Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Vox Point Indonesia supports Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas's proposal to eliminate the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) recommendation requirement for building places of worship, arguing that it will streamline the process and enhance religious freedoms.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police have advanced their investigation into a controversial meeting between former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Firli Bahuri and ex-Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL) at a sports hall in West Jakarta.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said Tuesday that the existing presidential palaces remind him of Dutch colonial rule as the incumbent leader once again tried to defend his decision to build an entirely new capital, including a massive, Garuda-inspired presidential workplace.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Professor Subejo of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) argues that Indonesia should prioritize maximizing the potential of its 7.4 million hectares of existing rice fields rather than pursuing the risky food estate policy to achieve national food sovereignty.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Investors continue to show strong interest in properties in Jakarta and the surrounding Greater Jakarta metropolitan area despite the construction of the country's new capital located in East Kalimantan, according to property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Indonesia.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Agricultural expert Dwi Andreas Santosa recently revealed ways on how Indonesia could achieve food security, citing improving farmers' welfare as one of the things that could enable the country feed its people easily.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Anies Baswedan could face a significant setback in his bid for reelection as Jakarta governor if the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) withdraws its support. Even his political ally, the National Awakening Party (PKB), would be unable to secure his candidacy without PKS.

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – Rather than food security, it would be best for Indonesia to focus on finding ways in which it can feed its people without having to rely on imports, according to political expert Achmad Nur Hidayat.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Suharso Monoarfa, said on Tuesday that the Indonesian government is prioritizing industrialization to enhance the export of processed commodities with higher added value.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita was appointed as the acting chairman of the Golkar Party during an emergency leaders' meeting on Tuesday evening, following the sudden resignation of Chairman Airlangga Hartarto.

The meeting, held at the party's headquarters in Jakarta, involved top Golkar executives and senior members.

Jakarta – Harli Siregar, head of the Attorney General's Office's (AGO's) Legal Information Center (Kapuspenkum Kejagung), said the investigation into the crude palm oil (CPO) export corruption case was being conducted without any political pressure or influence.

The CPO corruption case resurfaced after Airlangga Hartarto resigned from his position as Golkar chairman.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza is still operating despite facing a lack of electricity, according to the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C).

"We need to immediately restore the electricity supply," said Dr. Dany Kurniadi Ramdhan, a MER-C volunteer, during a virtual press conference on Monday, August 12, 2024

Antara, Jakarta – Several areas in East Kalimantan, including those within Nusantara Capital City (IKN), are still at risk of flooding in the coming week. After heavy rainfall last weekend, floods have inundated several sub-districts in Mahakam Ulu, Balikpapan, and North Penajam Paser.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is urging the Nabire District Police Chief (Kapolres) to release four KNPB activists who were arrested when they were handing out leaflets on Monday August 12 for a protest action on August 15 to commemorate the New York Agreement.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has released findings showing that there are still many incidents of torture being committed by law enforcement institutions from the police to correctional institutions (Lapas).

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia can save up to a whopping Rp 50 trillion (around $3 billion) annually if the country makes use of artificial intelligence or AI to make sure that the fuel subsidy is going to the right people, according to senior minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – As many as 84 private universities (PTS) may shut down due to failure to meet accreditation standards, according to the National Accreditation Board for Higher Education (BAN PT). The affected institutions are spread across several Indonesian provinces, including West Java, Jakarta, and Sumatra.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo held his first Cabinet meeting in his planned new capital, Nusantara, on Aug 12, as the outgoing leader seeks to reassure investors his US$32 billion (S$42.4 billion) mega-project remains on track before he steps down this October.

Aisyah Llewellyn – The operator of fast food giant Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Indonesia has reported steeper losses as pro-Palestinian boycotts continue to hammer businesses in the country perceived to be associated with Israel or its army.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – With over two months still to go until his inauguration in October, president-elect Prabowo Subianto has nonetheless established good rapport with President Vladimir Putin, setting the tone for Indonesia-Russia bilateral ties during his Moscow visit early this month.

Alifia Sekar, Jakarta – The emergence of alleged incidences of child abuse on social media platforms in recent weeks have put a negative spotlight on childcare services and facilities in the country, sparking public outrage and prompting many to urge the government to set competency standards and tighten oversight.

Jakarta – Indonesia has joined a chorus of nations condemning a deadly Israeli air strike over the weekend on a school housing displaced Palestinians, with Jakarta calling for the international community to stop the "crimes against humanity" and ensure accountability from Israel, as the crisis in Gaza enters its tenth month.

Djibril Muhammad, Jakarta – Dozens of hotel Google business accounts across Indonesia were hacked on Sunday, according to the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI). The association has announced that it will report the incident to the Cyber Crime Directorate of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri).

Thomas Rizal, Nusantara – President-elect Prabowo Subianto confirmed on Monday that he has invested in the new national capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan as a businessman and suggested that he plans to relocate to the city as president once it's operational.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia losing its 34-month streak of an expanding manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) has worried President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" defended his decision to build an entirely new capital during a historic cabinet meeting on Monday, saying that the move could spread economic activities from Java.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto abruptly announced his resignation on Sunday, prompting the party's leadership board to call an emergency meeting to appoint an acting chairman.

Zikrullah Shubhy, Depok – Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) staged a protest at the Depok mayor's office in West Java on Sunday by dumping dozens of sacks filled with household garbage, expressing their frustration with the city's inadequate waste management.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – A senior presidential aide denied Monday that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was pulling the strings behind Airlangga Hartarto's recent abrupt resignation as the Golkar party's chairman.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi is not ready to move the capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara Capital City (IKN), North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan.

Jokowi said the Presidential Decree to transfer the capital city must consider the readiness of IKN's infrastructure.

Savero Aristia W, Jakarta – Indonesian businessman Jusuf Hamka, also known as Babah Alun, officially resigned from his Golkar Party membership today. He submitted his resignation letter after Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation from the position of Golkar Party General Chair.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – As many as 24 Papua's cultural agencies and observers rejected the move to relocate some original Papuan archaeological objects to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) office at the Cibinong Science Center, West Java.

The relocation is considered a form of eliminating the history of indigenous Papuans.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's state-owned electricity company PT PLN called off its 13.3 gigawatts (GW) of steam power plants (PLTU) previously planned in the 2019-2028 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL). PLN claimed the step will avoid around 1.8 billion tons of CO2 emissions in the next 25 years.

Norman Harsono – Indonesia has drastically scaled back its Aug. 17 Independence Day celebrations planned for its future capital because of challenges providing food and accommodation in the remote location.

Surabaya – Hundreds of students from the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI) held a protest action in front of the East Java (Jatim) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in the provincial capital of Surabaya on Monday August 12.

Exclusive by foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic and Fiji reporter Lice Movono – Fiji's prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, says he will "apologise" to fellow Melanesian leaders later this month after failing to secure agreement from Indonesia to visit its restive West Papua province.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) has provided import duties exemptions for crucial equipment used in the development of the Nusantara Capital (IKN), including Autonomous Rail Transit (ART), flying taxis, and electric motors.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Dwi Andreas Santosa, an agricultural expert and Professor at Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), revealed that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration spent Rp 954 trillion ($15.22 billion) for food security initiatives over the past decade.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Airlangga Hartarto unexpectedly announced his resignation as chairman of the Golkar Party on Sunday, citing his decision as a measure to maintain the party's unity.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation as Chair of the Golkar Party. In a video statement delivered by Airlangga, the decision to resign has been made since Saturday, August 10, 2024.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – Airlangga Hartarto announced his resignation as chairman of the Golkar Party on Sunday, emphasizing the party's significant achievements under his leadership.

Dili – President Droupadi Murmu announced during her address in Timor-Leste on Saturday that India will soon open an embassy in the country as part of the growing India-Timor-Leste friendship.

President Murmu arrived in Timor Leste on Saturday, after concluding her visits to Fiji and New Zealand, in the third leg of her three-nation tour.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has announced a potential bonus of Rp6 billion for each gold medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

"The bonus for a gold medal could range from Rp5 billion to Rp6 billion, with the possibility of an increase," stated Yohan, an expert staff member at the Youth and Sports Ministry, during a Jakarta press conference on Friday.

Richaldo Hariandja – A black double-cabin, four-wheel-drive pickup truck stopped in front of a fresh fish store in Kampung Baru, Mangkupadi village, in North Kalimantan, and three Chinese nationals and one Indonesian exited the vehicle. They went inside and spent more than 30 minutes inspecting and selecting fish before leaving.

Muhammad Fakhruddin, Jakarta – The leaders of the Golkar Party planned for a meeting on Tuesday to appoint an acting chairman succeeding Airlangga Hartarto who abruptly announced his resignation on Sunday.

Jakarta – The Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy supports the removal of a recommendation from the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) in order to establish a house of worship in Indonesia.

Setara Institute Executive Director Halili Hasan said that it is better if the licensing process for establishing houses of worship is simplified.

The spotlight is again on West Papua following the killing of New Zealand pilot Glen Conning. His sad and untimely death came just as there was renewed hope that his fellow New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens might finally be released by the armed resistance fighters who have held him since February 2023.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), Hasto Wardoyo, said that the abortion provisions for victims of rape and sexual harassment are aimed to maintain their mental health.

The provisions are based on Government Regulation (PP) Number 28 of 2024.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Canberra – Australia and Indonesia advanced their electric vehicle (EV) partnership during the first Senior Officials' Meeting under the Electric Vehicle Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Canberra on Friday.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Vinnilya, Dayat, Jakarta/Balikpapan – Thousands of Jakarta residents gathered eagerly to witness the historic journey of the replica of Indonesia's national flag, which began its journey from the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta to Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta.