Jakarta – Indonesia has never given up on its dream of hosting the Olympic Games.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), known for its strong opposition to the government, has decided to nominate Bobby Nasution, the son-in-law of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, for the North Sumatra gubernatorial election.

Bobby, currently the mayor of Medan, has now been endorsed by seven political parties.

Jakarta – The Golkar Party has nominated prominent politician Dedi Mulyadi for the West Java gubernatorial election and strongly indicated that it will select Ridwan Kamil for Jakarta.

Ha Noi – Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta left Ha Noi on Saturday afternoon, wrapping up his four-day state visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of President To Lam.

During his stay, the leader paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid wreaths at the monument to war heroes and martyrs on Bac Sin Street in Ha Noi.

Jayapura – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has strongly criticised a statement by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who condemned the bomb attack in Tehran, Iran.

They believe that this criticism is only a pretence to attract international sympathy, while violence against the people of Papua continues without end.

Jakarta – The Depok Police have named the owner of Wensen School Indonesia, identified only by the initials MI, as a suspect for allegedly abusing a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old at her early childhood school in the West Java city.

Jakarta – In a shaky voice and bearing a tearful countenance, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo publicly apologized to the Indonesian people for any mistakes he may have made during his nearly 10-year presidency, which ends in October.

Jakarta – The Communication and Information Ministry said on Friday it has banned the privacy-oriented search engine DuckDuckGo, citing concerns that it could be used to access pornography and online gambling websites which are illegal in the country.

Jakarta – New rules issued this week by Indonesia will make the police the only authority allowed to give the go-ahead for abortions for rape victims, drawing criticism from rights activists who said the changes were regressive.

Sella Rizky Deviani, Jakarta – The Communication and Informatics Ministry has issued a regulation capping cellphone credit balance transfers at Rp 1 million ($62) per day as part of an ongoing crackdown on online gambling.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin recently said that he had no problem with religious groups getting to operate coal mines as long as their mining activities do not take a toll on the planet.

Theressia Silalahi, Jakarta – Prioritizing family over politics, Kaesang Pangarep confirms he will accompany his pregnant wife, Erina Gudono, to the US for her master's program at UPenn, stepping back from the 2024 regional elections.

"My answer is to accompany my wife," Kaesang stated when asked about his potential run for office in the 2024 elections.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Insurance analyst Tri Joko Santoso is having doubts about the upcoming mandatory third-party liability insurance, even saying that the policy will likely only benefit state-owned insurers.

Fauzi Ibrahim, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics is targeting to start broadcasting disaster early warning systems on digital television.

This initiative came as a new solution after the previous SMS blast option to notify the Indonesian citizens of an imminent disaster.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – State Secretary Pratikno extended an apology on Thursday, confirming that the airport in the new capital Nusantara or IKN will not be ready in time for the upcoming Independence Day ceremony on August 17. He said the airport's basic infrastructure remains incomplete.

Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a warning about the upcoming La Nina climate phenomenon, which is expected to commence in August 2024.

According to forecaster Ida Pramuwardani, rainfall levels are predicted to be low to moderate (0-150 mm/decade) from mid-July to early August.

Mongabay-Indonesia, Pandeglang/Jakarta, Indonesia – A recent revelation that up to 26 Javan rhinos may have been poached, out of a total population of 70-odd, has come as a major blow to conservation efforts in Indonesia.

Hoirunnisa, Jakarta – The Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) believes that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's public apology for any mistakes he made during his presidency is not enough to erase his sins against the ordinary people.

Hoirunnisa, Jakarta – Women's labour groups say that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's policies over the period he has been in power have impoverishing many working families.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Jazilul Fawaid, Deputy Chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB), suggested that the party is considering joining the Indonesia Forward Coalition (KIM) for the Jakarta gubernatorial race, which could affect its support for Anies Baswedan.

Antara, Penajam Paser Utara – Swissotel Nusantara in the new capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan, is nearly ready to welcome distinguished guests for Indonesia's 79th Independence Day celebrations on August 17, with preparations 98 percent complete.

Antara, Denpasar – As Bali sees record numbers of international visitors, concerns rise over their declining economic impact and choice of accommodations, with many opting for illegal villas and budget stays, according to Professor Ida Bagus Raka Suardana from the National Education University (Undiknas) Denpasar.

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – Indonesia's 79th Independence Day celebration will take place in both Jakarta and the new capital, Nusantara (IKN). State Secretary Pratikno said that this year's event will be historic and special, though the new airport intended to accommodate state guests is still under construction.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – The European tour of Defense Minister and president-elect Prabowo Subianto has gone into an encore with a previously unannounced visit to Russia to strengthen the defense and diplomatic relations between the two countries, a move widely considered a signal against Western-oriented leadership.

Sonia So'imatus Sa'adah, Depok – Concern is growing about Indonesia's declining fertility rate. However, the head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Hasto Wardoyo, has responded to this by proposing that every woman of reproductive age should give birth to a girl before she turns 35 in order to ensure Indonesia's regeneration.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – Many students believe it is acceptable to hire professional substitutes to do their academic work for them, with observers citing societal pressure and lecturers' teaching methods as factors behind the rise in the use of such services.

Jakarta (Agencies) – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, calling it intolerable.

"That was violence, a murder that is intolerable, and took place in the sovereign area of Iran," he said. "I suppose all, including Indonesia, strongly condemn violence and murder like that."

Jakarta – A court in Central Jakarta sentenced a former chief of state carrier Garuda Indonesia to five years in prison on Wednesday for corruption linked to procuring jets from planemaker Bombardier and turboprop maker ATR, his lawyer said.

Jakarta – The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) received nearly 1,300 witness protection requests related to human trafficking cases last year, the agency's deputy head Antonius PS Wibowo said on Wednesday, a day after the United Nations' World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Migrant Workers' Union (SBMI) and the Indonesian feminist organization Women's Solidarity for Human Rights (Solidaritas Perempuan) noted that from 2019 to 2024, more than 1,800 Indonesian migrant workers were strongly indicated as victims of human trafficking.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Angela Tanoesoedibjo took over the leadership of the Perindo Party on Wednesday from her father, media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibjo, signaling a change in the political party's direction under the incoming government of president-elect Prabowo Subianto.

Falahi Mubarok, Irfan Maulana, Jakarta – Islamic groups claiming more than 160 million followers across the world's largest Muslim-majority country are set to operate coal mines, after Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization joined the country's biggest one in accepting government mining permits.

Theresia Silalahi, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Muhaimin Iskandar has been commanding the National Awakening Party (PKB) for nearly two decades with a centralistic leadership style, a former aide said recently.

Rama Sukarta, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported a deflation of 0.18 percent for July 2024, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropping from 106.28 in June to 106.09 in July. This marks the third month of deflation this year.

Despite the monthly deflation, Indonesia continues to experience inflation on an annual basis.

Didik Fibrianto, Batu, East Java – A suspected militant who was arrested recently in the East Java town of Batu has planned bomb attacks on two worship places in the nearby city of Malang, police said on Thursday.

The suspect, identified by the initials HOK, was arrested a day earlier at Bunga Tanjung housing complex in Junrejo district.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on Thursday called for Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), and the National Awakening Party (PKB) to end their feud and maintain mutual respect.

Ambon – Press Council Chairperson Ninik Rahayu has criticised President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for inviting a number of art activists and social media influencers to visit to the new national capital (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan last Sunday, July 28.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus and Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – Indonesia has widened the window to 14 from six weeks after conception for women to have abortions in cases of health emergencies and pregnancies from rape and sexual violence – a divisive change in the Muslim-majority country where termination is mostly illegal.

Antara, Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was awarded the title "Father of Indonesian Construction" by the Indonesian National Construction Association (Gapensi) at a recent event in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, celebrating ten years of his administration's focus on construction, infrastructure, and investment.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Rice prices have surged in the past six months. According to the National Food Agency (Bapanas), the average national price of medium-grade rice reached Rp15,540 per liter as of July 31, 2024, up from Rp14,550 at the beginning of the year.

Jakarta – The Corruption Court at the Central Jakarta District Court has scheduled the first trial of the bribery case at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Detention Center or prison.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President-Elect Prabowo Subianto is looking to strike a nuclear energy partnership with Russia.

Prabowo proposed the idea when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's Grand Kremlin Palace on Wednesday local time. Prabowo said he had talked with Russian state nuclear firm Rosatom.

Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on Tuesday warned people to be vigilant of potential forest fires during the dry season in Sumatra, but the agency also predicted unseasonal rainfall in some parts of the region in the coming days.

Sidney Jones and Solahudin – Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), perpetrators of the Bali bombings, decided on 30 June to disband. This is huge news, and many commentators are convinced it's a sham, a cold-blooded calculation after an unprecedented crackdown by police, to secure early release.

Christ Belseran, Aru Islands, Indonesia – When the ship with "J7Explorer" embossed across its hull approached the shoreline on May 13, some on the Aru Islands assumed the greenish hulk was an Indonesian warship from a nearby naval base.

Jakarta – The ongoing search for brave new leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is a make-or-break moment for the formerly powerful institution.

Since politicians overwhelmingly opted to revise legislation to defang the KPK in 2019, the institution has fallen into a deep torpor.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – In a push for better governance of the mining industry, the government has expanded the Mineral and Coal Information System (Simbara) to now cover nickel and tin toward future expansion to other minerals.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – The sky was clear and the ocean calm when The Jakarta Post visited North Jakarta's fishing village of Cilincing last week. Some fishermen who had just returned from sea seemed to be enjoying the gentle sea breeze while sipping hot coffee.

Muhammad Aulia, Ali Achmad, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is considering an investigation into the acquittal of Gregorius Ronald Tannur by the Surabaya District Court if evidence of corruption emerges.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The government is aiming for a 10-percent reduction in domestic airfare by October before a new cabinet is installed.