Johannes Nugroho – Ahead of next week's general elections in Indonesia, Marsha Siagian stands out as one of the few legislative candidates pledging to represent Indonesians living overseas by pushing to restart the long-delayed legislative process to allow for dual citizenship.

New Zealand has called for the immediate release of pilot Phillip Mehrtens who was taken captive by fighters in Indonesia's troubled Papua province a year ago.

Sofie Arjon Schutte – Presidential and vice presidential candidates were presented with jackets at the Integrity Pact on 17 January.

On 17 January, a little less than a month before 204 million registered Indonesian voters will cast their votes for a new president and national parliament, over 3,000 YouTubers tuned in to watch 'The Integrity Pact'.

Eva Corlett and agencies – Rebels in Indonesia's West Papua region have said they will release a New Zealand pilot who was taken hostage a year ago as a bargaining chip for their independence movement.

Nabire, Jubi – The Puncak Ilaga Command of The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) has accused the Indonesian Military (TNI) of burning civilian homes and assaulting civilians, resulting in one death and two severe injuries.

Nabire, Jubi – Spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) Sebby Sambom has stated that his group is responsible for the attack that occurred on Siep Asso Road, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency on Monday (5/2/2024).

Jayapura, Jubi – The Acting Deputy Head of Information for the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command, Lt. Col. Inf Candra Kurniawan, stated that two personnel who got shot on Siep Asso Road, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency on Monday (5/2/2024) were members of the Babinsa (Village Development Facilitator) at 1715-06/Dekai Military District Command.

Jayapura, Jubi – The armed group known as the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) reportedly damaged a major road connecting Sugapa District to Hitadipa District in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, on Sunday (4/2/2024).

Jakarta – Over the past week, we have witnessed a surge of fresh criticism of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's government and the political elite ring through the halls of campuses and centers of intellectual thought across the archipelago.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Rumors that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani will resign from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's cabinet have emerged just weeks before the 2024 general election.

Jakarta – Retired army general Wiranto recently revealed the reason why he gave Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka his support for the 2024 election.

"I remember how Mr. Prabowo once said that he would dedicate his life to serving this country," Wiranto said in front of tens of thousands of people in Langowan, Minahasa, on Monday.

Jakarta – Around 100 students marched in Indonesia's capital Jakarta on Wednesday to protest what they say is political interference by outgoing president, Joko Widodo, in the presidential election to be held on Feb. 14.

Jakarta – Kraksaan District Court in Probolinggo, East Java, has sentenced 41-year-old wedding organizer Andrie Wibowo Eka Wardhana to two and a half years in prison and a fine of Rp 3.5 billion (US$223,331) for causing a wildfire on Mount Bromo last year.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – A number of retired Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) officers who are members of Elang Indonesia Maju (Onward Indonesian Eagles) have declared their support for the presidential and vice presidential candidate pair number 3, Ganjar Pranowo and Mahfud MD.

Jakarta – The Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Coalition for Election Justice (SAKAKAP) has found 121 cases of alleged election violations committed by the state apparatus between November 13, 2023 and January 31, 2024.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students from a number of different campuses gathered at the 12 May Reformasi Monument in front of the Trisakti University campus in Jakarta on Wednesday February 7 to protest against the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

They gathered for an action calling for "Jokowi's impeachment" and to "Reject the Fraudulent Elections".

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo reiterated on Wednesday that he will abstain from participating in campaign rallies, despite his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, contesting the election as a vice-presidential candidate.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced on Tuesday that Feb. 14 will be a national holiday to allow for citizens to vote in the general election.

The decision was formalized in a new presidential regulation signed by the President on Tuesday and is effective immediately.

Jon Emont – A few years ago, Indonesia set out to turn its treasure trove of nickel into an electric-car manufacturing boom.

It imposed a sweeping ban on the export of raw nickel. That meant that companies wanting to tap the world's largest source of the mineral – used in the most powerful type of EV batteries – would have to build smelters in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Hundreds of students were set to protest on Wednesday against outgoing President Joko Widodo's perceived interference in the Feb. 14 election to replace the leader of the world's third-largest democracy, an organizer said.

Antara, Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Presidential candidate number one Anies Baswedan spoke up about the supposed plan to liquidate state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

He said on Monday during the "Desak Anies" event in Semarang that any information must be faced with critical thinking, including the idea of an SOE transformation.

Medan – A family of three died after their car was hit by a landslide on Jl. Tarutung-Sibolga, Adian Koting district, North Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra on Saturday afternoon.

Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto recently reminisced about his late mother Dora Marie Sigar when he visited the latter's hometown in Langowan, Manado.

Prabowo even sang "Sio Mama" ('Dear Mama'), a song about a child missing his mother.

Reno Reza Mahendra, Jakarta – A spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM), Sebby Sambom, denied issues that his side would release New Zealand pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens on Feb. 7, 2024.

Nivell Rayda, Medan, Indonesia – It was Sunday morning in December, but there were hardly any customers stopping by at Mdm Teti Gusyana's store, one of the few remaining snack shops still standing in Pasar Bengkel, a once bustling town on the eastern coast of Sumatra that has become increasingly deserted.

Jakarta – In the corruption case in Sidoarjo, the KPK gives the impression of having become a political tool. A thorough investigation is needed to remove this impression.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Chairman of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) M. Fanshurullah Asa assessed that flight tickets in Indonesia are pricey, and one of the factors is the high price of jet fuel or avtur, which is 22-43 times more expensive than in other countries in Southeast Asia.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government will begin discussion on the Special Jakarta Region Bill, which is a result of Indonesia's capital relocation to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's largest banks posted positive results as the country's economy continued its recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo denied allegations he has politicized social assistance (bansos) in a bid to support his eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is the running mate for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming presidential election.

Jakarta – To some, the fifth and final electoral debate of the campaign season on Sunday was an anticlimax, as the three presidential candidates refrained from attacking each other as they had done in the previous two shows, when two of them appeared to sandwich the other.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy expanded at a much slower rate last year, with weaker household spending and exports weighing on the country's economic output.

The country's GDP grew by 5.05 percent last year, much lower than the 5.31 percent logged the previous year, Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – With just over a week left before the 2024 simultaneous elections, the government has highlighted its commitment to assisting thousands of people with mental disorders or disabilities across Indonesia to exercise their voting rights on Feb. 14.

Han Revanda Putra, Antara, Jakarta – The national campaigning team of Prabowo-Gibran claimed the ethical decision of the General Elections Ethics Council or DKPP against General Elections Commission (KPU) members including Hasyim Asy'ari could be weaponized.

Ihsanuddin, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is inviting the public to impose ethical sanctions on presidential and vice presidential candidates number 2, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Antara, Jakarta – Acting Deputy of Medicine and Narcotics Control of BPOM (The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority) Rita Endang estimated that by 2050, 10 million deaths each year are possible due to antimicrobial resistance or AMR. AMR causes infections to be more difficult to treat which risks spreading disease and death.

Roy Triono & Heru Andriyanto, Bandar Lampung – Comedian Aulia Rakhman is set to face a blasphemy trial in connection with a joke he made during a campaign rally supporting presidential nominee Anies Baswedan.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – Anti-corruption activist Hanifa Sutrisna denied having accused Raffi Ahmad of money laundering despite an earlier video appearance in which he urged law agencies to investigate the celebrity tycoon.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that Rp50.14 trillion of the ministry/agency budget has been blocked in order to become one of the financial sources for the temporary unconditional cash transfer (BLT) food risk mitigation and subsidized fertilizer.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia asks presidential candidates to support the transition towards a green economy. Head of Greenpeace Indonesia, Leonard Simanjuntak, said the issue of green economic transition is important to discuss because it has a long-term impact, citing the climate crises currently occurring throughout the world.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that the government has raised the fertilizer subsidy budget by Rp14 trillion. With a higher budget, 2.5 million more farmers can receive the fertilizer subsidy.

Previously, the government allocated a budget of Rp26.68 trillion for fertilizer subsidies in 2024.

Farida Indriastuti – The debate of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for 2024 will enter its fifth round. Ironically, in the four debates the candidates eliminated the crucial issue of women's rights.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – More than 11 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia last year, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), signaling a strong post-pandemic recovery, but businesses expect greater challenges this year as potential visitors and politicians keep their eye on the general election.

Zannie Langford – Indonesia, the world's second-largest seaweed producer, plans to introduce a nationwide export ban on seaweed, following a ban at a provincial level in 2022.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo argued in November that the ban would encourage investment in domestic seaweed processing, as part of a larger suite of export restrictions.

Resty Woro Yuniar – Less than two weeks before voters head to the polls to choose Indonesia's next leader, presidential front runner Prabowo Subianto found himself on the defensive following the final televised debate.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Several Indonesian ministers are discontented with President Joko Widodo's overspending on social aid and seeming partiality ahead of elections on Feb 14, but they are likely to remain in their posts to maintain government stability, sources told The Straits Times.

Michael Rose – In September, Timor-Leste will mark a quarter century since its vote for independence from Indonesia, the conclusion of a 24-year long struggle that left few Timorese families untouched.

Siwage Dharma Negara and Maria Monica Wihardja – Indonesian Millennials and Gen-Z would like their next president to create jobs, eradicate poverty and combat corruption. While personality dominates the Indonesian election, policy platforms will impact the country's future – and may tilt the election outcome.

Benjamin Plummer – Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appealed for the immediate release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens nearly a year after his capture in Papua, Indonesia.

The Susi Air pilot was taken hostage by West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters on February 7 last year, shortly after landing on a remote Paro airstrip in Nduga, Highland Papua.

Wellington, New Zealand – New Zealand has called for the immediate release of Kiwi pilot Phillip Mehrtens, a year after he was taken hostage by rebels in Papua region, its foreign minister said on Monday.