Jakarta – Remembering the virtues of press freedom remains as relevant today as when the United Nations General Assembly declared in 1993 to mark May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports many countries are not making progress quickly enough to eradicate child marriage practices in the coming decades, especially as recent crises such as COVID-19 threaten to reverse years of marginal improvements.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto has again highlighted Indonesia's target to become a developed country by 2045. To achieve this target, Airlangga emphasized that the demographic bonus expected to last until 2039 must be maximized.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is claimed to be growing at a faster rate compared to developed countries by logging a 5.03 percent economic growth during the first quarter (Q1) of 2023. This was mentioned by Economic Affairs Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto in opening the Indonesia Digital Finance Festival 2023 on May 8.

M Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police has called for road users in the capital city to avoid passing the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue in Central Jakarta, beside the National Monument (Monas), as the area will host the rally held by the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) in protesting against the Healthcare Bill.

Antara, Jakarta – Eight sub-regencies in the West Aceh Regency are reportedly inundated under floodwater that is reportedly measured to reach 1 meter deep in certain areas. The West Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Sunday that constant heavy rainfall for three days prior was the cause of it.

Antara, Semarang – Pemalang Regent Mukti Agung Wibowo was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on Monday after he was found guilty of taking more than Rp 5 billion ($340,000) in bribes from his own subordinates and also businessmen who won projects in the Central Java regency.

Jakarta – Thousand of healthcare workers comprising doctors, nurses and midwives demonstrated in Jakarta on Monday May 8 against the Draft Healthcare Law (RUU Kesehatan).

The demonstrators, who had been gathering since 7.35 am, centred the action on the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – A hypothetical presidential race between Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto shows that they are statistically tied, according to a new survey released on Sunday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Saturday criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for getting involved in politics too deeply ahead of the elections in a rare rebuke to his former boss.

Indonesian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Papuans and those detained solely for their peaceful expressions, said Amnesty International Indonesia and Amnesty International USA following the guilty verdict and prison sentence against West Papua National Committee (KNPB) spokesperson, Victor Yeimo, in Jayapura.

Putri Nurjannah Kurita, Sentani – The Jayapura District Court in Papua trying Victor Frederick Yeimo on charges of makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) sentenced him to eight months in prison on Friday May 5.

Jayapura, Jubi – On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Viktor Yeimo, the International Spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), presented a defense statement, or pledoi, in a hearing at the Jayapura Class 1A District Court in Papua Province, in relation to the treason case against him.

Maria Fransisca Lahur, Jakarta – The Indonesian Health Ministry welcomes the revocation of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) status for Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General on Friday, May 5, 2023."We thank all the health workers and medical staffs who worked hard together, so Covid-19 infection in Indonesia could be controlled,

Jakarta – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said Friday he has given up ambition for reelection and will give way to a younger successor.

Investor.id, Jakarta – The Indonesian Retailer Association, or Aprindo, mulls suing the government if the promised subsidies aimed at keeping cooking oil price low aren't paid.

Aprindo Chairman Roy Nicholas Mandey said recently the government owes palm oil producers Rp 344 billion ($23.4 million) in unpaid subsidies since early last year.

Jakarta – In a visit to Sumatra's southernmost province Lampung on Friday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo pledged that the central government could take over the work of improving road infrastructure in the province if the provincial government failed to do the job.

Jakarta – The recent dismissal of a middle-ranking officer with the North Sumatra Police is a repeat of the scandal surrounding a taxman now being investigated for alleged graft.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to apologise to the victims and survivors of past gross human rights abuses.

Chris Barrett and Amilia Rosa – From his small cell inside the Simeulue police station in north-west Indonesia, Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones expressed his deep remorse.

"To the victim's family and the victim, I am extremely sorry," he said. "My actions I can't even fathom. I really want to make it right, and fix the issue. I am sorry."

Wasisto Raharjo Jati – The recent nomination of Ganjar Pranowo, the governor of Central Java, as a presidential candidate by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has attracted widespread attention.

Anita Permata D, Fadhli Ruhman, Jakarta – Women journalists are vulnerable to gender-based violence in carrying out their journalistic duties, a Member of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Veryanto Sitohang said.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Philippines' law enforcement authorities, in collaboration with the diplomatic missions in Manila, have recently rescued thousands of human trafficking victims, many of whom are from ASEAN countries.

Timika, Jubi – The Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Foundation (Pusaka) has released a report titled "Dong Penjarakan Tong Pu Suara dan Pikiran" (They Silence Us), highlighting 26 cases of alleged violations of freedom of expression in Papuathroughout 2022.

Jayapura, Jubi – Director of the Papuan Justice and Human Integrity Foundation Theo Hesegem assessed that negotiations aimed at securing the freedom of Philip Mark Mehrtens, a Susi Air pilot held captive by the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) since February, require independent negotiating team.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor, West Java – The Bogor administration in West Java reported a total of 2,001 children are at risk of stunted growth in the municipality, which shares borders with Jakarta.

Municipal administration secretary Syarifah Sofiah said the administration would help provide assistance to 1,001 children by involving local communities and entrepreneurs.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economic growth kept pace in the first quarter of the year, official data showed Friday, ahead of an expected slowdown that analysts said would be triggered by lagging exports and high interest rates.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing another spike of COVID-19 cases fueled by the spread of the highly contagious Arcturus subvariant and greater public mobility during the annual Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) season.

Theresia Silalahi, Bali – Bali Governor I Wayan Koster confirmed on Friday that Israel will not take part in the World Beach Games organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) scheduled for August 5-12.

Antara, Jakarta – Cambodia has reportedly issued an apology to Indonesia over the upside-down Indonesian flag at the opening ceremony of the 2023 SEA Games at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, on Friday, May 5, 2023.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The police will deploy 2,627 personnels to guard the upcoming 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, which will have Southeast Asian leaders in attendance.

Indonesia is in the midst of another possible major pornography scandal, this time involving a woman wearing a niqab (face veil).

A clip showing a woman wearing modest clothing and acting indecently in a public place in Ciwidey, Bandung Regency has gone viral on social media. The police have taken action and are investigating the case.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry condemned the practice of 'staycation' as a requirement for workers to have their work contracts extended at companies in Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo expressed disagreement that Gerindra Party's chief patron Prabowo Subianto be paired with his son Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2024 presidential election.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo stated that he would depart for Lampung today, May 5, following videos showing damaged roads in the region made rounds on social media.

"I want to make sure tomorrow, I want to see whether what is in the video is true or not," the President said in a press statement at Sarinah Mall, Jakarta, on Thursday, May 4.

Muh Syaifullah, Yogyakarta – Future presidential candidate from Gerindra Party Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday claimed there are people who poke fun at his candidacy in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Subianto had previously run for president in numerous elections in the past.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Armed Forces (TNI) Head of Center for Information (Kapuspen) rear admiral Julius Widjojono on Wednesday said the pictures circulating online with a caption claiming that the image of the possessions of 16 army special forces (Kopassus) confiscated by Papuan separatists OPM is basically a hoax.

Tria Dianti and Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – The illegal sale of government-issued weapons and ammunition by Indonesian soldiers to separatist rebels in the Papua region surged in 2022, military officials said, warning that service members caught aiding the separatists could face execution.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Jakarta Population and Civil Registration Agency (Disdukcapil) Head Budi Awaluddin stated that city officials would repatriate newcomers who have no house or are homeless, beggars, and those who are inspected by the Social Welfare Service Administration (PPKS) to their region of origin.

Faiz Zaki, M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo met with six chairpersons of political parties at the State Palace on Tuesday, May 2. A political observer from Al-Azhar University, Ujang Komarudin, said the meeting was prone to criticism as it was held at the State Palace ahead of the 2024 elections.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) observed that the government is still arrogant in terms of resolving past gross human rights violations.

This was conveyed in response to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs (Menkopolhukam) Mahfud MD's statement at the State Palace on May 2, 2023.

Jakarta – The latest survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) shows that presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is ahead of his competitors in the second round of the 2024 presidential election simulation. Prabowo gained more votes from respondents compared to Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan.

Fadli, Batam – The coastal area of Kampung Melayu Nongsa in Batam, Riau Islands, has been contaminated by oil spills that authorities have said was from a tanker that caught fire in Malaysian waters on Monday.

Sean Mowbray – Across the Indonesian island of Java, suitable habitat for Javan leopards shrunk by more than 1,300 square kilometers, or 500 square miles, between 2000 and 2020. That's according to a recently published study that sought to map the remaining living space in which the big cat can still survive.

Adhyasta Dirgantara, Jakarta – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Deputy Chairperson Fadli Zon has given an explanation in response to an issue that is often used to "attack" Gerindra Chairperson Prabowo Subianto ahead of each election, namely the abduction of pro-democracy activists in 1998.

BTV, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo confirmed on Thursday that the National Democratic Party, or Nasdem, is no longer part of the pro-government coalition which now comprises six political parties.

Church leaders in Papua, in a position statement directed toward government officials, said "the current situation is a human tragedy," expressed grave concern about extrajudicial killings and other violence, and called for immediate measures for a sustainable peace.

Jakarta – Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance Confederation (KASBI) General Chairperson Nining Elitos has emphasised that her organisation will not take part in openly supporting any particular figure in the 2024 presidential electoral contest.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo hosted a meeting with six pro-government party leaders at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday evening as political maneuvers are intensifying in the run-up to the elections, asking them to remain solid and united.

Sulistyowati Irianto – Academia is no longer an attractive career path for educated Indonesians, and this spells disaster for the nation's future. Lecturers are subject to a constant stream of changing policies that ensure only their complete submission.