Jayapura, Jubi – Greenpeace Indonesia's Forest Campaigner Nico Wamafma said that during the period 2000-2020, Papua had lost natural forests of 641,400 hectares. Greenpeace's research shows that this deforestation occurred due to the increasingly massive licensing of land-based extractive industries that damage the rights of indigenous peoples.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is being asked to stop pursuing political goals and policies that are considered to lean in the direction of liberalism or are capitalistic.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has launched a trial to connect its QR-based payment system to Singapore's.

The move follows BI's agreement with the Singapore Monetary Authority last year to establish a cross-border payment network between the two countries.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Secretariat, tasked with overseeing the implementation of Indonesia's US$20 billion JETP, has pushed back the launch of its much-anticipated investment plan to "later this year".

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – While President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has spent the past nine years enacting policies to pave the way for Indonesia to become a global power, he said that the nation's success in achieving its ambitions relies on whether his successor has the necessary "consistency" and "courage".

Jakarta – United States President Joe Biden has conveyed his well-wishes to Indonesia on the country's 78th Independence Day, which falls on Thursday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the US president praised the relationship between the two countries, including a partnership to advance democratic principles as well as security and prosperity for their citizenry.

Phnom Penh – Indonesia is looking to Cambodia and other countries to bolster its rice supplies, reinforcing trade ties in the process.

This revelation emerged in a meeting between agriculture minister Dith Tina and Indonesia's deputy foreign minister Pahala Nugraha Mansury at the ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh on August 15.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Banjarbaru – Indonesian authorities deployed two helicopters to conduct water bombing operations in burning forests and peatlands across Kalimantan but the efforts did little to stop fires from expanding due to strong wind and dry summer, an official said on Friday.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Jakarta – The development of the new national capital, Nusantara, located in East Kalimantan, is poised to take a new milestone with the active involvement of private companies.

Bambang Susantono, the Head of the Nusantara Authority Body, indicated in a recent interview that private companies are soon to initiate "real work" as early as next month.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo predicted that the country's per capita income would reach Rp153 million in 2033. An economist from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), Bhima Yudhistira, expressed doubt that the goal was attainable.

Kukuh S. Wibowo, Samarinda – The Nusantara Capital City or IKN Authority (OIKN) head Bambang Susantono served as an inspector for Indonesia's 78th Independence Day Ceremony at the IKN, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on Thursday, August 17, 2023.

He said this year's event was a prelude to the 2024 ceremony which will be led directly by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Dicky Kurniawan, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stressed that the US-based automaker Tesla wanted to invest in Indonesia's lithium battery materials. He received this interest during a visit to Tesla's headquarters on August 2, 2023.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno encouraged all tourism and creative economy stakeholders to join efforts to improve Jakarta's air quality, which has been deteriorating recently.

Christian Oliver – Officials in Bali have seized and destroyed dozens of sex toys belonging to tourists arriving at the Indonesian island's airport.

Customs officers destroyed a total of 27 colourful phallic objects as well as a motorised thrusting dildo machine deemed too explicit to be brought into the country.

Catholic activists have called on Indonesian government to probe and ensure justice after a rights group released a report detailing military atrocities that displaced thousands of villagers and led to deaths due to hunger and diseases in Christian-majority Papua region.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – Doesn't it mean something special when even Aboe Bakar Al-Habsyi, secretary-general of the Islamist Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and one of the fiercest critics of the government, asked for a selfie with Joko "Jokowi" Widodo after the President delivered the State of the Nation Address on Wednesday.

Evarukdijati, Kenzu, Jayapura, Papua – Papua Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri, stated that the ceremony of the 78th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence in Papua went safely despite an incident having occurred in Nduga on August 16.

Koh Ewe – Jakarta and its surrounding cities are shrouded in thick smog this month, and even Indonesian President Joko Widodo, commonly referred to as Jokowi, appears to be no match for the haze, having dealt with a stubborn cough for four weeks that some say may be caused by the bad air.

Ceremony, Jakarta – Papuans are like the 'invisible man', referring to the title of Ralph Ellison's novel about the marginalization of African-Americans in the 20th century. Sophie Chao, an Indonesianist from the University of Sydney, Australia, also uses this term when concluding that the voices of the Papuan people are continually ignored.

Jakarta – Indonesia has pushed back the launch of a much-anticipated investment plan underpinning a landmark US$20 billion (S$27 billion) climate financing deal struck with United States President Joe Biden in 2022.

Victoria Milko – A plan for how Indonesia will spend $20 billion to transition to cleaner energy was submitted Wednesday to the government and its financing partners, the planners said.

A chilling new report by a German-based human rights watchdog has exposed indiscriminate attacks by Indonesian security forces on indigenous West Papuan villages, highlighting an urgent need for international action.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked the banking sector to support the country's downstream industries, which the government hopes will boost the country's export value, as well as supporting economic growth.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo rebutted suggestions that the people should be looking to him to decide on the nation's next leaders, as he delivered his penultimate State of the Nation address in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – In response to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's annual address to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the government has committed to allocating a budget of Rp 52 trillion ($3.4 billion) for salary increases for civil servants, police, and military service members.

Candra Kurnia, Indramayu – A former longstanding employee of the controversial Muslim organization, Al Zaytun, has come forward to assert that the group is closely associated with a broader separatist movement known as the Islamic State of Indonesia, or NII.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – The Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry have agreed to collaborate on strengthening the country's economic diplomacy, Indonesia's distinct brand of diplomacy under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – This year would be the last for Jakarta to hold the national Independence Day ceremony as Indonesia's capital city. But even after it no longer holds the status of capital, the city will continue to see developments in all sectors with the priority of solving its problems of congestion and air pollution.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights granted remissions to 175,510 inmates on the country's 78th Independence Day.

Papua New Guinea and the Indonesian governments will continue efforts to enhance bilateral relations, Prime Minister James Marape said on Thursday, as he announced Jakarta's plans to provide electricity to the town of Vanimo in Sepik Province.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesian security forces may have committed crimes against humanity during counter-insurgency operations in the restive Papua region in 2021, a Germany-based human rights group said in a report released Thursday.

Kelvin Anthony – The Pacific region's focus will shift briefly to Port Vila next week when Vanuatu hosts the heads of governments from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the leader of the FLNKS of New Caledonia for the 22nd Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Businesses in Indonesia have urged the government to drop its planned natural gas price hike, saying the policy lacks immediate necessity and carries significant risks to the economy.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The government is rushing to address Greater Jakarta's perennial air pollution problem amid a public outcry over worsening air quality in the region in recent weeks.

Jakarta – As Indonesia celebrates its 78th Independence Day on Thursday, the nation again takes stock of its progress and achievements.

And especially as the nation approaches its centenary, politicians, policymakers and many in the government have for some years been asking the very important question: Where will Indonesia be in 2045?

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Jakarta's Light Rail Transit (LRT) system has once again sparked controversy due to criticism regarding design flaws and the presence of 31 trainsets with varying specifications.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has continued the tradition of wearing customary regional attire while delivering his annual State of the Nation address.

This year, he chose to wear the traditional attire of the Tanimbar people, who inhabit a chain of small islands in the southeast of Maluku province.

Front Row, Jakarta – Cinephiles converged upon The Jakarta Post Building last week for a series of movie screenings and discussions as the newspaper wrapped up the first of two weeks of celebrations for its 40th anniversary.

At least 20 people were wounded when police used batons, water cannon and tear gas to disperse hundreds of people who joined rallies in Indonesia's West Papua region on the 61st anniversary of an agreement that made the territory part of Indonesia, news agencies report.

Leo Earle, West Papua – This week, Indonesians commemorate their independence from Dutch colonialism, on August 17, 1945. West Papuans also commemorate their six-decade-long struggle for independence this week on August 15.

Medan, Indonesia – A spate of violent muggings by machete-wielding thieves in Indonesia has drawn coded calls from prominent politicians for them to be killed-on-sight by police, in comments condemned by rights groups as condoning extrajudicial murders.

Heather Chen, Hong Kong – Indonesia's capital Jakarta is the world's most polluted city, according to a new study, and the country's president may have the cough to prove it.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Stanley Widianto, Jakarta – The speaker of Indonesia's upper house of parliament said on Wednesday it was important for the country to discuss ways to delay elections during crises, as well as restore the legislative body's position as the state's highest institution.

Jayapura, Jubi – Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner Nico Wamafma says it takes commitment from the central government and local governments in Papua to protect Papua's natural forests. Currently, the remaining natural forests in Papua are 34.4 million hectares.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – As Greater Jakarta struggles to curb its perennial air pollution, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry has called for a swift solution to combat the risk that upcoming sports events in the capital will face a slump in interest, particularly as the FIBA Basketball World Cup draws near.Over the past few weeks, residents of the capital and its satellite citi

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government's push for mineral ore processing is set to give a major boost to Indonesia's economy with the country's per capita income predicted to reach $25,000 by 2045, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Japanese carmaker Suzuki is intensifying its efforts to enhance sales of its hybrid models in Indonesia following a promising start in the first half of this year.

Suzuki has introduced hybrid variants of three existing passenger car models, which already hold a strong market presence in the country.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo claimed on Wednesday that Indonesia is recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic stronger than most countries worldwide as he unveiled more optimistic macroeconomic projections for the coming year.

Ian Wilson – By the end of 2023, there will be 271 interim regional heads who are appointed rather than elected, constituting over half of the regional leadership posts throughout Indonesia. These handpicked interim leaders are well-positioned to use the advantages of incumbency to promote central government interests at the expense of others in the 2024 elections.