Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has issued a decree banning six people who are under investigation in relation to a corruption case at state-owned telecommunications firm PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) from traveling abroad.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Communication and Information Technology Ministry reported that 90 percent of government services disrupted by the June 20 data breach at the Temporary National Data Center (PDNS) 2 in Surabaya have been restored, though some data recovery efforts are ongoing.

Suci Sekarwati, Jakarta – Australia launched a new five-year Development Partnership Plan (DPP) with Indonesia on Thursday, August 8, 2024. The plan aims to support Indonesia's development goals and continue the strong institutional and people-to-people links between Australia and Indonesia.

Jakarta – A Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member form Aceh, Sudirman Haji Uma, has written to Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police Chief (Kapolda) Inspector General Karyoto requesting that a transgender beauty contest held recently at a hotel in Central Jakarta be investigated.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian consumers are becoming slightly more upbeat about the country's overall economic conditions as of July after months of weaker optimism, according to Bank Indonesia.

Victor Mambor and Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jayapura and Jakarta – Indonesian human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into the death of a New Zealand helicopter pilot in a remote part of Papua province earlier this week.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Economic and Social Research Institute (LPEM) at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UI) has reported a troubling decline in Indonesia's middle class, attributed to decreasing purchasing power.

Heru Andriyanto, Tangerang – The Indonesian government is collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to increase the production of essential drug materials domestically, aiming to reduce reliance on imports and ensure stable local supplies, an official said recently.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has extended safeguard tariffs on imports of textiles, carpets, and other fabric coverings for another three years in a bid to protect and enhance the competitiveness of the domestic textile industry.

Jakarta – The body of AM, a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten to death by police officers in early June in Padang, West Sumatra, will be exhumed on Thursday, following the issuance of a permit from the police earlier this week.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Jakarta chapter of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI Jakarta) condemned the alleged intimidation of a Tempo journalist and weekly podcast host in Jakarta and urged the police to prosecute the perpetrators.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan says a task force working to root out illegal imports has found that many foreign nationals are acting as distributors and have access to local warehouses for storing goods brought into the country.

Jakarta – In politics, apologies are a cheap commodity. Politicians apologize all the time.

Not all apologies are the same and some apologies are definitely and substantively better than others. Some enter the history books while others are quickly forgotten.

Jakarta – Former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri has warned that allowing a president to serve three terms could damage the country, in comments that potentially referred to outgoing president Joko Widodo.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is working on improving and synchronizing its forest and supply chain data to comply with increasingly strict sustainability standards and requirements in markets where it exports to, including the European Union.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Ahmad Doli Kurnia, Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party, revealed that the party is evaluating potential candidates for the vice gubernatorial role to partner with the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party's Dedi Mulyadi in the 2024 West Java gubernatorial race.

Antara, Jakarta – More investors will break ground on their respective projects in the new capital Nusantara next week, according to the Public Works Ministry.

This will mark the seventh groundbreaking phase. The vice presidential palace is also among the projects that will begin construction next week.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – The Golkar Party has announced its plan to nominate former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (RK) as its candidate for the Jakarta gubernatorial election and is now focusing on selecting a suitable running mate.

Jakarta – If the breakdown in relations between Megawati Soekarnoputri and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) with President Joko Widodo had happened a long time ago, perhaps the democratic retreat could have been avoided.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Spokesperson for Indonesia's Industry Ministry Febri Hendri Antoni Arif suspected that the pile-up of 26,415 containers stuck at Tanjung Priok and Tanjung Perak Ports was caused by the relaxation of import document regulations stated in the Trade Minister's Regulation (Permendag) No. 3 of 2024.

Irsyan Hasyim (Contributor), Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that 99 percent of forest and land fires, or Karhutla, in Indonesia are caused by human activities.

Sarjan Lahay, Gorontalo, Indonesia – A palm oil industry body and a state-owned company are proposing a vast new palm oil plan encompassing around 1 million hectares (nearly 2.5 million acres) of new plantations across the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Jakarta – Indonesia and Japan on Thursday agreed on amendments to an economic agreement to reduce or remove trade barriers, Indonesia said, predicting the revision will boost bilateral trade.

Japan will further reduce import tariffs on 112 Indonesian items, including fishery products, fruit, food and beverages, Indonesia's trade ministry said in a statement.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) on Thursday urged Anies Baswedan to promptly announce former party chairman Sohibul Iman as his running mate, warning that failure to do so could lead to the withdrawal of the party's support for his re-election bid as Jakarta governor.

Fito Akhmad Erlangga, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo welcomed credentials from ten newly appointed ambassadors from friendly nations at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi highlighted Indonesia's strong ties with 10 countries and affirmed Indonesia's commitment to boosting bilateral cooperation with trade partners.

Antonio da Costa, Dili – Rights groups are questioning Timor-Leste, an impoverished Asian nation, for allocating US$12 million for Pope Francis' visit next month, including US$1 million to build an altar for a papal Mass.

Church sources said some 700,000 Catholics, primarily from the nation's 1.3 million-strong Catholic majority, are expected to attend the Sept. 10 Mass.

Victor Yeimo – The killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama Village, Mimika, Papua, on Monday August 5 brings back memories of the tragic story of this village in 1996.

Tria Sutrisna, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The families of activists abducted in 1997-98 are suffering from trauma after meeting with senior officials from president elect Prabowo Subianto's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) on Sunday April 4.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has begun operations to send emergency food supplies to a stockpile in Central Papua amid concerns of a hunger crisis caused by cold weather in the highlands of the province.

On 17 July 2024, officers from the Nabire Resort Police Unit detained Mr Zakeyos Dendegau, 26, at Karang Tumaritis Market in the Nabire Regency, Papua Tangah Province.

Ahmad Rizky M Umar – In an unprecedented move that has angered climate activists, Indonesia's biggest Islamic organisations, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), have accepted offers of mining concessions from the Joko "Jokowi" Widodo government.

Benjamin Plummer and Kurt Bayer – The Government is asking how a New Zealand helicopter pilot came to be murdered by separatist rebels in Papua while saying it is still working on the "safe release" of another Kiwi chopper pilot held captive for nearly 18 months.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has condemned the reported killing of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcolm Conning in Alama, Mimika Regency

"If true, I condemn this killing in the strongest possible terms," said President Wenda. "We mourn Conning's death and do not want any more bloodshed on West Papuan land."

Jakarta – The Presidential Office has repudiated reports that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has been seeking to interfere with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) new central board line-up.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Education Agency plans to increase the registration quota for non-permanent teachers' Individual Work Contracts (KKI) this year, from 1,700 to 2,650.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – To prove his commitment to the development of Nusantara Capital City, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo insisted on working there, despite the ongoing construction and less than ready state for habitation. Regardless of the questions about the motive behind the decision.

Jakarta – The recent acquittal of Gregorius Ronald Tannur, son of former House of Representatives lawmaker Edward Tannur, on murder charges shows that miscarriages of justice are still a constant threat to the rule of law in our nation.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Businesses have called the government to rethink a plan to introduce a cap and impose a tax on certain ingredients used in processed foods, fearing the measures will be burdensome for the food industry, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The head of the Bali Tourism Office has rejected an idea to build an international-standard casino in the island province, put forward by a local business group.

Bali tourism head Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun has nipped the idea in the bud saying that a casino ran counter to Balinese culture that formed the basis of the province's tourism industry.

JAKARTA – Personnel of the joint police-military Operation Cartenz Peace task force were hunting armed rebels on Tuesday who reportedly shot dead a New Zealand helicopter pilot in Central Papua, as authorities retrieved the body of the pilot.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said next year's state budget must cater to all programs planned by president-elect Prabowo Subianto in view of global economic risks, while opening a meeting on Monday to discuss the 2025 government working plan (RKP) and draft state budget.

Whisnu Bagus Prasetyo, Kendal – Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan delivered a deeply sentimental farewell to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as his term approaches its end on Oct. 20.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairman Muhaimin Iskandar on Tuesday questioned the relevance of the coalition of political parties that supported Prabowo Subianto's presidential bid in the upcoming gubernatorial elections.

Rama Sukarta, Tangerang – Indonesia is working to reduce its reliance on imported pharmaceutical raw materials (BBO), which currently make up 90 percent of the country's needs, primarily from China and India.

Josa Lukman, Jakarta – The Embassy of India in Jakarta formally relaunched the Indian Chamber of Commerce (IndCham) in Indonesia in a formal ceremony on Aug. 2 that was attended by over 150 members of Indian and Indonesian companies, diaspora businesses and professionals from start-ups, banks and global MNCs.

Ifan Ahmad, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia's workforce is feeling the strain of the global economic slowdown, with a significant rise in job losses. The Manpower Ministry reports that 32,064 workers were laid off between January and June 2024, marking a 21.4 percent increase from 26,400 layoffs in the same period last year.

Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – In a press release on Wednesday August 7, West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) national spokesperson Sebby Sambom said that three days after the fatal shooting of New Zealand helicopter pilot Glen Malcom Conning on Monday August 5, there has still been no confirmation reported to the TPNPB-OPM National Command by the TPNPB op

Jakarta – Indonesia's population reached 282.48 million in the first half of this year, an increase of 1.75 million from 280.73 million in the second half of 2023, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has called on the police to launch a criminal investigation into a recent beauty pageant for transgender women held at a Jakarta hotel.

Cholil Nafis, head of MUI's Islamic preaching division, said the organizers and those responsible for Sunday's event must be held accountable under the law.

Teguh Suprayitno, Muaro Jambi, Indonesia – Mbok Hawo picked a clutch of galangal, lemongrass and turmeric as the gaggle of schoolkids assembled by an array of potted plants, arranged in Hawo's garden like bottles in a medicine cabinet.

"Turmeric isn't only for flavoring cooking," the 64-year-old healer explained to the children. "It can also be a medicine for the stomach."