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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia has confirmed plans to limit the purchase of subsidized fuel starting October 1, 2024.

"There is indeed a plan [to limit it]," Bahlil told reporters after a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII at the Parliament Building, on Tuesday, August 27, 2024.

Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo, Jakarta – Tempo Media Group has established the Tempo Creator Network to safeguard artists, activists, and content creators from the potential threats posed by the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

Daniel A. Fajri, Ade Ridwan, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has instructed the police to release arrested protesters, emphasizing that Indonesia is a democratic country where the expression of aspirations and opinions is a fundamental right.

Annisa Febiola, Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro highlighted the violence perpetuated by authorities at protests in various Indonesian regions.

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.

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.

Marcus Wong and Ruth Carson – The massive foreign inflow into Indonesian bonds this month may extend, if investor positioning is anything to go by.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos Horta has termed the preparations for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis a "logistical nightmare" due to various challenges, but expressed hope everything will go as planned, says a report.

Heru Andriyanto, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan's hopes for reelection were dashed on Tuesday when the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) decided against nominating him for the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian democracy is facing the gravest threat to its survival since authoritarian President Suharto fell in 1998, with recent student-led protests reflecting that citizens are pushing back, analysts said.

Nava Nuraniyah, Indonesia – On 22 August, following a massive social media backlash and star-studded protest movement organised by civil society groups, Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) capitulated to protesters' demands to abort a controversial Local Elections Bill that was scheduled for passage that day.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The populous Indonesia is aiming to be free of extreme poverty in 2025 as the government allocates hundreds of trillions of rupiahs for social protection programs in Prabowo Subianto's first year in office.

Jakarta – Newly-appointed Golkar Party Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Tuesday the party's endorsement of Airin Rachmi Diany and her running mate Ade Sumardi for the upcoming Banten gubernatorial election. The announcement comes just three days after Bahlil had stated that the party would support a rival candidate.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

Jakarta – The multinational joint exercise Super Garuda Shield 2024 commenced on Monday with an opening ceremony at the Juanda Naval Air Base in Sidoarjo, East Java, which includes cyber threat exercises for the first time.

Lydia Lewis, Nuku'alofa, Tonga – West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia, so responsibility lies with them in addressing independence demands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister, James Marape, says.

But the leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, told RNZ Pacific the issue was not about sovereignty.

Max Lane – Throughout Indonesia on 22 August, thousands of students, workers, the urban poor and middle class people took to the streets to protest the passing of a law annulling a ruling of the Constitutional Court (MK) delivered two days prior.

Peter Milne – Santos could lose control of its Bayu Undan gas project north of Darwin on Friday unless it agrees with the Timor-Leste government to give it a share of the project, according to a letter from the country's minister of petroleum seen by this masthead.

Dear Pacific Islands Forum Leaders,

I am writing to you concerning the issue of West Papua.