American environmental journalist Philip Jacobson has expressed gratitude for all the support he has received following his arrest in Indonesia, as recorded in a video message published today by his employer, Mongabay.

Will Doran – On January 29, the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP), one of the world's leading bodies advocating for global drug policy reform, will be co-hosting a seminar called "Sustainable Development in Indonesia: What Can Be Learned From Global Best Practice in Drug Control?" in Jakarta.

The lack of an explicit divine prohibition against meth led to a man, ostensibly of God, to consume the illegal drug without any apparent sense of guilt.

Police in Bangkalan regency, East Java this week arrested a 46-year-old ustad (Islamic preacher), who is identified by his initials AM, for meth consumption and distribution to his students.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – Aceh Truth and Reconciliation Commission (KKR) Chairperson Afridal Darmi says that responsibility for resolving human rights (HAM) violations during the armed conflict in Aceh is a national issue.

Jakarta – The public prosecutor has demanded Habil Marati, accused of illegal firearms possession, to be sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Prosecutors believe that Habil was proven to have provided funds for Kivlan Zen to buy illegal firearms.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Director Asfinawati said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should call in Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly and Immigration Director-General Ronny Sompie over the delay information on the whereabouts of graft suspect Harun Masiku.

Ardila Syakriah, Jakarta – American journalist Philip Jacobson, who works for environmental news website Mongabay, received an award for "excellence in environmental journalism" from Fetisov Journalism Award for a collaborative investigative work on environmental issues in Indonesia.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has defended Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto against scathing criticism of the minister's frequent overseas trips.

Jon Afrizal, Jambi – A citizen of the United States and an Indonesian national have been arrested by the Telanaipura Police in Jambi for allegedly spreading the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Simpang Empat Sipin subdistrict of Jambi city.

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration is back in the spotlight, this time inviting scrutiny over the revitalization of the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta, which includes uprooting more than 200 trees in the southern part of the complex.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – Indonesia has continued its venture to lure global corporations into investing in the country during the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland this week.

Riska Rahman, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir has denied accusations that he is giving out positions based on politics to supervise state-owned flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.Garuda appointed on Wednesday former Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) head Triawan Munaf as its new president commissioner.

Michael Andrew, Jakarta – International journalists and agencies have condemned the arrest of American environmental journalist Philip Jacobson, who has been detained in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, for allegedly misusing his residency permit.

Philip Jacobson, an editor of environmental science website Mongabay, was arrested on January 21, 2020, on suspicion of "visa violations" in Indonesia. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Indonesian affiliate Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemn the arrest of Philip Jacobson and call for his immediate release.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and the Civil Society Coalition have highlighted the government's bias towards employers and business in the Draft Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

They believe that the draft law being promoted by the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will worsen the inequality of law enforcement in Indonesia.

Richard C. Paddock, Bangkok – An American journalist whose work for a conservation website exposed environmental degradation and corporate malfeasance in Indonesia has been jailed by the country's immigration authorities on suspicion that he violated the conditions of his visa, his attorney said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Indonesia's new capital city will only contribute an additional 0.02 of a percentage point to the country's economic growth, and the impact will also be short lived, according to Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) research.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – Civil society groups have filed a lawsuit against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration over the internet blackout imposed during the weeks of protests in Papua and West Papua last year, arguing that it was substantially and procedurally flawed.

Riza Roidilla and Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia appointed Irfan Setiaputra as its new president director and former Creative Economy Agency head Triawan Munaf as its new president commissioner during the airline's latest extraordinary general shareholders meeting on Wednesday under the supervision of the State-Owned Enterprises Ministry.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – A poster for an antifeminist and lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LGBT) event supposedly sponsored by Wardah Cosmetics has sparked an online backlash against the halal makeup producer.

Jakarta – The supervisory board of public television broadcaster TVRI has criticized its former president director, Helmy Yahya, who was fired from his position after purchasing the rights to broadcast the English Premier League. The board said the program was counter to the nation's identity.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – Indonesia's oil and gas industry will continue to face challenges this year as the government projects lower crude oil prices, production and investment while demand continues to grow.

Vela Andapita, Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has played down reports that the Indonesian government plans to purchase weaponry systems from France, which emerged following his visit to the French Defense Ministry in Paris last week.

Philip Jacobson, an award-winning editor for the non-profit environmental science news outlet Mongabay, has been arrested for an alleged visa violation in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, after being put under city arrest for a month.

Erwin Renaldi and Alan Weedon – A 12-year-old Indonesian activist has called on Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to halt his country's exports of waste paper and plastics to her home province.

Mercedes Hutton – LGBT visitors to Bali could be forgiven for thinking that the Indonesian island is a haven of tolerance in an increasingly conservative Muslim-majority nation. "Beautiful landscapes, sandy beaches and [a] friendly gay scene make Bali one of Asia's most popular gay destinations," states online travel and lifestyle guide Travel Gay.

Kamia Handayani – Severe weather conditions triggered by climate change can adversely affect the operation of power plants.

Heavy rainfall, heatwaves and lightning can disrupt electricity transmission and distribution networks and cause power outages.

Dion Bisara, Jakarta – Indonesia's flawed democracy improved for the first time in four years, bucking a global trend that saw the rise of strongmen and oligarchs, gripping government surveillance and violent protests against authorities.

Arys Aditya – Indonesian lawmakers agreed to prioritize bills related to jobs, taxation and the relocation of the capital, key to President Joko Widodo's efforts to boost investment and accelerate growth in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

James Massola, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities have arrested a US journalist and detained him for more than a month for travelling on the wrong visa.

Phil Jacobson was detained on December 17 as he was preparing to leave Palangkaraya, a city in Central Kalimantan province, a day after attending a meeting with an indigenous rights advocacy group.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – Civil society groups have accused the government of misconduct in its decision to restrict internet access in restive Papua last year as part of efforts to contain the spread of hoaxes, according to a lawsuit filed at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN).

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The government called on all contingents not to concern about security issues for the XX National Sports Week, or PON 2020, in Papua, which is scheduled to be held from October 20 to November 2, 2020.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali will soon get a facelift through the development of a South Korea-backed light rail transit (LRT) service to reduce traffic congestion in the area, an executive of the project's construction firm has said.

News Desk, Jakarta – More than one hundred residents of Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, flocked on Wednesday to the Law and Human Rights Ministry on Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta to protest minister Yasonna Laoly after they took offense at a statement made by the official.

Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have arrested six people for allegedly forcing underage girls to work as prostitutes in a cafe under horrific conditions, where each victim was forced to serve 10 clients per day and take pills to delay menstruation to "maximize profits."

Bangkok – Indonesian authorities should immediately release journalist Philip Jacobson and drop any criminal charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and owners, has urged Indonesia to immediately release journalist Philip Jacobson, who works as an editor for the environmental news outlet Mongabay.

Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalist (AJI), the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) and the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) are denouncing the arrest of American environmental journalist Philip Jacobson, who has been detained in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, for allegedly violating visa restrictions.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) voiced strong regrets against the treatment shown by Indonesian authorities towards international journalist and editor of Mongabay, Philip Jacobson.

As previously reported, Jacobson (30) was arrested by the Central Kalimantan immigration office today over allegations of violating his business visa.

Kiki Astari, Jakarta – Residents of North Jakarta's Tanjung Priok rallied in front of the Law and Human Rights Ministry headquarters demanding Minister Yasonna Laoly to make a public apology after he made a degenerating comparison involving the people living in the area.

Diana Mariska, Jakarta – The Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia has said that Iran would gladly work with Indonesia in a defense partnership if the government is interested in the plan.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest gas distributor is keeping its options open to import cheaper gas to bring down prices and create a more supportive business environment for top-consuming industries as mandated by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – The Riau Police have fired a local police chief for his lackluster performance in handling land and forest fires in the province's Pelalawan regency.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – An American environmental editor named Philip Jacobson has been detained in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan for allegedly violating visa restrictions, environmental science and conservation news portal Mongabay said in a statement on Tuesday.

Caesar Akbar, Jakarta – The Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform has commenced listing the names of civil servants (PNS) who are willing to move to the new capital city in East Kalimantan Province.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed its economic growth prospects for ASEAN-5 countries, including Indonesia, because of exports

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – Gerindra Party Chief Patron Prabowo Subianto has balked at commenting on the remarks of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Head Budi Gunawan who mentioned that Sandiaga Uno would likely be a presidential candidate in the 2024 election.

Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri has revealed that the antigraft body has put Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku, who is implicated in bribery allegations, on its most-wanted list.

Jakarta – A 20-year-old defendant accused of hurling rocks at the police during student protests in the capital in September of last year has told a panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court that he was tortured by police officers to falsely confess to having attacked authorities.

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The lawyer representing six Papua defendants, Oky Wiratama Siagian, has criticised a statement by the prosecutor who said that acts of separatism disguised as free speech must be cracked down on.

According to the prosecution, freedom of expression is limited and regulated under Article 28J of the 1945 Constitution.