Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – State-owned gas and oil company PT Pertamina increased the price of five non-subsidized fuel brands effective October 1, 2023. They are Pertamax (RON 92), Pertamax Green 95 (RON 95), Pertamax Turbo (RON 98), Dexlite (CN 51), and Pertamina Dex (CN 53).

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi responded to criticism voiced by politician Anies Baswedan who said that the National Strategic Projects (PSN) have the potential to be misused for the interest of certain parties if they are not well managed.

Antara, Jakarta – A forecaster at the Pekanbaru Station of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Moh. Ibnu A., said that at least 1,031 hotspots were monitored in the Sumatra region on Sunday, October 1, 2023. The number decreased from 1,492 hotspots detected a day before.

Magang Kji, Jakarta – Presidential contender of the Indonesia Onward Coalition, Prabowo Subianto, asserted that Indonesia must achieve self-sufficiency in the food, energy, and water sectors to avoid dependence on other nations for food.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Swaths of tropical peatland that were supposed to have been restored and protected from burning are among the fire-hit areas in Indonesia's ongoing dry season, raising questions about the government's claims of success in peat restoration.

Hundreds of workers held a demonstration near the Arjuna Wiwaha or Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Monday October 2 to coincide with a Constitutional Court (MK) ruling on a judicial review of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court delivered a decisive ruling on Monday, rejecting a motion by labor unions aimed at annulling a government regulation in lieu of the job creation law, which has been criticized for favoring employers over workers.

Ang Qing, Jakarta – Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar announced the birth of a critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, the country's Ministry of Environment and Forestry said this is the fourth calf of the species born at the Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung province.

Antara, Jakarta – With the dry season reaching its peak and the mercury shooting up, several parts of Indonesia recorded land and forest fires in September, stated Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), Siti Nurbaya Bakar.

Jakarta – Firefighters are rushing to extinguish forest and land fires across parts of Indonesia, with the scorching weather in the South-east Asian nation worsened by an El Nino dry spell and set to peak in October.

Siti Nurhaliza, Resinta S, Jakarta – As of September 29, 109 tall buildings in Jakarta, including the City Hall, have installed 125 water mist generators in an effort to combat air pollution in the capital city, according to a local official.

Antara, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for economic affairs Airlangga Hartarto, on Friday (September 29), visited Rempang Island, Riau Island Province, to affirm the government's vow to build new homes for local residents affected by the development of the Rempang Eco City.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Hundreds of forest fires in Indonesia have caused haze that has worsened air quality in parts of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur's top environment official has said, a claim Jakarta denied on Saturday.

Hayamuddin – On September 7 residents and security forces clashed on the island of Rempang, Riau province, after local people attempted to stop the authorities from conducting land measurements and boundary marking for the Eco City development project.

Kuala Lumpur (BSS/AFP) – Hundreds of forest fires in Indonesia have caused haze to reach areas of Malaysia where it has worsened air quality, Kuala Lumpur's top environment official has said.

Malang – Holding buckets of water, Cholifatul Nur sprinkles flowers planted at her young son's grave and wipes clean the stone slab where a scarf of his favourite team is draped a year after his death at an Indonesian football stadium.

Keisyah Aprilia, BenarNews/Palu – A cherry tree stands out among the rows of shabby shelters in Petobo, a village in Central Sulawesi's capital of Palu that was once swallowed by the earth.

Its green canopy offers a refuge for the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the area five years ago, as they gather to share their stories and frustrations.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – As many as 77 Indonesians on death row in Malaysia might have a chance to serve lighter sentences following some legal reforms in the close neighboring country, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A senior member of the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) confirmed on Saturday that presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto had previously approached Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the oldest son of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, to become his running mate.

Mumbai, India – Three countries comprised of India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, swore to jointly promote the positive benefits of palm oil to the global community at the Second Sustainable Vegetable Oils Conference (2nd SVOC) held at ITC Maratha Hotel in Mumbai, India, September 27, 2023.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Starting this Sunday, the Jakarta government is set to implement elevated parking tariffs for vehicles that have not undergone the mandatory emission test within the capital city.

This policy, which acts as a disincentive to high-carbon emitting vehicles, is a key component of the city's strategy to combat worsening air pollution.

Nivell Rayda, Malang, Indonesia – There was a time in a not-so-distant past when for a few hours every weekend, the city of Malang in Indonesia would appear deserted.

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to start building a light rail transit system in Bali next year to ease roadway congestion from the airport, a senior minister has said.

Tourist-dependent Bali attracts millions of foreign visitors annually and the beach-dotted island's narrow roads have been clogged with traffic jams since its reopening after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The Medan administration in North Sumatra will impose a fine of up to Rp 10 million (US$642) or three months in jail for anyone found littering in the city's rivers, Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution said.

Jakarta – Politics is not child's play. The leadership of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI), the only political party claiming to represent the youth, millennials and now Gen-Zers, is no stranger to that adage.

As one of the youngest political parties that is also led by young people, the PSI has been inevitably subject to bullying by bigger, older parties.

Ihsan Reliubun, Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continued its investigation into the alleged corruption case at the Ministry of Agriculture involving Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo. the KPK searched Syahrul's official residence in Kebayoran Baru, Central Jakarta, at around 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, September 28.

Maria Fransisca Lahur, Jakarta – Land and forest fires have covered several Indonesian regions with smog over the past few days. Other than Jambi, Palangkaraya, and Banjarmasin as reported by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the monitoring app also disclosed that the air quality in several other regions was categorized as unhealthy.

East Timor has not discussed military co-operation with China in its upgrade of diplomatic ties, President Jose Ramos-Horta says, adding Australia and Indonesia can "sleep at peace" because the island nation won't be a security concern to its neighbours.

Kirsty Needham – Timor-Leste has not discussed military cooperation with China in its upgrade of diplomatic ties, President Jose Ramos-Horta said, adding Australia and Indonesia can "sleep at peace" because the island nation won't be a security concern to its neighbours.

Members of Indonesia's Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force have raided a residential house and the local head office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua) in the town of Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, reports Human Rights Monitor.

Dian Erika Nugraheny, Icha Rastika, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan says that the environmental impact analysis (Amdal) for the Eco City project on Rempang Island, Batam, is still in process.

According to Pandjaitan, there are no problems with the Amdal.

Jasmine Floretta V.D. (Magdalene) – A small hut stands alone in the middle of the forest. Gray smoke blows from its chimney. I visited the house and met its owner, Nanda Saleleubaja, an 85-year-old Mentawai woman with a small frame and tattoos, wearing a tudda (necklace).

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono on Friday addressed recent concerns about the condition of seawalls protecting the northern coasts. He refuted a viral video on YouTube that depicted cracks in these seawalls as erroneous.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A senior Indonesian diplomat said Friday that no country raised the issue of Papua at the recent UN General Assembly (UNGA) talks in New York.

Helmut Timothy & Ilham Oktavian, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seized a substantial amount of foreign currency banknotes, valued at "tens of billions of rupiah," during a recent search at the official residence of Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo, a spokesman said on Monday.

Jakarta – The Jakarta provincial government has taken action by suspending the operations of four factories for exceeding air pollution limits, following a crackdown on major polluters in the capital city and its surrounding areas.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential hopeful Ganjar Pranowo said Friday that he considered President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo as his political mentor.

Ni Komang Erviani, Jakarta – The Bali administration has said that funds collected from a tax of Rp 150,000 (US$10) per person to be levied from all foreign tourists starting next year will be used for waste management and cultural preservation programs.

Wahyu Suryana, Jakarta – The attendance of presumptive presidential and vice presidential candidates Anies Baswedan and Muhaimin Iskandar at the wedding of Islamic Brotherhood Front (formerly the Islamic Defenders Front, FPI) spiritual leader Habib Rizieq Shihab's (HRS) daughter on September 27 has attracted much public discussion.

Reiner Brabar, Sorong – Calls for a boycott on carbon trading, ending the release and discharge of emissions, as well as accelerating the recognition of customary and people's management areas have been echoed because of its direct impact on the existence of the archipelago's indigenous peoples.

Maulia Inka Vira Fadilla, Jakarta – Every morning, sisters Janah and Jaroh rise early on the diminishing coastline of Indonesia's capital city and pray for calm weather and good fortune. At around 9 a.m., the pair wait on the shoreline with other women and girls as the fishing boats return to Jakarta's northern Kalibaru neighborhood.

Yamin Kogoya – Former Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe has presented his case for the defence, denying the corruption and bribery charges against him, with the end of the controversial and lengthy trial at the Tipikor Court of Jakarta Central District Court this week. The verdict is due on October 9.

Damien Kingsbury – Australia is willing to turn a blind eye to alleged human rights abuses in West Papua because alienating Indonesia is not worth the risk as China jostles for regional influence

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Stefanus Roy Rening, the lawyer of Papua's inactive Governor Lukas Enembe, underwent an arraignment trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Wednesday, September 27.

Stefanus was charged with obstruction of justice in his capacity as Lukas' defense lawyer in the alleged corruption case in which the latter is a suspect.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Pertamina subsidiary PGN and three Japanese companies are looking to produce biomethane from palm oil mill effluent (POME) to meet rising natural gas demand and reduce methane emissions.

Antara, Jakarta – Palangka Raya Education Office in Central Kalimantan cuts down school hours while wildfire smoke veiled the city. The head of the Education Office Jayani mentioned that the decision to start school later than usual was the result of the office meeting with school representatives and the principals of local pre-school, elementary school, and middle school.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The expansion of the Balikpapan oil refinery in East Kalimantan belonging to state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina has suffered a massive 30 percent cost overrun and a further delay to its completion.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan and his running mate, Muhaimin Iskandar, paid a visit to the controversial Muslim cleric Rizieq Syihab at his private residence in Jakarta on Wednesday evening.

A politician from the National Awakening Party (PKB), who accompanied them, said that the visit had no political agenda.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is in the process of finalizing his choice for a running mate in the upcoming February election and is expected to announce the pairing soon, an aide said on Wednesday.

Yohanes Maharso Joharsoyo, Jakarta – The head of the Ombudsman Mokhammad Najih stated that 45.63% out of 10,454 community healthcare centers in Indonesia have inadequate medical human resources. "4.17% out of these facilities have no doctor," Najih said during its reporting season on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.