Diana Mariska, Jakarta – Indonesia's crude palm oil production rose by 14 percent to 34.7 million metric tons in the first eight months of 2019, from the same period last year, while exports of the commodity increased by 3.8 percent to 22.7 million tons, according to data provided by an industry group.

Damien Kingsbury – After half a century of incorporation as part of Indonesia and following a period of generally declining violence in the half island of West Papua, the past year has seen a marked upsurge in Papuan-initiated violence. This increased violence appears to demonstrate that, even after so much time, anti-Indonesian sentiment is as strong as ever.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – Indonesia has launched an international aid agency to strengthen its diplomatic relations in the region, but played down the role of Papua-related diplomacy in the fund.

Jakarta – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$100 million intermediary loan to the government to help kickstart private sector investments in infrastructure projects as several state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in charge of infrastructure development struggle to secure funds for their projects.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have revealed plans to fire bombs from slingshots and release monkeys to disrupt Sunday's inauguration of President "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – Human rights activists have lambasted President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for failing to address human rights issues in his inauguration speech on Sunday, pointing out that he instead focused on the country's economic development.

Jakarta – Students protesting near the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta today said they hope that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will not betray the people during his second term in office.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – The legal counsel team for seven suspects of treason case from Papua stated their clients are in good condition after a visit in Kalimantan Timur.

Camellia Webb-Gannon – Last weekend, the Indonesian police took 43 West Papuan students into custody for allegedly disrespecting the Indonesian flag during an independence day celebration (an allegation the students deny).

Jakarta – PDIP secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto defended President Jokowi's presidential inauguration speech that was widely criticized for not mentioning issues regarding law enforcement, human rights, and corruption eradication.

Rosseno Aji, Andita Rahma, Jakarta – Human rights activist and founder of the Lokataru Law and Human Rights Firm, Haris Azhar, subjected President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to firm criticism on the inauguration speech the president delivered on Sunday.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – Gerindra Party chairman and losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has stated he is ready to join the Cabinet in the second term of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration following a closed-door meeting at the State Palace on Monday.

Jakarta – A Quran teacher, identified only as AI in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, is suspected of molesting seven elementary school girls. He allegedly offered his victims money for them not to resist nor divulge his deeds.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has confirmed that the Gerindra Party will be represented in the upcoming Cabinet, the Jokowi Mania volunteer group has claimed.

Volunteer group chairman Immanuel Ebenezer said after meeting with the President on Sunday night that Jokowi told the volunteers that Gerindra would be represented.

Hong Kong – The global collapse in coal prices this year has dealt a particularly heavy blow to miners in Indonesia, the top exporter and one of the largest producers of the fuel.

Jakarta – The amount of land in Indonesia consumed by fires through September this year has exceeded the amount burned during all of 2018, according to data given by a government official on Monday.

Karim Raslan – The Nggapulu – named after a glacier-covered peak in Papua's Jayawijaya range – is a German-built ship that forms part of the fleet operated by Pelni, Indonesia's national ferry company.

Corazon Miller – Two men accused of gambling are the latest to receive a public whipping in the capital of Indonesia's Aceh, where people are commonly flogged for a range of offences including drinking alcohol, sex before marriage and homosexuality.

Diana Mariska, Nur Yasmin, Farouk Arnaz, Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stopped short of announcing his new cabinet on Monday but the list of people he invited to the State Palace throughout the day gave a few hints as to how his cabinet portfolios would shape up in the next five years.

Thresa Sandra Desfika, Lenny Tristia Tambun, Hotman Siregar, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has set lofty goals for his second-term presidency, promising to simplify bureaucracy, cut off red tapes and redirect focus on talent development to lay the foundation for transforming Indonesia into a $7-trillion economy at the time the country celebrates its centenary in 2045.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – Today, exactly five years ago, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was inaugurated as the president of the Republic of Indonesia for 2014-2019. Today, on Sunday October 20, Widodo was again inaugurated as president of Indonesia for 2019-2024.

There was a striking difference however between the two inaugurations.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – Laurenzus Kadepa, Papua parliament member from Politics, Legal and Human Rights Division, said Papuan peoples do not need an offer in the presidential cabinet of Joko Widodo for the period of 2019-2024. What they urgently need at the moment, he further said, is the state's attention to solve problems in Papua (Jayapura, 16/10/2019).

Andita Rahma, Jakarta – According to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), President Joko Widodo or Jokowi did not mention at all the issue of law enforcement, human rights, and corruption eradication in his inaugural address at the MPR building, on Sunday, October 20, 2019.

James Massola, Jakarta – Prime Minister Scott Morrison has discussed free trade, Papua and Indonesia's proposed new capital during a flying visit to Jakarta for President Joko Widodo's inauguration, while also seeking to improve relations with Beijing during a meeting with China's Vice-President.

Amy Remeikis – Scott Morrison's whirlwind trip to Indonesia is a "good thing", his political opponent says, as Labor embraces bipartisan support for Australia's latest free trade agreement.

Morrison travelled to Indonesia for Joko Widodo's second inauguration as president, with talks between the two leaders planned at the presidential palace.

Arys Aditya, Viriya Singgih and Karlis Salna, Bloomberg News – Joko Widodo was inaugurated as Indonesia's president for a second five-year term and faces an early test to shore up support for reforms aimed at boosting investment and rejuvenating an economy growing at its slowest pace in two years.

Emma Connors – There was pomp and ceremony aplenty but compared to the last presidential inauguration, Sunday's crowning of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his new Vice President Ma'ruf Amin was a much more muted affair.

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid says that it will be difficult to stop the current attempt to weaken the fight against corruption by crippling the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Jakarta – The Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices in Medan, North Sumatra, has been attacked by molotov cocktails thrown by unidentified assailants. Police are currently searching for two people beloved to have thrown the bombs.

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – Shortly after he took an oath of office for the 2019-2024 presidential term, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave his inauguration speech, outlining his plans for his second term.

Below is the unofficial English translation of his speech:

Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Ma'ruf Amin have officially taken their oaths to serve the country as the President and the Vice President for the 2019-2024 term in a plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Sunday.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – Leaders from ASEAN countries, Australia and Swaziland made courtesy calls on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Sunday at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta to congratulate him ahead of his inauguration for his second term in office.

Dicky Christanto Wulandaru, Jakarta – The incoming chair of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) should focus on improving the performance of the senior national team, following its consecutive losses at the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, a top sports official has said.

Since the fall of the Indonesian dictator Suharto in 1998, civil society has flourished under the country's burgeoning democracy. Observers even began calling Indonesia the most democratic nation in Southeast Asia.

Rully Satriadi, Carlos Ky Paath, Jakarta – At least 18 heads of state, heads of government and special envoys of friendly countries are planning to attend the inauguration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on Sunday.

Haeril Halim – Indonesia's human rights commission called for a probe into scores of deaths in Papua on Friday after some of the deadliest violence in years swept the restive region.

Dozens were killed when riots broke out in Wamena city last month, with some victims burned alive when buildings were set ablaze, and others stabbed in the chaos.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is making a flying visit to Jakarta for ceremonial reasons but the trip comes at an opportune time to talk trade with Indonesia.

The prime minister will be in Jakarta on Sunday for the inauguration of President Joko Widodo, who won re-election in April.

N. Adri, Balikpapan – Social tensions in the area of Indonesia's future capital in East Kalimantan that had escalated into riots and arson attacks on hundreds of homes and a ferry port on Wednesday, had eased by Friday after police and military personnel conducted large-scale patrols of the area.

Shotaro Tani, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo received a letter in mid-August, urging him to support the swift passage of a controversial criminal code bill that would outlaw acts including extramarital and gay sex.

Yoga Rusmana – The world has more than enough coffee, and Indonesia is looking to add to the glut.

Hannah Beech and Muktita Suhartono, Medan, Indonesia – Ais likes to dance. She knows the words to "I'm a Little Teapot." Her dimples are disarming.

Her parents didn't want their daughter to dance. They didn't want her to sing. They wanted her to die with them for their cause.

Jakarta – If the government is serious about finding the best solution to the Papuan problem, the communication and informatics ministry should support the endeavor by Facebook to rid the site of computer-generated propaganda about Papua.

Jakarta (Antara) – The Indonesian Students Executive Boards' Alliance (BEM SI) is set to invite President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to an open dialogue on October 21, a day after the presidential inauguration.

Semarang (Antara) – Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo proposed a new model to patrol the neighborhood to anticipate various threats of terrorism in the surrounding environment. This new model of neighborhood watch is, unlike the usual, not to secure residential areas against thieves.

Emma Connors – Indonesia is on track to ratify the free trade agreement with Australia by the end of the year in what will be welcome news for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who will be in Jakarta on Sunday for the inauguration of President Joko Widodo.

Jakarta – A clash between two Indonesian communities reignited near the site of the country's planned new capital, police said on Thursday, with rioters burning down scores of houses, leaving hundreds homeless.

Yoseph A. Kelen, Jakarta – A government official has urged caution on meat imports from Timor Leste following an outbreak of African swine fever in the state bordering Indonesia's eastern province of East Nusa Tenggara.

Jakarta – Indonesia has issued regulations to allow authorities to block smartphones purchased on the black market, in a bid to encourage investors to produce mobile phones in the country, a minister said on Friday.

Indonesia is a large market for mobile phone producers, with 60 millions phones sold every year.

Michael Taylor, Kuala Lumpur – Swathes of rainforest Indonesia plans to recover from oil palm planters must not instead be handed to the mining and timber sectors nor used for infrastructure, green groups said.

A shocking case of alleged deadly animal abuse has sparked huge outrage on social media in Indonesia this week, prompting a police probe into the matter.