Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Muhammadiyah, one of the country's largest Muslim organizations, responded to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to grant coal mining concessions to religious organizations.

Victor Mambor, Jayapura, Indonesia – Indonesia is going ahead with a project to convert millions of acres in Papua into a gigantic sugarcane plantation so the restive region can become self-sufficient in sugar and its related liquid fuel, bioethanol.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Executive Director of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development or INFID, Iwan Misthohizzaman, stated that clearing customary forests in Papua by abusing state permits is an act of ecocide and a violation of human rights.

Muhammad Beni Saputra – The Indonesian public has been taken aback by two proposed changes to Indonesia's media landscape.

The first is a proposed revision to the Broadcasting Law that would impose a controversial ban on investigative journalism. The bill triggered widespread demonstrations across the country, prompting legislators to postpone the bill for now.

A campaign seeking to drive support for Indigenous tribes fighting palm oil plantations in eastern Indonesia is spreading widely online after taking inspiration from an AI-generated image of Gaza.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has approved the extension of the social assistance program in the form of 10-kilogram rice. This program is aimed at benefiting 22 million recipient families (KPM) across the archipelago.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has decided that the state budget deficit for 2025 should not be more than 2.82 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Zulkifli Hasan, the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), revealed that he had proposed Kaesang Pangarep, chairman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), as a potential candidate for deputy governor of Jakarta to his father, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, about a year ago. However, Jokowi turned down the suggestion.

Makassar – The South Sulawesi Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has spoken out on the government's plan to grant mining concessions to religious social or mass organisations (ormas) which they see as having the potential to create conflicts with communities.

Ichsan Ali, Balikpapan – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo urged mayors across Indonesia to avoid excessive concrete development in urban areas and instead promote the establishment of green city spaces that are welcoming to pedestrians, individuals with disabilities, cyclists, children, and women.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The hotly debated mandatory housing savings policy Tapera is expected to cut hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to economic think-tank Celios.

Jakarta – The Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) is asking that workers in their respective regions hold protests to reject the Public Housing Savings Program (Tapera).

Jakarta – A group of lawyers reported to the Judicial Commission on Monday three Supreme Court justices for alleged ethics violations over the court's decision to change the age of candidacy for the regional head elections in November.

Jakarta – Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has voiced disagreement with the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) program, which has sparked public opposition since becoming mandatory for private and independent workers after previously being reserved for civil servants.

Norman Harsono – Indonesia plans to give its diaspora similar rights as its citizens as part of efforts to bring back overseas talent.

The government plans to grant former citizens the same rights as citizens, except for political rights such as the right to vote or run for public office, said Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly in a statement.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo plans to move to the country's new capital, Nusantara (IKN), as early as the end of June, ahead of the anticipated inauguration of the city during the Independence Day celebrations on Aug 17.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia still has not reached a national consensus to ratify the Genocide Convention, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Antara, Jakarta – Air quality in Jakarta plummeted to unhealthy levels on Tuesday morning, earning the city the title of being the world's most polluted.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus – Indonesia's plan to build a new capital is in trouble after its two top officials resigned without explanation Monday, a development that may signal to investors the U.S. $32 billion project is facing serious problems, analysts said.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry has implemented export relaxation for a number of mining products until December 31, 2024. The commodities include laterite iron concentrate, copper concentrate, zinc concentrate, lead concentrate, and anode slime.

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – Amid the recent 'All Eyes on Rafah' campaign, a similar movement 'All Eyes on Papua' gains momentum on social media, calling for Indonesian people's attention to Papua. The hashtag #AllEyesOnPapua is widely used as a form of support for the Papuans who are struggling to reject the oil palm plantation project in the province

Yohanes Maharso, Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police questioned PDI-P Perjuangan (PDIP) Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto at 10:00 a.m. today, June 4. Hasto will be asked to provide explanations concerning his statement on national TV about elections fraud.

Tempo.Co, Jakarta – Said Iqbal, president of the Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPI), said thousands of workers would demonstrate in front of the palace on Thursday, June 6. They plan to protest the government's mandatory premiums for the public housing savings or Tapera program.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The government has officially extended the relaxation of the retail price ceiling (HET) for rice. Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, said this was a strategic move to ensure the stability of the supply and price of rice in traditional markets and modern retailers throughout Indonesia.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A dispute simmering for years has erupted into conflict between villagers and a palm oil company on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi over the latter's failure to abide by a profit-sharing scheme.

Jakarta – In democracies, social media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it is riddled with fake news and hate speech that often fuel acts of violence or even insurrection, as happened in the United States on Jan. 6, 2020. On the other hand, it can keep governments with repressive tendencies in check.

Fathul Rakhman, Wahyu Chandra, Takalar/East Lombok/Jakarta, Indonesia – Mustam Daeng Beta exhaled slowly before he began describing his time as a young fisherman many years ago.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The regional police chief of Papua, Mathius Derek Fakhiri, warned investors not to violate the rights of Papua's indigenous people. Fakhiri hopes the problems faced by indigenous people, including the lawsuits of the Awyu Tribe in Boven Digoel, South Papua, and the Moi Tribe in Sorong, Southwest Papua, can be resolved soon.

Jakarta – A new law allowing the Indonesian government to grant permits to religious organizations to operate mines has outraged environmentalists in the world's leading nickel producer.

Outgoing President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, signed a decree on May 30, opening the path for religious groups to manage concessions to "improve social welfare."

Hariz Baharudin and Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo has travelled to East Kalimantan and reassured the public that Indonesia's planned new capital there is on track.

This comes just a day after the bombshell announcement that the leaders of the body overseeing the project had resigned.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government plans to grant a coal mining concession with sizable reserves to the executive board of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).

Jayapura – The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal (PPT), which was established in 1979 based on the Universal Declaration of People's Rights, and in accordance with United Nations statutes, has opened procedures to investigate the impact of development on the environment in West Papua and human rights violations related to these practices.

Jakarta – Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono has expressed hope that investors could maintain their high confidence in the projects for the construction of the new capital city, Nusantara, following the departure of its leadership on Monday.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII) has a new rector, Jamhari Makruf, who says he is committed to offering world-class education and promoting modern Islam.

Sheena Suparman, Jakarta – Jakarta Scholars Symposium (JSS) presented its third event, titled "Innovating for Impact" on Wednesday (29/05). Held at Soehanna Hall, the event invited eight students from different schools to present their outstanding projects from topics ranging from increasing education to reducing textile waste.

Jakarta – The National Police have arrested one of Thailand's "most wanted" fugitives who was on the run after escaping custody in Thailand last year, a senior police official said Sunday.

Chaowalit Thongduang, 37, was arrested in Bali on Thursday, said Sr. Comr. Wahyu Widada, the head of police criminal investigation unit.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – While Indonesians have become more religiously conservative, most of them shunned Islamism in the February general election, as indicated by the failure of the United Development Party (PPP), the country's oldest Islamist political party, to win any seats in the national legislature for the first time in its 51-year history.

Jakarta – Just a week ago, we celebrated the overturning of a planned tuition fee hike for state universities, an effort led by incensed student bodies and amplified by social media.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Human rights groups and critics have demanded that the House of Representatives drop a plan to revise the 2002 Police Law that they say will give the police sweeping authority over cyberspace and in conducting surveillance and intelligence work.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has attracted almost 4.1 million foreign tourists so far in 2024 as of April, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

This marks the highest cumulative foreign tourist arrivals Indonesia has recorded in the January-April period over the past four years since the Covid-hit 2020.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Bella Evanglista, Jakarta – Bambang Susantono, the head of the Nusantara Capital Authority Body (OIKN), and his deputy, Dhony Rahajoe, have resigned from their positions just two months before the inauguration of Indonesia's future capital.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said Monday that Israel and its allies had been trying to get Muslim countries to normalize ties.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Vinnilya, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported a deflation of 0.03 percent in May 2024, marking the first deflation since August 2023.

Meanwhile, the year-on-year inflation stood at 2.84 percent, and the year-to-date inflation was at 1.16 percent, within the government's target range between 1.5 percent and 3.5 percent.

Rino Fajar, Bekasi – The Criminal Investigation Unit of Bekasi City Police revisited the residence of DS in Ciketing Udik Village, Bantargebang District, Bekasi City on Sunday, following the discovery of the body of a 9-year-old girl identified as GH inside a sack.

The police's visit aimed to ascertain if there were any other victims besides GH at DS's residence.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry has acknowledged the protests from workers and employers against the mandatory Housing Savings Program (Tapera).

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Economist and Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira commented on the resignation of the IKN Authority Head Bambang Susantono. According to Bhima, the resignation is a negative signal for the new capital development, Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan.

Desty Luthfiani, Jakarta – At least 325 houses were inundated as floods hit Sidenreng Rappang Regency, South Sulawesi on Saturday, June 1 at around 21:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

Abdul Muhari, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency's (BNPB) Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, said the floodwater was about five to 30 centimeters high.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal, has declared that his party intends to contest Law No. 4 of 2016 on the public housing savings (Tapera) to the Constitutional Court. This law mandates the deduction of 3 percent of workers' salaries per month, commencing in May 2027.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Vice President-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka refused to comment on the Supreme Court's decision which alters the age requirement for candidates in the 2024 regional elections.

This ruling has drawn public scrutiny for its potential to perpetuate the political dynasty of President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Defense and President-elect Prabowo Subianto and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III discussed the modernization of the primary weaponry defense system on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2024 in Singapore on Saturday, June 1, 2024.