Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The Indonesian government's subsidy program for electric motorcycles has faced a slow uptake since it was first introduced on March 20. It is a blow to what was aimed to speed up the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. Now, the government is looking to revise the program's scheme to get it back on track.

Jakarta – Six contestants of a Miss Universe Indonesia pageant have filed complaints with police accusing organizers of sexual harassment after they alleged they were subjected to topless "body checks", their lawyer said on Tuesday.

Police confirmed contestants had filed a report that would be investigated.

Jayapura, Jubi – Three students were found guilty of treason and subsequently given a 10-month prison term by the panel of judges at the Jayapura District Court on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Supriyanto Khafid, Jakarta – Forest fire occurred in the valley of Mount Rinjani, as part of the Mount Rinjani National Park (MRNP) on Friday, August 4, 2023. The fire was located around 4-5 hours from Aik Berik, Central Lombok Regency, and adjacent to the trekking entry Joben Titi Batu, East Lombok Regency.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi explained the ministry's measures to eradicate online gambling, specifically slot gambling. In addition to taking down the application and website of online gambling, the ministry also blocks gambling accounts.

Jakarta – The Labour Party held a mass rally at the Arjuna Wijaya or Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Wednesday August 9 involving four trade union confederations, 60 national labour federations, the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), the Urban Consortium, the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT), migrant workers and women's organisations.

Dion Bisara – Amid the sprawling islands and diverse cultures of Indonesia, there's a burgeoning interest in the property from overseas buyers. Yet, despite relaxed regulations aimed at attracting foreign homeowners, the uptake remains surprisingly muted.

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Tangerang – Terang Dunia Internusa, the proprietor of the United bicycle and electric scooter brand, on Wednesday announced an investment of Rp 250 billion ($16 million) in a newly established assembly plant in Curug, Tangerang Regency.

Jakarta – To commemorate its 40th anniversary, The Jakarta Post is holding an exhibition called "Portraits of a Nation: Indonesia's Journey of Change and Resilience", which recounts key stories from the country's recent past through photographs taken by the newspaper's photojournalists.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called for the release of a Kiwi pilot kidnapped six months ago by separatists in Indonesia's Papua region.

New Zealander Phillip Mehrtens was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels at Nduga airport in February.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called again for the immediate release of Phillip Mehrtens, who has now been held hostage in West Papua for six months.

Speaking in Auckland, Hipkins said Mehrtens – a pilot who was helping provide air links to remote communities in Papua – is a much-loved husband, brother, father and son.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A new foundation has been established to support Indonesian farmers in protecting forests and selling their sustainably produced products to the global market.

Amy Heppy, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Erick Thohir said many people, especially millennials, do not have a house. He made the statement when attending the mass contract signing of BTN housing loans (KPR) at Puri Delta Tigaraksa Housing Complex, Tangerang Regency on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Mathius Fakhiri has reported that Philip Mark Mehrtens, the Susi Air Pilot of New Zealand who has been held captive by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) since February 7, 2023, remains in good health.

Timika, Jubi – Since 1972, PT Freeport Indonesia's mining operations in Mimika, Central Papua have transformed mountains into giant ravines, pulverizing mineral-rich rocks and depositing the resulting waste, known as tailings, into rivers.

Helen Pausacker – In the three elections since Indonesia has been holding direct presidential elections – 2009, 2014 and 2019 – there have been only two candidates for the top job. But when registration opens on 19 October 2023, is it likely we will see three people vying for the top job: Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan.

A. Asnawi, Lamongan, Indonesia – The Brondong Fisheries Port in Indonesia's East Java province was busy on a Friday morning in February as workers worked as swiftly as possible to unload the catches. Among the landed crates of fish, there were sharks and rays that appeared to be different types.

Jakarta – Indonesia's state energy company PT Pertamina said on Tuesday it will develop a fuel storage facility in north Jakarta, following a deadly fire that broke out at a terminal earlier this year and spread into a densely populated residential area.

Antara, Jakarta – The Head of Papua Regional Police Department Inspector General of Police Mathius Fakhiri said that the location of Susi Air's pilot who was held hostage is situated in a nearly inaccessible area.

Ika Krismantari and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Conversation Indonesia), Jakarta – Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, will hold the planet's biggest one-day election next year.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Tuesday said a resolution to the Myanmar crisis that has dragged into its third year needed "political will" from all sides of the conflict, as divided Southeast Asian nations step up diplomatic efforts.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono has issued an order for the Military Police to initiate an investigation into a soldier who recently visited a police station in Medan, seeking the release of his relative who was being detained on charges of document forgery.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for Living Environment (Walhi), an environmental group, lamented President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's statement about resolving pollution. The president mentioned that the solution to air pollution in Jakarta is by relocating to Nusantara New Capital (IKN).

Amy Heppy, Jakarta – The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that Indonesia's economic growth in the second quarter of 2023 reached 5.17%, increasing 3.86% from the last quarter.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, has responded to the Ministry of Trade's plan to prohibit the sale of imported goods valued lower than US$100 or approximately Rp1.5 million on marketplaces. Sandiaga stated that the policy will help to safeguard micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has spoken up about calls for the government to immediately revise Law No. 5 of 1986 on Military Justice. The demand came after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested two active-duty members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) for alleged corruption at the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Senior Economist from the University of Indonesia Faisal Basri again criticized President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's downstream mining policy, especially nickel. He said most of the benefits from the policy were going to China.

Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has recorded that as many as 967 people have been arrested for articulating their views in the public domain.

Kontras said that this data was obtained between January 2022 and June 2023 and covered a total of 183 cases related to violations against freedom of opinion.

Jakarta – The recent actions by members of the TNI (Indonesian military) arriving at the offices of law enforcement institutions raises questions about the authority that is actually held by the military.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Supreme Court has commuted the death sentence handed earlier to former police general Ferdy Sambo to a life sentence for murdering a subordinate, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

The panel of Supreme Court justices voted to commute the sentence 3:2 although they all agreed to uphold the premeditated murder conviction.

Julie Wark – A West Papuan friend has just sent me a new documentary (please watch it, reader). It's called Paradise Bombed and it's about what happened when burning metal death rained down on Kiwirok, one of the most remote places on earth in October 2021.

Antara. Jakarta – The Regency Government of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara issued an emergency alert for drought and forest fire caused by the effects of El Nino throughout August, from August 1 to August 31, 2023.

The alert was provided in the Regent's Decision No. 311/KEP/HK/2023 on July 31, 2023, and received in Kupang on Monday, August 7, 2023.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially inaugurated Indonesia's largest indoor stadium on Monday, just three weeks before the opening of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which Indonesia is co-hosting with Japan and the Philippines.

Naufal Ridhwan, Jakarta – Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan opposed the EU's Anti-Deforestation Law (EUDR), claiming the bill to be discriminatory and a hinder to trade. On its rejection of the bill, Zulkifli Hasan claimed Indonesia has taken several measures, especially through multilateral forums.

Jakarta – If you can, make time to see the photo exhibition organized for the 40th anniversary of The Jakarta Post, which will run through the second week of August. And make sure that after viewing all the photos on display, as you are leaving the exhibition area, you turn back to look at the arch that stands in the hall.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The resistance of the Indonesian Military (TNI) toward the arrest of its high-ranking officer and his aide by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in relation to an alleged graft case at the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has reignited a debate over the military's long-standing culture of impunity.

Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's economic growth in the second quarter accelerated unexpectedly to its highest rate in three quarters, shored up by strong household and government spending, even as exports weakened with falling commodity prices.

Denpasar, Bali – Indonesia's resort island of Bali has deported more foreigners in the first seven months of this year than the whole of last year, with an expert noting that the immigration policy is likely to deter those who come to Bali to work illegally.

Syakirun Niam, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) says that a national police official who has revealed that corruption suspect Harun Masiku is currently in Indonesia reinforces suspicions that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is protecting the fugitive politician.

Jayapura, Jubi – In the two years following the attack by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) on the Military Post in Maybrat Regency's Kisor, that resulted in the reported deaths of four Indonesian Military (TNI) members, a significant number of individuals who had evacuated from five districts within Maybrat ever since the incident continued to opt for staying in multi

Craig Harris – How do you get world attention for a cause to help save your culture? The freedom fighters of West Papua are asking that very question.

On February 7, 2023, 37-year-old Phil Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot, was kidnapped by the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Timor Leste will "ideally" become a full-fledged ASEAN member in 2025 even though the country remains open to other time frames recommended by other Southeast Asian leaders, according to its president, Jose Ramos-Horta.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's democracy index falls behind that of its close neighbor Malaysia. However, a senior minister on Monday attributed Malaysia's higher scores to its population size which is significantly smaller compared to Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – The European Union (EU), Malaysia, and Indonesia have agreed to establish an Ad Hoc Joint Task Force (JTF) on the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR).

The kick-off meeting of the Ad Hoc JTF was conducted on August 4 in Jakarta.

Panji Satrio, Medan – A suspect involved in document fraud was released from the Medan Metropolitan Police's detention facility after a group of soldiers, including his relative, visited the police office on Saturday to discuss the legal case.

Antara, Jakarta – Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on inter-parliamentary cooperation to strengthen relations between both nations.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – The Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) witnessed a decrease in its market capitalization, dipping below the Rp 10,000 trillion ($658.5 billion) threshold during the previous week, as the composite share price index also experienced a 0.7 percent decline.

Budiarti Putri (Greenpeace) – It was not until I went on a field trip to the traditional lands of the Auyu People (also written as Awyu in the Indonesian language) last June that I appreciated just how remote many of their settlements are, deep in the territory known internationally as West Papua, just across from the border with Papua New Guinea.

Layla Aisyah, Jakarta – Director of Strategy, Portfolio, and Business Development of Pertamina, A. Salyadi Saputra, said that PT Pertamina is planning to expand its business into the Nusantara New Capital (IKN). Pertamina will develop various integral infrastructures such as a hospital, a hotel, and a campus through its related subsidiaries.

Jakarta – In Papua, which is known for its abundant natural resources, around 7,500 people of the outlying districts of Agandugume and Lambewi in Puncak regency, Central Papua have been scrambling for food for months. A mix of drought and cold weather in June caused the key crops of yam and taro to fail or rot, forcing locals to eat spoiled tubers.