Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday defended the government policy of offering land concessions for nearly two centuries to major investors in the future national capital, Nusantara.

The president said the new capital is being built on a tight budget and will require substantial financial support from the private sector to complete.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Immigration has arrested six foreign nationals, five from Vietnam and one from China, suspected of violating their visa and residency permits through involvement in online prostitution.

Asad Asnawi, Christ Belseran, Irfan Maulana – A widely criticized move by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to reform mining rules to bestow coal mining licenses on an allied religious organization is carving a rift between its executive leadership and Islamic activists in the community, sources told Mongabay Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Northeast Sulawesi Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA) plans to evacuate critically endangered anoas from a mining concession owned by PT Sulawesi Cahaya Mineral (SCM) in Konawe, Northeast Sulawesi, to prevent a population decline.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – In a bid to lure investment to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) megaproject in East Kalimantan, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo signed on Thursday a presidential regulation that grants investors certain rights, including land rights of up to 190 years in the future capital.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – President Joko Jokowi Widodo is contemplating fielding his youngest son Kaesang Pangarep to run in the November gubernatorial election in Central Java, taking the war against his political mentor Megawati Sukarnoputri, the matron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), to the next level.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – The level of support the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) gives to Anies Baswedan for his reelection bid as Jakarta governor won't be the same as when they collaborated for the recent presidential election, an analyst said on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian car exports reached approximately $2.78 billion in the first half of 2024 with fellow ASEAN member Philippines buying most of the vehicles, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

The Philippines became the destination for 27.64 percent of the cars that Indonesia sent overseas from January to June 2024.

Jakarta – Indonesia's international trade balance recorded a surplus of $2.39 billion in June 2024, marking the 50th consecutive month of positive trade balance, according to government data released on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a series of deals aimed at facilitating the cross-border movement of people and goods on Monday.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) recently blamed the high drug prices on the country's high reliance on imported pharmaceutical raw materials.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – A landslide killed seven people in Wini Kali Kabur, Timika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on Sunday, July 14, 2024, at around 09:00 local time.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization, has expressed deep disappointment and concern over a recent meeting between five of its members and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Matthew Burgess and Grace Sihombing – The fate of Indonesia's jittery bond market may well hinge on who President-elect Prabowo Subianto chooses as his finance minister.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – With registration for the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) next leaders closing soon on Monday, the number of candidates applying for the job is so far lower than in 2019.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – A pharmacists' advocacy group has pinpointed corruption and gratuity payments by certain doctors as key factors driving up medication costs in Indonesia. While this issue is widely recognized in the industry, discussing it has remained somewhat taboo, possibly due to fear of repercussions.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's imports from China have declined as Jakarta mulls imposing a 200 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia's non-oil and gas imports from China totaled $5.34 billion in June 2024, versus the $6.05 billion worth of Chinese goods that made their way to Indonesia in May.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), denounced five Muslim scholars on Monday who recently visited Israel and met with President Isaac Herzog.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) is set to implement new regulations allowing financial technology platforms to offer online loans of up to Rp 10 billion ($617,526), an increase from the previous limit of Rp 2 billion.

Jakarta – The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy opposes the revisions to Law Number 4/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI) saying that they could reverse reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has joined a lengthy roster of world leaders to condemn an attack on former United States president Donald Trump that left the Republican presidential candidate with an injured ear.

Haryudi, Aceh – The National Statistics Agency (BPS) recently released surprising data about rape cases in Indonesia. Based on the report "Criminal Statistics 2023" issued by the BPS, Aceh emerged as the province with the highest number of rape cases in 2023.

Muhammad Syarahil Mutianwar Efendi – Indonesia's gig workers – who navigate the digital marketplace as delivery personnel, ride-hailing drivers or online freelancers – are in an increasingly precarious position. They are essential cogs in the gig economy but often lack the safety nets traditionally associated with formal employment.

Felix K. Chang (FPRI) – In February 2024, Indonesia elected Prabowo Subianto as its next president. While he does not take office until October, speculation over whether and how Indonesia's foreign policy might change is already swirling.

Jakarta – The presiding judge of a high court in West Java painted a damning portrait of the state of law enforcement in the country when he recently proclaimed that police officers had wrongfully arrested Pegi Setiawan, 27, for allegedly masterminding a 2016 double murder in Cirebon regency.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia recently denied claims of China having a monopoly on foreign investments in Indonesia.

Jakarta – The head of the TNI Information Center or Kapuspen, Maj. Gen. Nugraha Gumilar, said the recruitment for military cyber soldiers was still in the planning stage. This plan was conveyed by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto following the hacking of TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency or BAIS data at the end of June 2024.

Reuters, Jakarta – Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto wants to give school children free meals, but the plan and his pledge to be 'daring' on spending have the country's debt and currency markets on edge.

Ambaranie Nadia Kemala Movanita, Jakarta – Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) military observer Made Supriatma has highlighted the proposal for revisions to the TNI (Indonesian military) Law to allow TNI soldiers to conduct business activities.

Jakarta – Over the past two weeks, we have heard the bad news of the sudden dismissal of a medical school dean in Surabaya, East Java. From Medan, good news has circulated about a number of children recovering after successful heart surgery at the Adam Malik General Hospital in the North Sumatra capital.

Vinnilya Huanggrio, Jakarta – The government has cut off access to online gambling networks operating from Thailand and Cambodia, an official said in a recent interview.

Efforts to break the cycle of regional gambling syndicates in Indonesia began three weeks ago, said Usman Kansong, a director general with the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – The Golkar Party will appoint a businessman as a running mate for Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, if he runs in the Jakarta gubernatorial election in November, party chairman Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 75 of 2024 concerning the Acceleration of Development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) on Thursday, July 11, 2024. This decree outlines several key measures to attract investors and expedite the construction process.

Australia's BHP Group will temporarily suspend its Nickel West operations and West Musgrave project from October, the miner said on Thursday, as it reels from a plunge in metal prices and an oversupply in the global market.

The world's largest listed miner intends to review its decision to temporarily suspend its Western Australia nickel operations by February 2027.

Jakarta – Kaesang Pangarep, chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), suggested that his party would not be joining the Golkar-led coalition in the Banten gubernatorial election to support frontrunner Airin Rachmi Diany.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesia's government has no immediate plans to revise the latest import regulations, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto. The current regulations are outlined in the Trade Minister's Regulation No. 8 of 2024, which came into effect on May 17, 2024.

Ilona Estherina, Eka Yudha, Jakarta – Political observer Adi Prayitno doubts the future of Indonesia's new capital city project, or Nusantara Capital City (IKN), after the government transfer from President Joko Widodo or Jokowi to Prabowo Subianto. The difference in the priority programs between both leaders will potentially hamper the continuity of IKN construction.

Putri Safira Pitaloka, Michelle Gabriela, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi emphasized that the new capital transfer from Jakarta to Nusantara Capital City (IKN) won't be forced before the infrastructure is ready.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia said Indonesia's economic growth in 2023 was one of the best in the world, supported by a strong investment rate.

Jakarta – Certain connecting roads in South Lampung regency, Lampung, appear to still be damaged despite President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's visit last year, following a viral video showing the worsening conditions of the roads in Sumatra's southernmost province.

Antara, Jakarta – Ridwan Kamil, the curator of the new capital city Nusantara (IKN), announced that the core area, comparable in size to Jakarta's National Monument (Monas), is expected to be completed by August.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Cybersecurity expert Alfons Tanujaya has called for a decisive response from the government to online gambling operators who have hacked government websites in retaliation for the crackdown on online gambling.

Antara, Jakarta – The new Law No. 4 of 2024 on Maternal and Child Welfare (KIA Law) can protect Indonesian couples from the rising childfree trend, according to Bonivasius Prasetya Ichtiarto, Deputy for Population Control at the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN).

Jakarta – The water crisis in Weda Tengah subdistrict, Central Halmahera, North Maluku, is a sharp illustration of the difference between rhetoric and the reality of environmental policy. How can promises about sustainable water management be realized if the government continues to grant mining concessions that damage the local ecosystem?

Shela Octavia, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – TNI (Indonesian military) Commander General Agus Subiyanto is considered to have been too hasty in concluding that there was no involvement of TNI personnel in the fatal fire at the home of Tribrata TV reporter Rico Sempurna Pasaribu in Karo regency, North Sumatra.

Singapore – One of the companies behind the world's biggest carbon credit project won a key court battle in Indonesia as it attempts to resume activity at the vast site in Borneo.

Irfan Maulana, Padarincang, Indonesia – On a white-hot afternoon in June, people from Padarincang subdistrict gathered near a mountain lake to recite an istighosah, an Islamic prayer blended with Indigenous context here in Indonesia's Banten province.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Activists allege that two of the world's biggest pulp and paper companies have violated their zero-deforestation pledge by clearing natural forests and peatlands in Indonesia.

Zach Hope and Amilia Rosa – Consider yourself a "quality" tourist? Bali, Australia's favourite jaunt, has set an easy bar for qualification: follow the rules (the important ones at least) and be respectful.

This year the Balinese have added another, exceedingly modest, condition. And it is already being violated by about half the island's foreign visitors.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Authorities are investigating 11 faculty members at Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) who have been accused of violating academic ethics to earn their professorships, as public pressure rises on the government to sanction academics of similar cases plaguing the country's higher education.