Indigenous communities in Kapiraya district, Deiyai Regency, Papua Tengah (Central Papua) Province, are actively protesting the operations of PT Zoomlion, a Chinese company, which entered the area in 2023 to extract gold with heavy machinery (excavators) without obtaining permits from either the customary right owners or the relevant government authorities.

Jakarta – A district court in Banten sentenced a poacher to 12 years in prison Wednesday after he was found guilty of killing at least six critically endangered Javan rhinos.

The rhinoceros endemic to Java is one of the world's most endangered mammals, with authorities believing there are around 82 remaining in the wild.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a proposal to accept a South Korean donation of a corvette for its navy, despite concern from its defence committee that the ageing vessel needs about $85 million worth of maintenance.

Jakarta – It is with deep concern and alarm that we mourn the state of our judicial system during this most political of years.

Last week's Supreme Court ruling, which introduced a technicality in the age requirements for candidates running in the regional head elections, shows that dynastic politics, while ever pervasive across the country, has simply gone too far.

Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has condemned Israel's parliamentary bill seeking to label the United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) as a terrorist group.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia's ambassadors to India and Russia say authorities there hope to see Southeast Asia's largest economy join BRICS to give the group of major emerging economies a stronger voice on the global stage.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Jakarta – Preparations for Indonesia's 79th Independence Day ceremony, set to take place in the future capital, the National Capital of Nusantara (IKN), on Aug. 17, are in full swing, including enhancements to the internet network. However, there are still areas in IKN without internet coverage, known as blank spots.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Ilham Akbar Habibie, the eldest son of Indonesia's third president B.J. Habibie, has decided to enter the 2024 West Java Regional Election with the endorsement of the National Democrat (Nasdem) Party.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – An Indonesian influencer has reportedly been detained by Saudi Arabian authorities for allegedly selling illegal Hajj packages to pilgrims using visit visas to Mecca.

"We are investigating the report," said Yusron B. Ambary, the Consul General of Indonesia in Jeddah, in a statement on Friday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A British diplomat said Thursday that bilateral ties between the UK and Indonesia had been going strong in the defense sector, among others, as seen in the business deals involving the state-owned shipbuilder PAL.

Ni Kadek Trisna Cintya Dewi, Jakarta – The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has been detected in pigs in Indonesia. Antara reported that the Papuan government, through the local Livestock and Plantation Office, has declared an emergency status for an outbreak affecting pigs in the local area.

Aisyah Amira Wakang, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has granted a special mining permit area or WIUPK to religious organizations, including the Nahdlatul Ulama or NU. The NU Executive Board, or PBNU, claimed that the license had been promised since 2021.

Jakarta – People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Bambang Soesatyo urged the Defense Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) to catch members of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) who shot a soldier in Yahukimo, Papua Highland.

Bambang expressed his condemnation of the shooting incident and urged the TNI and Polri to take firm action against the KKB.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Anies Baswedan, former governor of Jakarta, responded to issues about the possibility of several parties nominating him as a candidate for the Jakarta 2024 election. He was rather reluctant on the subject.

Aryo Putranto Saptohutomo, Jakarta – A statement by TNI (Indonesian military) commander General Agus Subiyanto, who said that currently they are not dwi-fungsi (dual-function) but are multi-functional, is considered wrong because it deviates from the practice of separating military and civilian roles in a democratic system.

Jayapura – Solidarity and support against the expropriation and destruction of customary forests in the land of Papua is broadening, with several groups, including soccer players joining in supporting the movement to save Papua's forests.

The local Government of Sorong Selatan Regency has officially recognized the indigenous peoples and customary territories of four sub-tribes in Konda District through a Regent Decree. The decree was presented by Regional Secretary on behalf of the Regent, Mr Samsudin Anggiluli.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A campaign calling for the protection of Indigenous peoples' customary forests in Indonesia's easternmost region of Papua has gone viral, with the campaign's poster shared nearly 3 million times on Instagram.

Jeremy Hance – A court in Indonesia has sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for poaching six critically endangered Javan rhinos, in what's been hailed as the harshest punishment handed down for wildlife crime to date.

The current situation in Indonesia reveals a potential threat to its democracy, reminiscent of the era under President Suharto.

Jakarta – Like a rat dying in a rice barn. This saying is a very good illustration of the condition of Indofarma these days. The state-owned pharmaceutical company is bankrupt at a time when other companies in the health sector, both in Indonesia and overseas, are making profits as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing public demand for health products and services.

Antara, Bandar Lampung – The recent widespread power outages in many regions of Sumatra have provided a lucrative opportunity for traders selling a portable power source, commonly known as a generator set, or genset. Several shops in Bandar Lampung, for example, reported that they ran out of stock within two days of the blackout.

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry of Indonesia has set a target for oil and gas production for 2025, aiming around 1.6 million barrels of oil equivalents per day (BOEPD).

Minister Arifin Tasrif also projected the Indonesia Crude Price (ICP) to range between $75 and $85 per barrel in the 2025 State Budget (APBN) draft.

Antara, Jakarta – The Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) has clarified that a Rp 50 million ($3,000) fine will be imposed on residents if larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the carrier of dengue fever (DBD), are discovered inside their homes. However, there are several stages involved before this fine is applied.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently congratulated Narendra Modi for his re-election as India's prime minister, saying that Indonesia looks forward to deepening its ties with New Delhi.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – As many as 2,316 hospitals, accounting for approximately 79.05 percent of the total hospitals in Indonesia, are prepared to implement the upcoming Standard Inpatient Cass (KRIS).

Jakarta – The sudden and simultaneous exit of the head and deputy head of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority is no small matter that can be brushed aside with the acknowledgement that everyone is replaceable.

Jakarta – A recently passed law governing the rights of women and children during the first 1,000 days of a child's life paves the way for longer maternity leave, although lawmakers assert that the longer break only applies in certain conditions.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The 'All Eyes on Papua' campaign has been trending on social media amid rampant land confiscation from indigenous peoples in Papua. A number of environmental activists from the Awyu tribe in Boven Digoel and the Moi tribe in Sorong came to the Supreme Court building in Jakarta.

Judith Tan, Singapore – The Indonesian farm on Pulau Bulan that supplies two-thirds of Singapore's freshly slaughtered pork has still not received the green light to resume export of live pigs to the Republic.

The exports stopped on April 19, 2023, after Singapore detected African swine fever in a consignment of pigs from the island, located in the Riau Islands province.

Mong Palatino – Media groups, academics, and human rights advocates are opposing a bill containing proposed amendments to Indonesia's Broadcasting Law, which would restrict the broadcast of investigative reports and LGBTQ+ content.

The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) said it is reviewing allegations involving Indonesian state miner Aneka Tambang (Antam) over the purity of its gold products.

Indonesia's Attorney General Office has named six former general managers at Antam's Precious Metal Processing and Refining Business Unit as suspects for alleged misuse of Antam's stamping service.

Natasya Salim – Thousands of workers in Indonesia have rallied in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta to protest a new plan to take from their salaries to support a national housing scheme.

The Public Housing Savings Program, known in Indonesia as Tapera, was brought in late last month by outgoing President Joko Widodo.

Max Lane – Last week, while in Dili, I had the opportunity for a chat over coffee with the Cuban Ambassador to Timor Leste, Alina Aldama. I had met the Ambassador briefly at the State Restoration of Independence Day Celebrations on 20 May.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Jakarta – Sugianto Kusuma, also known as Aguan, the head of the Nusantara Consortium, has addressed the recent shifts in leadership within the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) following the resignations of Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe from their respective positions.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Thursday that it has confiscated 91 luxury vehicles from graft convict Rita Widyasari, the former regent of Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan, as part of asset recovery measures.

Kurniawan Fadilah, Jakarta – Labour group held an protest action in the Horse Statue area of Central Jakarta today demanding that Government Regulation (PP) Number 21/2024 on the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) program be revoked.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – In 2015, Indonesian forestry giant Asia Pulp & Paper announced it would retire thousands of hectares of its commercial timber plantation in Sumatra, with the ultimate goal of restoring the land back to the tropical peat swamp it once was.

Maulani Mulianingsih (Intern), Jakarta – Director of the Center for Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), Bhima Yudhistira, observed that Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe, the former Head and Deputy Head of the Nusantara Capital or IKN Authority, were under pressure due to the financial situation of the new capital project, which is related to the government's inability to lure inve

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Thousands of workers from the Labor Party are ready to demonstrate in front of the palace on Thursday, June 6. They will urge President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to revoke the policy on the public housing savings or Tapera program, which deducts 3 percent of workers' salaries per month. The new rule is stipulated in Government Regulation (PP) No.

Tempo.Co, Jakarta – Members of the Labor Party and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) are staging a rally today at 10:00 a.m. in front of the State Palace. The police are deploying 1,626 officers to secure the protest.

Mohammad Hatta Muarabagja, Jakarta – Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) officially updated its policies under which its users are allowed to openly share pornographic content that is consensually produced and distributed, as long as the adult content is labeled and not in highly visible places such as profile photos or banners.

Ikhsan Reliubun, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's nephew, Bagaskara Ikhlasulla Arif, was appointed as Manager of Non-Government Relations at state-owned oil and gas giant PT Pertamina. Prior to joining Pertamina, he worked at state lender PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

Vinnilya, Jakarta – The ongoing trade war between the world's economic giants, China and the United States, is anticipated to escalate further as the November 5, 2024 election approaches. This trade conflict could have adverse effects on Indonesia, which relies heavily on the world's biggest economies.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto is exploring alternative protein sources to dairy milk for his signature free school lunch program. He is also redefining the program by adopting a more flexible approach while remaining true to its core essence and objectives.

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.

Jakarta – The news about the country's youth is by no means good, not only because the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry has proposed higher university tuition fees, but also due to the finding that almost 10 million people aged 15 to 24, known as Gen Z, are unemployed.

Jakarta – The government's decision to grant state-owned mine concessions to religious groups has been met with criticism from former chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Syamsudin, who claimed the move caused more harm, especially to the environment, than benefit.

Jakarta – A senior Gerindra Party politician has acknowledged that Kaesang Pangarep is eligible to run in the regional head elections, though he skirted the idea of Prabowo Subianto's political vehicle endorsing a potential bid by the brother of vice president-elect Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Salman M. Vermonte, Jakarta – Among the pro-Palestine protesters who flocked to the United States embassy in Jakarta over the weekend was Mahmoud A., a Palestinian citizen who has lived in Indonesia for the past twelve years.