Jakarta – In July, when asked about democratic backsliding in Indonesia, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo responded by saying that democracy is alive and well in the country, citing regular elections as proof.

The outgoing President also cited the fact that people could still criticize him on social media as more proof of the health of Indonesia's democracy.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – An attack on the editorial office of Papua-based media outlet Jubi on Wednesday using Molotov cocktails set fire to vehicles but resulted in no casualties, Indonesian police said.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Indonesia has seen little progress in its energy transition over the past decade as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has straddled two diverging boats, trying to increase power generation from renewable sources but failing to phase out coal.

Jakarta – With just a week left before President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hands over the reins of power, there are several items on his agenda that remain unfinished. Yet, of all the issues on his list, none stand out as sharply as his insistence on continuing the selection process for new commissioners for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) is scaling up its efforts to clamp down on the illicit trade of prescription skincare products amid growing concerns from the public about the impact on health.

The BPOM temporarily closed down a factory in Bandung, West Java, over the weekend on suspicion of mass producing illegal prescription skincare.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decade-long leadership has spurred the massive development of Indonesia's special economic zones which have given the country a major economic boost.

Yolanda Agne, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto is optimistic that Indonesia could achieve the 8 percent economic growth target within two to three years of his administration.

Heru Andriyanto, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Two long-time former executives of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Maruarar Sirait and Budiman Sudjatmiko, have been named among the prominent figures chosen by President-elect Prabowo Subianto to join his upcoming cabinet, which is expected to comprise at least 44 ministries and state agencies.

Christ Belseran, Irfan Maulana and Asad Asnawi, Ambon/Surabaya/Jakarta, Indonesia – Criminal investigations of environmental advocates in Indonesia continue to undermine civil society in the world's third-largest democracy, with two anti-mining activists the latest to be hauled before police following a routine demonstration.

Endy Bayuni – "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority" – Lord Acton

How will President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo be remembered after his reign ends on October 20?

Jakarta – Indonesia's incoming president Prabowo Subianto held talks on Tuesday with candidates for senior government posts, as he seeks to bring the country's biggest political party into his already dominant parliamentary coalition.

Yanuar Nugroho – The next president of Indonesia has ambitious plans for his country but a widely anticipated growth in the number of ministers and ministries in his administration could jeopardise quick results.

Antara, Petir Garda B, Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – PT Freeport Indonesia's sulfuric acid smelter unit at the Gresik Special Economic Zone, East Java, caught fire on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 5:45 PM local time.

"There were no casualties," said VP Corporate Communications of PTFI Katri Krisnati to ANTARA in Gresik.

Jakarta – When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was first inaugurated in 2014, his eldest son didn't want to be there.

Jakarta – A senior NasDem Party member said on Monday that it would be unethical for the party to ask for cabinet seats from president-elect Prabowo Subianto, given that the party had backed an opposing candidate in February's presidential election.

Edward Aspinall – As Indonesia's president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) prepares to leave office, Indonesia is still routinely lauded as one of Asia's most important democracies. Jokowi was first elected, in 2014, on the promise of breaking with the old Jakarta elite and making government more responsive to ordinary people.

Jakarta – With just a week left before President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hands over the reins of power, there are several items on his agenda that remain unfinished. Yet, of all the issues on his list, none stand out as sharply as his insistence on continuing the selection process for new commissioners for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has attracted Rp 1,261.4 trillion (nearly $81 billion) in combined investments from both foreign and domestic investors so far this year as of September, the government announced Tuesday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported a trade surplus of $3.26 billion (Rp 50.79 trillion) for September 2024. This surplus increased by $480 million compared to August 2024 but contracted by $150 million compared to September 2023.

Cat Woods – This year marks nearly 30 years of East Timorese independence, but for West Papua, despite legal, social and international campaigning and pleas to the UN, independence remains an illusive goal owing to ongoing Indonesian occupation despite the 1969 Act of Free Choice.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto is reportedly planning to add ministries to his cabinet following his inauguration on October 20, 2024. A circulating document titled "Description of Nomenclature of AKD Partners (Dewan Equipment)" indicates that there will be 46 ministries partnering with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR).

Eleisha Foon – The leader of the rebel group who took New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens hostage has denied a bribe was involved in his release, offering an explanation on the motive behind the kidnapping.

Jakarta – Indonesia has seen a marked decrease in the number of forest and land fires this year compared to 2023, according to an official from the country's environment and forestry ministry (KLHK).

Dewi Elvia Muthiariny, Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized the great potential of the millennial generation to revolutionize agriculture through innovation. He highlighted that productive millennials, along with land resources and technology, are one of the key drivers of Indonesia's economy.

Rahman Yaacob – In two weeks, Indonesia's Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto will officially take over the presidency. In leading the vast archipelago through the treacherous regional waters of great power rivalry between the United States and China, there is a widely held argument that he will focus on domestic stability and defend Indonesia's territorial integrity.

Jakarta – In 2014, then presidential hopeful and outsider Joko Widodo attended packed campaigns with a white ribbon warning against election fraud tied around his head.

At the time Jokowi – as the president is known – symbolised democracy and change, embodying the hope of a better, cleaner Indonesia.

Charlie Campbell, Jakarta – A dozen masked commandos crouch inside a jet-black navy dinghy as it carves across shimmering Jakarta Bay. At the bow, loops of 12.7mm bullets spill from a tri-barreled gatling gun; at the stern, Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's Defense Minister and President-elect, appraises the fishing boats and rusting refueling stations that pepper the inky water.

Hendro Dahlan Situmorang, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with several potential ministerial candidates at his South Jakarta residence on Monday. Among those summoned was Natalius Pigai, a prominent human rights activist and former commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Djibril Muhammad, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The National Democratic (Nasdem) Party has decided to not propose some of its members as President-Elect Prabowo Subianto's ministers, although the party said they would fully support the future government.

Hendro Dahlan Situmorang, Jakarta – A total of 35 ministerial candidates have been summoned to meet with President-elect Prabowo Subianto at his residence on Jalan Kertanegara in South Jakarta on Monday. This meeting is part of the preparations for Prabowo's cabinet for the 2024-2029 administration.

Senay Boztas, Amsterdam – Families of 20 men who were jailed for refusing to fight to preserve the former Dutch colony in Indonesia have formally asked for their names to be cleared, arguing that instead of "deserters, traitors and cowards" their relatives deserve to be recognised as having been on the right side of history.

Dewi Elvia Muthiariny, Bandung – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Bandung Geophysics Station recorded a total of 147 earthquakes in the West Java region throughout September 2024. According to the Head of the Bandung Geophysics Station, Teguh Rahayu, the majority of these tremors, 132 in total, originated from shallow depths, less than 60 kilometers.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani announced the decision to expand the number of commissions within the DPR from 11 to 13. This agreement was reached during a leadership meeting and consultation with all factions on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Depok – Outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his successor, Prabowo Subianto, attended a major National Police event on Monday to showcase the security preparedness for the upcoming presidential transition.

Lily Kristanto – Dimas and Bella had plans to earn some money and travel Australia when they arrived for their working holiday.

They left behind jobs in Indonesia's banking industry and flew to Darwin, with work lined up picking and packing cucumbers at a farm.

Muzakir Nurdin, Central Aceh – The immigration office in Central Aceh in Indonesia's western province of Aceh deported three French nationals on Saturday for allegedly participating in the political campaign of a candidate running for regent.

Petir Garda Bhwana, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) praised the final result of the construction of the State Palace in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN), East Kalimantan. The building was just inaugurated by Jokowi on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Johnson Raela, Hellena Souisa and Sean Mantesso – Three years ago, Lamberti Faan was sleeping in her village when armed men woke her.

It was September 2021, and the Indonesian military were hunting Papuan separatists. Three days later, she fled with her family, fearful for her life.

Jakarta – A miracle almost happened once again as Indonesia pursues its long-held dream of reaching the soccer World Cup for the first time. This time around Indonesia came close to humiliating host Bahrain in their World Cup Asia qualifier tie on Thursday, which saw the home team needing a last-gasp goal in extended injury time to earn a 2-2 draw.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – As his term comes to an end next week, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo chose to spend his weekend reflecting on his childhood in his hometown of Solo.

One of his activities included visiting his former school, SDN Tirtoyoso 111 Gilingan Elementary School, on Saturday.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) suspects that the new policy of providing a housing allowances to House of Representatives (DPR) members for the 2024-2029 period has been poorly planned bearing in mind it will be a huge waste of the state budget.

Sahrudin Nurdin, North Maluku – North Maluku gubernatorial candidate Benny Laos has been confirmed dead following a speedboat fire that occurred while he and his entourage were aboard.

Cecilia Octavia Mbotengu, Head of Bobong Regional Hospital in Pulau Taliabu Regency, confirmed Laos' death at 5:20 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT) despite the medical team's efforts.

Jakarta – Before President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ascended to the highest office in 2014 there was a widespread expectation that he would move heaven and earth to reduce the immense economic disparities among the various regions of the country.

Najla Nur Fauziyah, Jakarta – The transition of power from President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin to President-elect Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is drawing closer. Prabowo Subianto is busy formulating the ministerial structure in his cabinet, the Onward Indonesia Cabinet.

Dewi Elvia Muthiariny, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has denied allegations of interfering in the formation of the cabinet for President-elect Prabowo Subianto. He emphasized that the cabinet formation is solely Prabowo's prerogative.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Hundreds of indigenous people from various different regions gathered in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Friday October 11.

Kurniawan Fadilah, Jakarta – The Labour Party has officially declared its support for the Ridwan Kamil-Suswono (RIDO) electoral ticket in the Jakarta gubernatorial elections (Pilgub). Kamil personally attended the declaration in Jakarta on Friday October 11.

Maula M Pelu, Ambon – A number of civil society organisations held a peaceful action at the Leimena traffic circle in Poka Village, Ambon City, on Friday October 11. This action was a critical reflection of a decade of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration, which according to protesters has left behind various problems for indigenous peoples.

Vitorio Mantalean, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Labour Party President Said Iqbal says that workers are demanding an annual minimum wage increase of 8-10 percent in 2025.

Ifan Ahmad, Gowa, South Sulawesi – In an ambitious effort to achieve food self-sufficiency within three years, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has pledged to increase farmers' incomes to Rp 10 million (approximately $640) per month – five times the current average wage for agricultural laborers.