Pauliasi Mateboto – The Pacific Conference of Churches, Youngsolwara and the free West Papua Campaign have stepped up calls to Melanesian leaders and fellow Pacific island countries to officially recognise West Papua as an official member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Jakarta – Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy National Council Chairperson Hendardi says that the reshuffle of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet on Monday July 17 is the worst kind of political display at the end of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's last term in office.

Yamin Kogoya – Suspended Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, who is detained in Indonesia on corruption charges, was supposed to go on trial yesterday but this did not go ahead as he is gravely ill and could not attend.

Catholic officials and rights activists have called for a thorough investigation into the shooting and subsequent rioting in conflict-ridden, Christian-majority Papua region that left three civilians killed and seven injured.

Natalie B. Compton – Niluh Djelantik has been on vacation abroad, but the Balinese influencer is still getting texts from frustrated friends, family and fans back at home.

Max Lane – How does an outgoing president secure his political future without the usual party mechanism?

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) named Windu Aji Susanto, the owner of PT Kara Nusantara Investama, as a suspect in the illegal nickel mining case on Tuesday, July 18. Windu, a former member of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's team of volunteers during the 2019 elections, was immediately arrested.

Antara, Jakarta – Statistics Indonesia (BPS) announced that the country's poverty rate was at 9.36 percent as of March 2023, down from September 2022's 9.57 percent. According to the Finance Ministry's Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF) chief Febrio Kacaribu, the decline is in line with the government's policy focus.

Jakarta – The six-day 9th Prambanan Jazz Festival recently ended on a high note.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The European Union is rallying businesses to take countermeasures against Indonesia's nickel ore export ban, after Jakarta appealed a World Trade Organization ruling against its protective mineral policy.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The government has yet to determine its stance on Bali's US$10 foreign tourist tax with the Tourism Ministry saying it is still reviewing the policy and seeking input from stakeholders.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – Singapore is looking to other ASEAN countries as alternatives to importing "green electrons", its term for electricity produced from renewable energy, as its discussions with Indonesia remain uncertain.

Singaporean Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean said officials of the city state had visited several countries, particularly in Southeast Asia.

M Rosseno Aji – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Panjaitan stated that the dropping number of the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) anti-graft raids does not mean worsening performance but rather a better prevention system.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on Tuesday attributed Indonesia's poor trade logistics performance as revealed by a World Bank report to having too many ports that scatter across the archipelago. The index might also not provide an apple-to-apple comparison, as other economies such as Singapore do not have as many ports.

By Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – Recently, Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation announced plans to extend the high-speed railway linking Jakarta and Bandung.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan revealed on Tuesday that he was informed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) about the alleged smuggling of 5 million tons of nickel ores to China.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The Singaporean government says it fully supports Indonesia's plan to move the capital city to East Kalimantan, but actual investments will still depend on the country's businesses and investors.

Jakarta – Monday's Cabinet reshuffle is unprecedented for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who typically chooses Wednesdays for the unveiling of strategic decisions.

Anita Roberts & Kizzy Kalsakau – The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit proposed to be held from July 17 to 21 is postponed to another date, which is yet to be confirmed.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The Resonanz Children's Choir (TRCC) took home the grand prix prize in the Leonardo Da Vinci International Choral Festival in Florence, Italy, on Friday.

Lani Diana Wijaya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) mentioned two figures worthy to be endorsed for the 2024 Jakarta gubernatorial election. The PDIP faction head at the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD), Gembong Warsono, said they are Solo Mayor Gibran Rakabuming and Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Bali – Indonesian Immigration Director General Silmy Karim confirmed that the Golden Visa policy will be launched this July 2023. The new visa will be entitled to foreign companies and foreign nationals who make investments at a certain amount in the country.

Adi Warsono, Bekasi – The Bekasi Regency Government banned the operation of night entertainment venues ahead of the Islamic New Year 1445 Hijri that falls on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Acting Bekasi Regent Dani Ramdan asked nightclub entrepreneurs to comply with the policy that takes effect starting today, July 18.

Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – NasDem Party chairperson Surya Paloh met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Jakarta State Palace on Monday afternoon, July 17, 2023. The meeting was held after the President tapped Budi Arie Setiadi as the new Communication and Information or Kominfo Minister and a number of deputy ministers.

Adi Warsono, Bekasi – Police shot and arrested three robbers armed with sharp weapons, known as begal, at their hiding place, South Tambun, Bekasi Regency, on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises or SOE Minister Erick Thohir and media company PT Tempo Inti Media Tbk agreed to settle the dispute over Tempo's podcast 'Bocor Alus Politik'. The two reached the settlement in mediation by Press Council which lasted five hours on Monday, July 17, 2023.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan says he disagrees with the view that the decline in Indonesia's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is because of the lack of prosecutions by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesian officials say the country's deforestation rate continued to decline for the third year running, hitting a historical low in 2021-2022. But claims of an improving trend are dogged by a long-running controversy over how Indonesia defines forest loss.

Eka Yuda Saputra, Jakarta – The armed criminal group or the Free Papua Movement allegedly opened fire at a Smart Air passenger plane while it landed and took off at Homeyo Airport, Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua Province, on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

Jakarta – The Anti-Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Tuesday rejected the preliminary defense statement by former Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny Plate and ordered the trial to proceed.

Sonny Dewi Judiasih and Deviana Yuanitasari, Bandung – Surrogate motherhood is prohibited in Indonesia but it exists nevertheless.

Matt Mills – When the members of all-female Indonesian metal trio Voice of Baceprot finished middle school in their teens, they were at a crossroads. Their parents wanted them to fall in line: the pressure was on to enter an arranged marriage and live traditional lives.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia posted a $3.45 billion trade surplus in June as imports saw a double-digit decline, according to the National Statistics Agency (BPS).

"This makes it the 38th consecutive month that Indonesia booked a trade surplus since May 2020," Atqo Mardiyanto, the chief secretary at BPS, told a media briefing on Monday.

Thresa Sandra Desfika, Jakarta – Humpuss Maritim Internasional (HUMI), an oil and gas shipping company owned by Tommy Soeharto, plans to issue up to 2.7 billion new shares during the initial public offering scheduled for next month, the company announced on Monday.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Free Papua Movement (OPM) on Sunday, July 16, besieged the Homeyo Police Post and Military Command Post (Koramil) in Intan Jaya Regency, Central Papua, by using stolen firearms.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday held a major cabinet shake-up that appointed Budi Arie, the head of the pro-Jokowi volunteers group Projo, as the new communication and informatics minister, thus officially replacing Johnny G Plate who had been caught in a graft scandal.

Moh Said, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has taken decisive action to accelerate the construction of 4G internet networks in remote regions, following a delay caused by graft allegations against the former communication and informatics minister.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong says his country is seeking to deepen ties with Indonesia through new areas of bilateral collaboration.

Ary Hermawan, Jakarta – Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution, the 32-year-old son-in-law of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, is probably too young to have heard folk singer Iwan Fals' popular song "Sugali" – or he may just not be much of a fan.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Ending months of speculation of a Cabinet reshuffle, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday appointed Budi Arie Setiadi, who heads one of Jokowi's most prominent supporter groups, ProJo, as the new communications and information minister.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo on Monday appointed a loyalist, Mr Budi Arie Setiadi, as Indonesia's new communications and information minister in a Cabinet reshuffle ahead of the 2024 General Election.

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) continues to pledge its commitment to advocate for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to become a full member the of Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Natashya Gutierrez – Yolanda Agne, 23, was just months away from graduating in journalism at a university in Maluku province, Indonesia, when she was banned from finishing her studies.

Riang Karunianidi – The government has demolished the remains of the Geudong House (Rumoh Geudong) in Pidie regency, Aceh. The building was used as an interrogation and torture centre during the armed conflict in Aceh.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi and her counterpart from Timor Leste, Bendito Dos Santos Freitas, agreed to conclude both countries' long-halted negotiations on land and sea borders.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan has hinted at Turkey's interest in helping Indonesia construct its new capital city Nusantara.

Antara, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry will reimpose export duty on crude palm oil after its reference price surged by nearly 6 percent to $791 per ton for the period of July 16 through 31, an official said on Saturday.

According to a finance minister regulation, the price threshold liable to export duty is $680 per ton.

Jakarta – Back in March, facing staunch opposition to the Israeli national team's participation in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which Indonesia was expecting to host, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo told the nation that the show must go on, that sports and politics must not be mixed.

A West Papua pro-independence leader says Indonesia is ramping up its repression of peaceful activists while people mobilise in favour of the province gaining full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday (Jul 14) said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cannot become a proxy for other countries, as United States-China tensions rise over issues in the Asia-Pacific.