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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

Resty Woro Yuniar – Controversy has surrounded Indonesia's new capital city ever since the US$33 billion gambit to reshape the nation's identity was first unveiled five years ago.

Muhammad Husaini Fikri and Muhammad Rafi Bakri – Jakarta is exhausted from carrying the burden of being Indonesia's capital city. With a population that reached 10.6 million in 2022, the city struggles with overcrowding in its 661.5 square kilometres. Indonesia passed legislation in 2022 mandating the relocation of the capital to Nusantara.

Jakarta – Indonesia should set up a cyber force as the fourth branch of its military, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo proclaimed in his address at the annual MPR plenary session on Friday.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Penajam Paser Utara – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and National Democratic Party (Nasdem) Chairman Surya Paloh showcased their growing closeness as Nasdem aligns itself with the pro-government Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM).

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States, extended congratulations to Indonesia on its 79th Independence Day.

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.

Antara, Jakarta – The Law and Human Rights Ministry, through the Directorate General of Immigration, unveiled a new passport design in celebration of Indonesia's 79th Independence Day. The new passport features a red and white color scheme, representing the national flag, replacing the previous greenish-blue cover.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The government has set a 5.2 percent economic growth target in the 2025 State Budget Draft, marking the beginning of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Jakarta Walhi (Indonesian Forum for Environment) said the development of Nusantara Capital City (IKN) seemed to disregard local communities' aspirations.

Ikhsan Reliubun, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi released a regulation permitting foreign workers to work in Nusantara Capital City or IKN in North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo kicked off his final State of the Nation address on Friday by thanking the Indonesian people for their support throughout the past 10 years of his leadership.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) should establish a fourth branch dedicated to combating the growing global threats in cyberspace, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo proposed on Friday.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – In his final State of the Nation Address at the joint session of the People's Consultative Assembly on Friday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo highlighted key economic achievements during his decade-long administration.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Resource nationalism, which has become an integral economic policy of the outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, was among the key subject matters that dominated his final state of the nation address on Friday.

Jokowi is about to retire this October, ending his 10-year rule.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ended his final state of the nation address on Friday with a message dedicated to his successor Prabowo Subianto.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Both former Presidents, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, did not attend the 2024 State of the Union Address

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani lamented the state of Indonesian democracy and underlined the importance of quality elections, while warning against distorted democratic processes at the annual People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) plenary session on Friday.