Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono has requested an additional budget of Rp20.32 trillion for the development of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara or IKN, in 2025.

Sukma Kanthi Nurani, Ilona Estherina, Haura Hamidah and Rachel Faradiba, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, held a meeting at his office on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, to discuss the potential of the Indonesian middle class.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has clarified a previous statement about feeling abandoned by a certain group. During an interview with reporters, he stated that his intention was to emphasize the importance of collective effort and unity within the community.

Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto has nothing to gain by supporting Jokowi's reckless destruction of democracy. It will be a burden for his administration.

Diva Suukyi Larasati, Jakarta – Jakarta State University (UNJ) lecturer Ubedilah Badrun reported Kaesang Pangarep to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), alleging that President Joko Widodo's youngest son had received a gratification in the form of a Gulfstream G650ER aircraft facility to travel to the United States.

Chandra Asmara – Indonesia's largest party unexpectedly named President Joko Widodo's cabinet secretary as its candidate in November's Jakarta gubernatorial election, ending speculation that the party would back the president's top critic.

Abdul Muslim, Jakarta – Indonesia has mandated that 18,232 private electronic system providers (PSEs), including major firms like Google, Meta, TikTok, and X, sign an integrity pact to combat online gambling.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung has confirmed that he received President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's approval to run in the 2024 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto recently reflected on his political journey, particularly focusing on his successful presidential bid after joining forces with his former rival, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Wahyu Setyowati, Jakarta – Indonesia is among the world's largest palm oil producers, but it still somewhat struggles to compete with its close neighbor Malaysia, according to palm oil industry association Gapki.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's oil palm plantation funding agency BPDPKS reported Tuesday that the non-tax state revenue from palm oil export levies had reached Rp 15.88 trillion (around $1 billion) as of July 2024.

Lydia Lewis, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) wants to have a meeting with Indonesia's incoming President Prabowo Subianto to address ongoing human rights concerns in West Papua.

Adil Al Hasan, Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had coordinated with President-elect Prabowo Subianto about several programs the administration would run, including food supply chain and strengthening food security. She said Prabowo will focus on two new commodities, rice and corn.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto said that being an opposition is not reflective of Indonesian cultural values. Prabowo said opposition in the government is a Western value.

Nazarudin Latif, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan, the frontrunner in opinion polls for this year's gubernatorial race in Indonesia's capital, on Wednesday effectively lost the chance to contest for re-election.

Ahmad Syamsudin, Jakarta – As the tiny nation of Timor-Leste prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary on Friday of its vote for independence from Indonesia, some Timorese say it is an apt occasion to reflect on whether freedom has improved their lives.

Simon Hutagalung – In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as a favoured destination for major technology companies such as Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, while Indonesia, despite its vast potential, has not been successful in attracting equivalent levels of investment from these industry giants.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The Industry Ministry is finalizing a proposal to relocate entry points of some imported goods from ports on Java Island to eastern Indonesia in a move to curb the entry of foreign goods that threaten the local manufacturing industry, including those illegally procured.

Jakarta – The way children are treated from birth to around 6 years old has a deep and lasting effect on their future. To shine in their adulthood, young souls need the right cognitive stimulation, physical activity and nutrition to develop their creativity, literacy and logical thinking.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo presented the draft state budget (RAPBN) for the 2025 fiscal year to the House of Representatives on Aug. 16, one of his last acts as president before giving the reins to the incoming administration under president-elect Prabowo Subianto. The RAPBN highlights the government's focus on improving human capital.

Jakarta – The government has taken several preventive measures against mpox ahead of the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), which is expected to host around 1,500 participants from 51 countries, including 22 African nations, from Sept. 1 to 3 in Bali.

Aisyah Llewellyn – Indonesia has been ablaze with protests in recent weeks following the announcement of a controversial new election law, drawing activists and celebrities alike who see it as a direct assault on democracy.

Max Walden – They were scenes that would have terrified politicians in any country.

Last week, Indonesian protesters wheeled in a mock guillotine with an effigy of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and pulled down the fences of parliament in Jakarta.

Sas and Vonia Vieira, Dili – As always in Timor-Leste, there was a prayer before the big event. Minutes later, the bulldozers rolled in. And in an instant, the homes of Tasitolu were gone.

"I'm very sad," local resident Ana Bela da Cruz told the ABC as her home was demolished in the background.

Dili, East Timor – When the Vatican acknowledged in 2022 that the Nobel Peace Prize-winning, East Timorese independence hero Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo had sexually abused young boys, it appeared that the global clergy sexual abuse scandal that has compromised the Catholic Church's credibility around the world had finally arrived in Asia's newest country.

At least 11 journalists were injured and their equipment was damaged when police used physical force during last week's protests in Indonesia. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for a transparent and independent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has admitted to facing significant delays in investigating a torture case involving indigenous Papuan civilians in Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

Kusumasari Ayuningtyas, Surakarta, Central Java – Mangkunegara X, the titular king of Surakarta, Central Java, has withdrawn from the city's mayoral race in an announcement made just a day before the candidate registration deadline.

Ian Cheng, Singapore – About 450 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) took part in the 35th edition of the annual Exercise Safkar Indopura.

Yustinus Paat, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – East Java is poised to have a female governor for another term as Khofifah Indar Parawansa seeks reelection, facing competition from Luluk Nur Hamidah of the National Awakening Party (PKB), with Tri Rismaharini from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) potentially joining the race.

Yogyakarta – A demonstration by Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta Tuesday August 27 held a theatrical action in which they tried President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace or the Agung Building.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Businesses want to see the state allocate more funds to Nusantara's development before they themselves feel confident about investing in the future capital city.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Golkar chairman Bahlil Lahadalia denied Tuesday that his party endorsed Airin Rachmi's Banten gubernatorial bid out of fear that the female politician would jump ships to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Elizabeth Sinclair, Ubud, Indonesia – Inside the small, open-air stone temple in the center of the Lotudunduh rice fields, a farmer wraps a sarong and sash around his mud-spattered work clothes.

Ika Ningtyas and Nuurrianti Jalli – Virtual and physical resistance to the ruling elite's attempts to trample on democracy last week in Indonesia became a powerful reminder of how social media can be a force multiplier in democracy.

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to reinstate the full tax break on property purchases worth up to 5 billion rupiah ($323,000) for the second half of 2024 to help support demand, its chief economic minister said on Tuesday.

Under the policy, the government covers the cost of value-added tax on up to 2 billion rupiah of the price of an eligible landed house or apartment purchase.

Tim Lindsey and Simon Butt – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, whose final term in office ends on October 20, has presided over ten years of democratic regression in Indonesia.

Rahman Yaacob – Indonesia is indeed a friend to all. Shortly after the Indonesian President-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto finalised a defence agreement with Australia, Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak announced a plan over the weekend to conduct a bilateral military exercise with China in 2025.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – For the first time since it declared independence in 1945, Indonesia held its official national day celebrations outside Jakarta this year. Flag-raising ceremonies were observed simultaneously on Aug. 17 in Jakarta, on the island of Java, and in Nusantara, the country's new capital city, currently being carved out the jungles of Borneo.

The 2024 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting is a critical moment for Pacific leaders to show courage and leadership on one of the biggest issues facing our region: West Papua.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has called on the Central Java and South Sulawesi police to immediately evaluate how they handled protests and demonstrations in Semarang and Makassar, following reports of repressive force by officers during Monday night's protests.

Thousands of military personnel from Indonesia, the US, and eight other countries began two weeks of exercises Monday, focused on joint capabilities in the Asia-Pacific.

The region, particularly in the South China Sea, has seen tensions rise this year with flashpoints between littoral states claiming sovereignty over disputed islands and waterways.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the Central Java Police's Public Relations Sr. Comr. Artanto stated that 32 vocational high school and college students remained under investigation at the Semarang Police Headquarters following the demonstration in front of the Semarang City Legislative Council (DPRD) Building on Monday, August 26, which ended in chaos.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Yogyakarta – Students and activists in Yogyakarta joining the Aksi Jogja Memanggil or Jogja is Calling movement have taken to the streets again on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, demanding an end to the political dynasty of Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Jakarta – The sudden resignation of Airlangga Hartarto as Golkar Party chairman on Aug. 12 and the uncontested election of Bahlil Lahadalia as his successor nine days later show how dependent Indonesia's oldest political party is on the country's ruler. Golkar changes guard when the government wills it.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A total of 28 Expert Council Members of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have resigned from the party, citing disagreements with the leadership's decision to join the broader Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM Plus) in the 2024 regional elections.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto says a European Union embargo on Indonesian palm oil products is "a blessing in disguise", as it could strengthen the country's energy self-sufficiency.

The president-elect said he had conveyed that message during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last month.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Ahmad Luthfi, the gubernatorial candidate for Central Java from the Coalition for Advanced Indonesia (KIM) Plus, has welcomed the candidacy of his rival, former Army Commander Andika Perkasa, in the upcoming 2024 Regional Election.

Aditya Pratama, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Celebrities continue to captivate voters, making them prime candidates for political parties to endorse in legislative elections.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government announced Tuesday it would continue to entirely exempt value-added tax (VAT) for house purchases until the end of 2024.