to install CCTV cameras in every neighborhood across Jakarta if elected in the 2024 gubernatorial race.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, better known as Risma, has officially resigned to focus on her gubernatorial bid in East Java, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo confirmed on Friday.