Whisnu Bagus Prasetyo, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court (MK) has lowered the threshold for regional head nominations, easing the requirements for political parties.

This revision, requested by the Labor Party and Gelora Party, will allow the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to potentially nominate Anies Baswedan for Jakarta governor.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction has urged the government to reconsider its macroeconomic assumptions regarding the rupiah's exchange rate. In the 2025 state budget draft (RAPBN), the rupiah is projected at Rp 16,100 per US dollar, a figure deemed inconsistent with global economic conditions.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A Russian diplomat talked Tuesday about the possibility of Moscow striking a deal on nuclear power generation with Indonesia, saying Jakarta has to be specific about what sort of cooperation it seeks.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may deny that he had a hand in the sudden, recent resignation of Airlangga Hartarto as Golkar Party chair, just as he dismissed suggestions that he was seeking the chairmanship of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), but the political dynamics over the past few weeks have been undeniably building up to a new political vessel f

Agencies, Sydney, Australia – Australia and Indonesia cemented a landmark new defence pact Tuesday, pledging closer cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as a new leader prepares to take over in Jakarta.

Daniel Hurst – Australia and Indonesia have struck a new security pact that will lead to more joint military exercises and visits, prompting human rights advocates to call for safeguards.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono claimed he had used his own operational funds to hold the first trial of the free nutritious meals program, which is slated to be implemented nationally under president-elect Prabowo Subianto's incoming administration.

Indonesia's incoming president Prabowo Subianto is in Australia. From there, Subianto, a former army general, will return to Jakarta via Port Moresby.

General Subianto says it's a reciprocal trip to honour PNG Prime Minister James Marape's visit to Indonesia in recent times.

Aisyah Amira Wakang, Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo attended the national consolidation event for the 2024 Regional Head Elections at the Jakarta Convention Center on August 20, 2024. He commended the General Elections Commission (KPU) for organizing the 2024 Presidential and Legislative Elections safely, orderly, and efficiently.

Maulani Mulianingsih, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged the government to revoke a regulation allowing the provision of contraceptives to school-age children and adolescents. This provision is outlined in Article 103 (4e) of Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024, signed by President Joko Widodo a.k.a. Jokowi on July 26.

Nazarudin Latif and Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – Indonesian civil society activists hailed a Constitutional Court ruling on Tuesday to revise requirements for a political party to nominate a candidate in elections for regional heads, saying it would preserve democratic principles by preventing big parties from dominating races.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment or Walhi expressed its rejection of the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) program. Along with several civil organizations such as JATAM, KRuHA, CELIOS, and Oil Change International, Walhi holds a symbolic protest at the Japanese Embassy at the same time as the AZEC Ministerial Meeting in Indonesia.

Sebastian Strangio – Australia and Indonesia have agreed to a new defense cooperation agreement that will foster their security cooperation in an increasingly tense and constrained region, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said today.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court on Tuesday issued a ruling to abolish the threshold for political parties or coalitions of parties to be able to nominate candidates for local heads in the November regional head election, a ruling which activists hailed as a win for democracy.

Nila Ertina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI) has condemned the intimidation of journalists covering the 79th Indonesian Independence Day celebrations at the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on Saturday August 17.

Jakarta – Former Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly said on Monday that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave no details as to why he decided to appoint a new figure to replace him in the cabinet.

Yasonna claimed that he had a private meeting with President Jokowi on Sunday night on the eve of Monday's fresh cabinet reshuffle.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Palestine is seeking to step up bilateral trade with Indonesia, which has been a staunch supporter in its fight against Israeli occupation.

Celvin Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) welcomed President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's recent cabinet reshuffle, praising it as a necessary step to ensure a smooth transition of power as Jokowi prepares to conclude his presidency in October.

Deni Ghifari and Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says the green economy and Prabowo Subianto 's flagship free meals program will prop up economic growth next year by fueling micro-level business activity and boosting exports.

Jakarta – The 2025 draft budget is here, and this will be president-elect Prabowo Subianto's first.

The plan drawn up by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration sticks to the safety bounds prescribed by our State Finances Law, which limits the fiscal deficit to no more than 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and the overall accrued debt to 60 percent of GDP.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto sent shockwaves through Indonesia's political landscape when he abruptly stepped down from his position as the leader of the country's second-largest party.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Two months before leaving office in October, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo replaced on Monday two ministers connected to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) whom he perceived as being disloyal to him and president-elect Prabowo Subianto.

Jakarta (Agencies) – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo reshuffles his cabinet on Monday just weeks before he steps down in an effort to ease the transition to his successor, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, his office said.

Jakarta – During his last State of the Nation Address on Friday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo opted to take the easy way out. He washed his hands clean of the past decade of pragmatic rule with an apology that does not do justice to the harm he and his government has inflicted.

Jakarta – The Health Ministry has stated that 88 cases of mpox were detected in the country over the last two years until Independence Day, and that the majority of patients had recovered from the disease.

Ikhsan Reliubun, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's development of the Indonesian Capital Nusantara or IKN in East Kalimantan has attracted haphazard investments, said Greenpeace Indonesia's Forest Campaigner, Muhammad Iqbal Damanik.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Supratman Andi Agtas was appointed as the new justice minister on Monday, succeeding Yasonna Laoly, who had held the position for the past decade.

Yasonna, an executive of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has seen his party's relationship with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo become distant since the last election.

Denny Armandhanu, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reshuffled his Cabinet on Monday (Aug 19) by replacing two ministers linked with the opposition.

Some critics have however questioned the Cabinet changes as they come just two months before Mr Jokowi steps down in October to make way for his successor, president-elect Prabowo Subianto.

Eko Listiyorini – Indonesia is seeking to blend more palm oil with diesel to cut its use of fossil fuels, with the ambitious target raising the risk of tightening supply of the tropical oil.

Indonesia – Indonesia's outgoing President Joko Widodo reshuffled his cabinet in a surprising late-term move that analysts say would bolster the incoming administration's agenda by positioning key allies to maintain continuity and counter the opposition.

The government of Timor-Leste announced on Friday that it would be proceeding with a project to expand and modernise President Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The National Awakening Party (PKB) will reunite with President-Elect Prabowo Subianto after their relationship took a roller-coaster ride in the last election.

PKB Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar confirmed on Sunday that the party will not take an opposition stance against Prabowo, who is set to assume the presidency in October.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Health is tightening the scheme for health checks for foreign nationals entering Indonesia, including state guests to prevent the spread of monkeypox or Mpox. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared the Mpox outbreak a global public health emergency.

Ilona Esterina, Antara, Jakarta – An economist from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), Didik J. Rachbini, has expressed concern about the significant budget deficit projected in the 2025 Draft State Budget (RAPBN).

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) continues to seek coalition partners to secure a nomination ticket for Anies Baswedan and Hendrar Prihadi in the 2024 Jakarta Regional Election.

Sydney – Australian leaders should discuss human rights issues with Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo during meetings in Canberra on August 20, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today.

Larius Kogoya, Sentani – Leading members of the West Papua Council of Churches (WPCC) consider the installation of banners celebrating the 79th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, which used the names of church figures and WPCC leaders, as a strategy by the state to cover up violence and silence of freedom of expression in Papua.

Arya Fernandes – The shock resignation of Golkar chairman Airlangga Hartanto on 12 August 2024 presents a test case for the grand old party as it scrambles to elect a new leader amid rumors of a potential takeover by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman soft launched the use of B50 biodiesel in South Kalimantan on Sunday, harnessing Indonesia's abundance of crude palm oil (CPO).

"This is a happy day, where we directly tested B50 and the engine sounded very good and normal," Amran said, as quoted by the ministry's website on Sunday.

Indonesian human rights activists have strongly criticized a move to offer money to families of enforced disappearance victims as a ploy to clean up tainted image of retired army general and President-elect Prabowo Subianto.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) has confirmed that its Chairperson, Megawati Soekarnoputri, fully accepts President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to remove two PDIP ministers from the cabinet.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has urged resident voters to report any unauthorized use of their identity by gubernatorial hopefuls Dharma Pongrekun and Kun Wardana in fulfilling the legal requirements for contesting November's regional head elections.

Jakarta – An elderly woman was found dead after being attacked by a python in South Sulawesi, police and local officials said Friday, the third such death in the province in as many months.

Maga, a 74-year-old woman, raised concerns when she did not return home on Wednesday, prompting a search by relatives.

Resty Woro Yuniar – Just the thought of moving to Indonesia's ambitious new capital city, Nusantara, is enough to make most people's heads spin – from the logistical challenges to the potential cost. But for one government official, the prospect of relocating is keeping her up at night for an entirely different reason: the fear of falling victim to black magic.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed well-wishes for Indonesia's 79th Independence Day on Saturday, highlighting the two countries' shared goal of "promoting democracy, respect for rule of law and friendship between [...] peoples" in a statement.

Raffa Athallah – When 33-year-old Noviandi first came across a TikTok account offering a service to rent a girlfriend or boyfriend, he was sceptical and suspected it might be a scam.

The account, which only had a few thousand followers, featured blurred photos of Indonesian women and men, all promising to be "your dream partner".

Ikhsan Reliubun, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Organization of Free Papua (TPNPB-OPM) stated that there will be an award given to the health workers to coincide with the celebration of Independence Day or the 79th Anniversary of Indonesia.

Tanjung Pinang – Rempang Island residents in Galang subdistrict, Batam City, Riau Islands, again held a protest action rejecting their relocation to make way for the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN) on Sunday afternoon, August 18.

Jakarta – State-owned defense company Pindad introduced its anti-drone weapons Silent Paralyzing Weapon Series 1 (SPS-1) and the Maung MV3 Mobile Jammer vehicle at the new capital city Nusantara on Friday.

Nabire – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) member Gerson Pigai says that 101 KNPB activists who took part in demonstrations and were arrested by the Nabire District Police (Polres) on Thursday morning, August 15, including three others who were arrested prior to this for handing out leaflets, have now all been released and returned home.