Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has reportedly declined an offer from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to run as their gubernatorial candidate for West Java, just hours before the candidate registration deadline on Thursday evening.

Indonesia, West Papua – A member of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) special unit shot Mr Charles Kogoya, 24, in front of the GIDI Jerusalem Church in Karubaga Town, Tolikara Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 21 August 2024.

Ahmad Shoim, Surabaya – Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, commonly known as Risma, has announced plans to step down from her ministerial duties to concentrate on her gubernatorial campaign in East Java.

Niniek Karmini, David Rising and Nicole Winfield, Dili, Timor-Leste – When the Vatican acknowledged in 2022 that the Nobel Peace Prize-winning, East Timorese independence hero Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo had sexually abused young boys, it appeared that the global clergy sexual abuse scandal that has compromised the Catholic Church's credibility around the world had finally arrived in

Jakarta – Gerindra Party politician Ahmad Riza Patria and his running mate Marshel Widianto, a comedian, have withdrawn their candidacies in the South Tangerang, Banten, mayoral race after the party decided to instead back incumbent Benyamin Davnie, who has already received support from some of Gerindra's partners in the February presidential election.

Jakarta – The South Sumatra Police have arrested a man trying to sell elephant tusks and the horns of critically endangered rhinos via social media.

The illegal wildlife trade remains rampant in Indonesia, where law enforcement is lax, but the arrested man could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted, the environmental ministry said in a statement late Wednesday.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has, once again, postponed his planned relocation to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, saying that he will wait for the future capital's airport to be up and running first.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to ask Kaesang Pangarep, the youngest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to clarify his use of a private jet on a recent overseas trip, as well as who paid for the travel, its deputy chief said on Wednesday.

Diva Suukyi Larasati, Jakarta – Jakarta State University (UNJ) lecturer Ubedilah Badrun reported Kaesang Pangarep to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), alleging that President Joko Widodo's youngest son had received a gratification in the form of a Gulfstream G650ER aircraft facility to travel to the United States.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – A researcher from the Action for Ecology and People's Emancipation (AEER), Pius Ginting, believed that decarbonization efforts of the nickel industry would be unachievable as long as nickel production is unrestricted. Pius also said nickel downstream industry so far still uses coal as the main source of energy in smelters.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono has requested an additional budget of Rp20.32 trillion for the development of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara or IKN, in 2025.

Sukma Kanthi Nurani, Ilona Estherina, Haura Hamidah and Rachel Faradiba, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, held a meeting at his office on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, to discuss the potential of the Indonesian middle class.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has clarified a previous statement about feeling abandoned by a certain group. During an interview with reporters, he stated that his intention was to emphasize the importance of collective effort and unity within the community.

Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto has nothing to gain by supporting Jokowi's reckless destruction of democracy. It will be a burden for his administration.

Jakarta – The public should be educated on the health risks of consuming foods and drinks with high sugar content, an official at the Women's Empowerment and Children Protection Ministry said on Tuesday.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – A group of Muslim clerics and students visited the Industry Ministry's office in Jakarta on Wednesday, demanding the immediate closure of a distillery in Serang, arguing that its presence is an affront to the predominantly Muslim community in Banten province.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil has pledged to introduce innovative solutions to tackle Jakarta's longstanding issues of flooding and worsening traffic congestion if elected in the November 27 election.

Wahyu Setyowati, Bangka Belitung – Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to counter the European Union's Deforestation-Free Regulation (UEDR), which aims to block products linked to deforestation from entering the European market.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently seeking the Singaporean government's green light before it can start exporting solar power to the city-state, according to a senior government official.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Thursday denied ever considering Anies Baswedan as a candidate for the Jakarta gubernatorial election, clarifying that he was never the party's nominee.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani admitted Wednesday that a 5-percent growth would not be enough for Indonesia to become a high-income country by its centennial in 2045.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government have agreed on the 2025 State Budget assumptions, setting the rupiah exchange rate at Rp 16,000 per US dollar, slightly lower than the government's proposed Rp 16,100.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, commonly known as Risma, has been officially nominated as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) candidate for East Java governor, with Muslim scholar Zahrul Azhar Asad as her running mate for the November 27 election.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Sella Rizky, Medikantyo Adhikresna, Jakarta – Thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojek) and courier drivers rallied in Central Jakarta's Monas area on Thursday, demanding fairer tariffs and legal recognition for their profession.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – The government has ordered thousands of doses of mpox vaccines from Denmark in an effort to prevent the illness' spread, amid escalating global concern over the viral infection.

A shipment of 1,600 vaccine doses, the second from the Scandinavian country, is expected to arrive next week, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – This week we saw more candidates submit their bids for the local elections, and without President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's youngest son Kaesang Pangarep on the ballot, thanks to the Constitutional Court rulings that aim to foster more competitive races for regional heads across the country in November.

Sas and Vonia Vieira, Dili – As always in Timor-Leste, there was a prayer before the big event. Minutes later, the bulldozers rolled in. And in an instant, the homes of Tasitolu were gone.

"I'm very sad," local resident Ana Bela da Cruz told the ABC as her home was demolished in the background.

Jakarta – The way children are treated from birth to around 6 years old has a deep and lasting effect on their future. To shine in their adulthood, young souls need the right cognitive stimulation, physical activity and nutrition to develop their creativity, literacy and logical thinking.

Ian Cheng, Singapore – About 450 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces and the Indonesian Army (TNI-AD) took part in the 35th edition of the annual Exercise Safkar Indopura.

Max Walden – They were scenes that would have terrified politicians in any country.

Last week, Indonesian protesters wheeled in a mock guillotine with an effigy of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and pulled down the fences of parliament in Jakarta.

Aisyah Llewellyn – Indonesia has been ablaze with protests in recent weeks following the announcement of a controversial new election law, drawing activists and celebrities alike who see it as a direct assault on democracy.

Chandra Asmara – Indonesia's largest party unexpectedly named President Joko Widodo's cabinet secretary as its candidate in November's Jakarta gubernatorial election, ending speculation that the party would back the president's top critic.

Jakarta – The government has taken several preventive measures against mpox ahead of the 2nd Indonesia-Africa Forum (IAF), which is expected to host around 1,500 participants from 51 countries, including 22 African nations, from Sept. 1 to 3 in Bali.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo presented the draft state budget (RAPBN) for the 2025 fiscal year to the House of Representatives on Aug. 16, one of his last acts as president before giving the reins to the incoming administration under president-elect Prabowo Subianto. The RAPBN highlights the government's focus on improving human capital.

Wahyu Setyowati, Jakarta – Indonesia is among the world's largest palm oil producers, but it still somewhat struggles to compete with its close neighbor Malaysia, according to palm oil industry association Gapki.

Abdul Muslim, Jakarta – Indonesia has mandated that 18,232 private electronic system providers (PSEs), including major firms like Google, Meta, TikTok, and X, sign an integrity pact to combat online gambling.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The Industry Ministry is finalizing a proposal to relocate entry points of some imported goods from ports on Java Island to eastern Indonesia in a move to curb the entry of foreign goods that threaten the local manufacturing industry, including those illegally procured.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's oil palm plantation funding agency BPDPKS reported Tuesday that the non-tax state revenue from palm oil export levies had reached Rp 15.88 trillion (around $1 billion) as of July 2024.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto recently reflected on his political journey, particularly focusing on his successful presidential bid after joining forces with his former rival, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Lydia Lewis, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) wants to have a meeting with Indonesia's incoming President Prabowo Subianto to address ongoing human rights concerns in West Papua.

Adil Al Hasan, Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had coordinated with President-elect Prabowo Subianto about several programs the administration would run, including food supply chain and strengthening food security. She said Prabowo will focus on two new commodities, rice and corn.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto said that being an opposition is not reflective of Indonesian cultural values. Prabowo said opposition in the government is a Western value.

Nazarudin Latif, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan, the frontrunner in opinion polls for this year's gubernatorial race in Indonesia's capital, on Wednesday effectively lost the chance to contest for re-election.

Ahmad Syamsudin, Jakarta – As the tiny nation of Timor-Leste prepares to celebrate the 25th anniversary on Friday of its vote for independence from Indonesia, some Timorese say it is an apt occasion to reflect on whether freedom has improved their lives.

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has admitted to facing significant delays in investigating a torture case involving indigenous Papuan civilians in Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

Dili, East Timor – When the Vatican acknowledged in 2022 that the Nobel Peace Prize-winning, East Timorese independence hero Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo had sexually abused young boys, it appeared that the global clergy sexual abuse scandal that has compromised the Catholic Church's credibility around the world had finally arrived in Asia's newest country.

Kusumasari Ayuningtyas, Surakarta, Central Java – Mangkunegara X, the titular king of Surakarta, Central Java, has withdrawn from the city's mayoral race in an announcement made just a day before the candidate registration deadline.

Simon Hutagalung – In recent years, Malaysia has emerged as a favoured destination for major technology companies such as Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, while Indonesia, despite its vast potential, has not been successful in attracting equivalent levels of investment from these industry giants.

Yustinus Paat, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – East Java is poised to have a female governor for another term as Khofifah Indar Parawansa seeks reelection, facing competition from Luluk Nur Hamidah of the National Awakening Party (PKB), with Tri Rismaharini from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) potentially joining the race.

At least 11 journalists were injured and their equipment was damaged when police used physical force during last week's protests in Indonesia. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for a transparent and independent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.