Jakarta – A fire that burned about 15 hectares (37.07 acres) of a landfill in Bandung, West Java last weekend was still raging on Thursday, as the local government declared a state of emergency.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has said the fire was ignited by a cigarette that was thrown on the ground, though he didn't provide details.

Iim Halimatusa'diyah – Indonesian leaders have committed to refrain from politicising religion in the upcoming February 2024 elections, but political incentives and social forces continue to propagate identity politics, especially among the youth. More must be done to curb the politicisation of religion and educate the youth about its harmful consequences.

Kelvin Anthony, Port Vila – The leaders of five Melanesian countries and territories avoided a definitive update on the status of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua's application for full membership in Port Vila.

Jakarta – United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed the importance of modernising Indonesia's military in a meeting with its defence chief, as Washington shores up ties in Southeast Asia amid geopolitical rivalry with China.

Malang – Indonesia's Supreme Court has overturned the acquittal of two policemen accused of negligence that led to one of the deadliest stadium disasters in football history, jailing them in a decision criticised Thursday by victims' families as too lenient.

In the conclusion of a court case that marked a grim chapter in Bali's hospitality scene, I Gede Wijaya, 39, the proprietor of Uncle Benz Cafe in Badung, has been slapped with a 1.5-year prison term for his role in the fatal assault on Australian man, Johnston McCallum Scott, 41.

The sentence was delivered by the judges at Denpasar District Court yesterday.

Jakarta – The Environment and Forestry Ministry has moved to shut down the operation of four companies alleged to be running activities that caused major pollution in the Greater Jakarta area.

Antara, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court decided on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, allowing general election 2024 candidates to hold campaigns in academic institutions as long as they obtain permits and wear no political attributes.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has officially ousted prominent member Budiman Sudjatmiko, who openly declared his support for Prabowo Subianto in the upcoming presidential election.

Jakarta – It is not a secret that Indonesia's energy transition will cost immense sums of money. Yet all we keep hearing about is win-wins.

Adi Warsono, Jakarta – The regional government of Bekasi set the status of drought in Bekasi to alert as stated in the SK Regent No. HK.02.02/KEP.528-BPBD/2023.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Former Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti responded to the plummeting price of salt by recommending the government subsidize salt.

"The government could subsidize salt for salt farmers, with incentives," Susi tweeted on her Twitter/X account on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo responded to suggestions to dissolve the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). One of them came from the leader of the ruling party PDIP, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Antara, Jakarta – Agus Dwi Susanto, Professor of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Indonesia's (FKUI) Faculty of Medicine, disclosed that air pollution is among the top five causes of death in the country, accounting for 123,000 deaths each year.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian central bank on Friday signed local currency transaction pacts with its Malaysian and Thai counterparts, respectively, in a bid to reduce reliance on American dollars.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Judicial Commission (KY), an external judicial oversight body, will formally protest the Supreme Court's lighter punishment for three lower court judges who were responsible for a controversial ruling to delay the 2024 elections, at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – At its latest monthly monetary meeting, which ended on Thursday, Bank Indonesia (BI) decided to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged for the seventh consecutive month because of global uncertainties.

Yustinus Paat, Bogor – A Democratic Party executive voiced concerns on Friday regarding the declining performance of presidential candidate Anies Baswedan in various pre-election surveys and called on coalition members to take the matter more seriously.

Onoy Lokobal, Wamena – The Republic of Indonesia delegation, who are taking part in the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit (KTT) in Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu, staged a "walkout" during a session on Wednesday August 23.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The results of a Kompas Research & Development (Litbang Kompas) survey between July 27 and August 7 show that there are 10 political parties whose electability is below 4 percent.

Jakarta – Indonesia has signed a deal to buy 24 transport helicopters from US weapons maker Lockheed Martin to strengthen its military air fleet, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

The purchase comes after the Defence Ministry and US planemaker Boeing signed an agreement on the sale of 24 F-15EX fighter jets on Monday.

Jakarta – There is a new scramble for Africa, and Indonesia wants in the race. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo embarked earlier this week on a tour of four-country tour of the continent, visiting Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique before arriving in South Africa to attend the BRICS Summit.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Newly built captive power plants fueled with coal may be a stumbling block for Indonesia's effort to cap power sector carbon emissions and get international financial support for its energy transition.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – Malaysia is viewing Indonesia's Nusantara Capital City (IKN) project as a potential export market for its green electricity as it sets its sights on becoming ASEAN's renewable energy hub.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Presumptive presidential nominee and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has regained a small lead over his rival Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto in public opinion polls that simulate a three-way contest, but the two figures remained locked in a tight race.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – State-owned toll operator Jasa Marga revealed on Thursday that its net profit surged by 56 percent to Rp 1.1 trillion ($72 million) in the first half of the year, compared to the Rp 734 billion achieved in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – South Korean investors prefer to wait for the outcome of the upcoming 2024 elections before investing in Indonesia's new capital project Nusantara, according to its business lobby group.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government Wednesday claimed that China's economic slowdown would not affect its investments in Indonesia amidst Beijing's plans to work on some major projects over the coming years.

Jakarta – Coal mining company Golden Energy Mines (GEMS), a subsidiary of Sinar Mas Mining, posted a revenue of $1.44 billion in the first half of the year, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.14 percent.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – A consumer Muhamad Adinurkiat reported the owner of Nabidz Wine, identified as BY, to the police under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE Law), Consumer Protection, and Halal Product Assurance.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono responded to requests from environmental activists to disclose their right to cultivate (HGU) to the public.

He said that all companies registered to Gapki have already reported their permit documents, including HGU, to the Agriculture Permit Information System (Siperibun).

Antara, Jakarta – The Environmental and Forestry Ministry is halting the operation of four companies indicated as the cause of air pollution in Greater Jakarta.

The ministry Director of Law Enforcement, Rasio Ridho Sani said that the ministry is focusing on surveilling activities that have the potential of PM2.5 pollution.

Fitria Chusna Farisa, Jakarta – The endorsement or support of a presidential candidate by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will of course influence voters' political preferences. The head of state's endorsement however is not that significant.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Head of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Eddy Martono says that the palm oil industry in Indonesia is currently slowing down. Eddy mentions that compared to last year, the export value of palm oil has decreased.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – Head of Jakarta Environmental Department Asep Kuswanto revealed the plan formulated by the BMKG and BRIN to install generators at the top of several buildings in Jakarta. The government plans to spray water from the top of buildings as part of the effort to reduce air pollution in Jakarta.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Nur Khasanah Apriliani, Antara, Jakarta – Economist from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira mentioned that the work-from-home (WFH) policy implemented by Jakarta will affect the national economy.

Amy Heppy, Jakarta – Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs said that there are currently 3.3 million Indonesians in extreme poverty.

"Around 3.3 million across Indonesia," said the Deputy of Social Welfare Improvement of the ministry Nunung Nuryartono during a media briefing in the ministry office on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – University of Indonesia or UI's Student Executive Body (BEM UI) decided to schedule a political debate involving Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, and Prabowo Subianto on September 14, 2023.

Jakarta – The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) is not the type of project that deserves a subsidy regardless of the government's concern that it may be difficult to attract enough ridership to keep the business alive and sustainable.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Jakarta streets remain congested even though the work-from-home (WFH) policy for the city's civil servants (ASN) has been in effect since August 21, 2023. Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono said the provincial government could not be blamed for the heavy traffic.

Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri has shrugged off suggestions that the party's leadership is panicking over President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's increasingly close alignment with Gerindra Party presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia has expressed interest in joining the BRICS group of major emerging economies, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, a move experts believe could have benefits, but repercussions too.

Antara, Jakarta – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has issued a circular calling for Jakarta's governor, along with mayors and regents in the Greater Jakarta area, to adopt a partial work-from-home policy as a measure to combat air pollution in the capital city.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The government has submitted a revision to the Capital City Law to the House of Representatives, in which it proposes preventing the next president from ditching the project.

The construction of a new capital city, which would span nearly 260,000 hectares within the jungles of East Kalimantan is President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's flagship project.

Antara, Jakarta – The Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has emphasized that Nabidz wine is haram (forbidden) for Muslims because laboratory tests have found a high alcohol content in the product.

Nabidz wine is made from fermented grape juice and was recently marketed as "halal wine." Halal means permissible in Arabic.

Jakarta – Two of the world's few tropical glaciers in Indonesia are melting, their ice under threat to vanish by 2026 or sooner, as an El Nino weather pattern lengthens the dry season in the southeast Asian nation, its geophysics agency said on Wednesday.

Fana Suparman, Jakarta – Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo continues to hold a lead over his closest potential rivals for the 2024 presidential election. Despite the narrow margin, recent survey results suggest that his support base has steadily expanded over the past two years.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Batam, Indonesia – Indonesian authorities have called on their counterparts in neighboring Singapore to crack down the illegal lobster larvae trade, given that the city-state is a key hub for the regional trade of the crustaceans.

Jakarta – Starting in February of next year, the provincial government of Bali will implement a $10 charge for foreign tourists. This step is taken to generate funds aimed at "safeguarding cultural heritage and natural treasures" on the picturesque island.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Represented by Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, the Indonesian government has signed four mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) to harmonize ASEAN member countries' standards and practices in food safety, building and construction materials, as well as the manufacture of medicinal products.