Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has refused a request from Syahrul Yasin Limpo to testify for the defense in his corruption trial, with the Presidential Palace saying that the President's testimony would be irrelevant to the case.

Jakarta – Former head of Nusantara Capital City (IKN), Bambang Susantono, who resigned from his job earlier this week, on Wednesday issued a statement pledging that he would continue to contribute to realizing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's vision of a new, green and sustainable capital.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto will celebrate Independence Day in the city of Nusantara in August, in a ceremony during which the outgoing leader is also expected to inaugurate the new capital city.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – After concluding the general election, Indonesia is now preparing another political battle in the simultaneous regional head elections scheduled for Nov. 27, with 37 gubernatorial, 451 regency and 93 mayoral posts on the line.

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – Over the last two weeks, social media has been flooded with the humanitarian call embodied in the phrase "All Eyes On Rafah".

Jakarta – Question: What do you call giving a lucrative mining concession to a Muslim organization in exchange for political support? Answer: Halal-certified pork barrel.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Ministry has warned Indonesians to not attempt the haj without holding the correct visa, as Saudi authorities turn away thousands of unregistered pilgrims from across the globe ahead of the haj, which begins next week.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – The upcoming Indonesian Independence Day ceremony on August 17 will take place in two locations: Jakarta and the new capital, Nusantara (IKN) in Kalimantan.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – An analyst recently said that former Chief Security Affairs Minister Mohammad Mahfud MD should reveal what his task force had discovered regarding money laundering suspicions at the Finance Ministry.

Djibril Muhammad, Jakarta – Renowned politician Grace Natalie was appointed as the new commissioner of MIND ID, a consortium of state-run mining companies, during the annual shareholders' meeting on Monday.

Grace is the founder and former chairwoman of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), now chaired by President Joko Widodo's son, Kaesang Pangarep.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Ombudsman guarantees that the Public Housing Savings Fund (Tapera) is secure. Tapera funds will be invested in low-risk bond instruments, ensuring no risk of the funds decreasing or disappearing.

Antara, Penajam Paser Utara – The Penajam Paser Utara Regency Government in East Kalimantan Province has officially transferred land assets in Sepaku District to the Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN). Part of this land is designated for constructing residential housing or apartments for residents affected by the development of the new capital.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian consumers remained optimistic about the country's economic conditions in May, but they have grown less confident compared to the previous month, according to a report by Bank Indonesia (BI).

Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – Celebrity Robby Purba has issued a public apology for sharing a video that went viral, showing a security guard hitting a dog at Plaza Indonesia mall. The guard, who lost his job due to the incident, was actually trying to protect a kitten that was being attacked by the dog.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry recently revealed that they had already paid around Rp32.13 trillion (almost $2 billion) in the so-called "13th-month salary" or bonuses for civil servants, soldiers, and police officers, as of June 7.

Larius Kogoya, Jayapura – Hundreds of protesters from the Central West Papua National Committee (KNPB) together with KNPB Sentani and KNPB Port Numbay held a solidarity action supporting a referendum and the liberation of Kanaky, New Caledonia, from French colonialism.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission expressed serious concern Monday about alleged violations associated with major infrastructure projects, including construction of a new capital, as the outgoing president accelerated development under his vision for economic growth.

Makassar – Protesters from the Greater Gowa branch of the Islamic Student Association (HMI) held a demonstration on Monday June 6 to oppose Government Regulation (PP) Number 21/2024 on Public Housing Savings (Tapera) in which they closed the Trans Sulawesi highway from late afternoon through to the evening.

Jakarta – Alleged human rights violations in Papua that were among the commission's nine priority issues throughout 2023 continued to be a priority in 2024, National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Chairperson Atnike Nova Sigiro stated.

While delivering the 2023 Komnas HAM Annual Report, Sigiro remarked that the issue is still a priority in 2024.

Jakarta – A protest action to defend Palestine at the Horse statue in Central Jakarta on Monday June 9 managed to collect as much as 388 million rupiah in donations for Palestine.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – Indonesian social media has been enlivened by the call "All Eyes on Papua" which has gone viral over the last few days and attracted an extraordinary amount of attention.

Antara, Mojokerto, East Java – A policewoman in the East Java town of Mojokerto has been named a suspect for burning her police officer husband alive, leading to his death a day later.

Victoria Milko and Dita Alangkara, Damaran Baru, Indonesia – In a lush jungle at the foothills of a volcano in Indonesia's Aceh province, the song of gibbons in the trees mixes with the laughter of the seven forest rangers trekking below them. An hour into their patrol, the rangers spot another mammal in the forest with them.

Zach Hope, Amilia Rosa and Nick McKenzie – An Indonesian people smuggler who helped transport 39 men on a boat to mainland Australia in February has revealed how he was caught by Australian authorities only to be released and sent home without charge.

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – For many shoppers, the prices are hard to resist. In a small shopping centre in South Jakarta, one-piece sleepwear is sold for as low as 25,000 rupiah (S$2) each, while a two-piece set is 35,000 rupiah.

Kiki Siregar, Cirebon, West Java – Armed with headlamps, pails and thin wooden sticks, Mr Dody Hermawan and his colleagues embark on a mission most nights around the villages of West and Central Java.

As they move from house to house, they are typically met by residents glad to be rid of a source of annoyance.

Jakarta – A list of dozens of literary works that the government recommends in all learning levels from elementary to senior high school is a welcome step forward. We join others who have lauded the plan, as we believe literature can help citizens to better understand our lives, ourselves and the world around us.

Antara, Jakarta – Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak said that the Indonesian Military's (TNI) decision to revert to the original term "OPM" (Free Papua Movement) from "armed criminal groups" (KKB) in calling the separatist group would impact their peacekeeping strategy. The military would not hesitate to take action if they see an armed person in Papua.

Jamaah, Pati – The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Pati City Police is investigating a vigilante incident in Pati, Central Java, which resulted in the death of a car rental owner from Jakarta and left three of his friends critically injured.

Yessi Vadilla, Lili Yan Ing –- Think for a second, it can happen to you. Warsiah (not her real name), a 46-year-old single working mother, was involved in an accident at an intersection and fainted while riding her motorcycle home from work.

Makassar, Indonesia – A woman has been found dead inside the belly of a snake after it swallowed her whole in central Indonesia, a local official said June 8.

The husband of 45-year-old Farida and residents of Kalempang village in South Sulawesi province discovered her on June 7 inside the reticulated python, which measured around 5m.

The current situation in Indonesia reveals a potential threat to its democracy, reminiscent of the era under President Suharto.

The local Government of Sorong Selatan Regency has officially recognized the indigenous peoples and customary territories of four sub-tribes in Konda District through a Regent Decree. The decree was presented by Regional Secretary on behalf of the Regent, Mr Samsudin Anggiluli.

Jakarta – Indonesia's president is rushing to reassure investors and bureaucrats about his US$32 billion (S$43 billion) new capital city in a malaria-prone pocket of Borneo, after the resignations of two officials overseeing the plan raised fresh doubts about its future.

Indigenous communities in Kapiraya district, Deiyai Regency, Papua Tengah (Central Papua) Province, are actively protesting the operations of PT Zoomlion, a Chinese company, which entered the area in 2023 to extract gold with heavy machinery (excavators) without obtaining permits from either the customary right owners or the relevant government authorities.

Jakarta – A district court in Banten sentenced a poacher to 12 years in prison Wednesday after he was found guilty of killing at least six critically endangered Javan rhinos.

The rhinoceros endemic to Java is one of the world's most endangered mammals, with authorities believing there are around 82 remaining in the wild.

Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a proposal to accept a South Korean donation of a corvette for its navy, despite concern from its defence committee that the ageing vessel needs about $85 million worth of maintenance.

Jakarta – It is with deep concern and alarm that we mourn the state of our judicial system during this most political of years.

Last week's Supreme Court ruling, which introduced a technicality in the age requirements for candidates running in the regional head elections, shows that dynastic politics, while ever pervasive across the country, has simply gone too far.

Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has condemned Israel's parliamentary bill seeking to label the United Nations refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) as a terrorist group.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia's ambassadors to India and Russia say authorities there hope to see Southeast Asia's largest economy join BRICS to give the group of major emerging economies a stronger voice on the global stage.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Jakarta – Preparations for Indonesia's 79th Independence Day ceremony, set to take place in the future capital, the National Capital of Nusantara (IKN), on Aug. 17, are in full swing, including enhancements to the internet network. However, there are still areas in IKN without internet coverage, known as blank spots.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – Ilham Akbar Habibie, the eldest son of Indonesia's third president B.J. Habibie, has decided to enter the 2024 West Java Regional Election with the endorsement of the National Democrat (Nasdem) Party.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – An Indonesian influencer has reportedly been detained by Saudi Arabian authorities for allegedly selling illegal Hajj packages to pilgrims using visit visas to Mecca.

"We are investigating the report," said Yusron B. Ambary, the Consul General of Indonesia in Jeddah, in a statement on Friday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A British diplomat said Thursday that bilateral ties between the UK and Indonesia had been going strong in the defense sector, among others, as seen in the business deals involving the state-owned shipbuilder PAL.

Ni Kadek Trisna Cintya Dewi, Jakarta – The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus has been detected in pigs in Indonesia. Antara reported that the Papuan government, through the local Livestock and Plantation Office, has declared an emergency status for an outbreak affecting pigs in the local area.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Anies Baswedan, former governor of Jakarta, responded to issues about the possibility of several parties nominating him as a candidate for the Jakarta 2024 election. He was rather reluctant on the subject.

Aisyah Amira Wakang, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has granted a special mining permit area or WIUPK to religious organizations, including the Nahdlatul Ulama or NU. The NU Executive Board, or PBNU, claimed that the license had been promised since 2021.

Antara, Bandar Lampung – The recent widespread power outages in many regions of Sumatra have provided a lucrative opportunity for traders selling a portable power source, commonly known as a generator set, or genset. Several shops in Bandar Lampung, for example, reported that they ran out of stock within two days of the blackout.

Jakarta – Like a rat dying in a rice barn. This saying is a very good illustration of the condition of Indofarma these days. The state-owned pharmaceutical company is bankrupt at a time when other companies in the health sector, both in Indonesia and overseas, are making profits as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing public demand for health products and services.

Jeremy Hance – A court in Indonesia has sentenced a man to 12 years in prison for poaching six critically endangered Javan rhinos, in what's been hailed as the harshest punishment handed down for wildlife crime to date.