Parker Novak – Election campaigns in Timor-Leste are a vibrant affair. The contesting political parties hold boisterous rallies, often featuring local cultural traditions and music, and party flags dot the landscape in cities and villages alike.

Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta S, Jakarta – The Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin urged members of the National Police (Polri) and Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) to take a firm stand against armed criminal groups (KKB) in Papua.

Nicholas Yong & Jonathan Head – The kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot by separatists in Indonesia's West Papua region has thrust a decades-old insurgency back into the spotlight.

Philip Mehrtens, 37, was taken hostage by West Papua National Liberation Army fighters (TPNPB) in February.

Wamena, Jubi – The Kuyawage Truth Seeking Team, which consists of six representatives of community organizations including women leaders, youth leaders, church leaders, and students, as well as representatives of the Nduga Administration, investigates the alleged shootings and abductions of civilians and minors by joint Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police forces.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The deployment of 1,200 Indonesian Military soldiers to the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command in West Papua and Southwest Papua drew public protest, including residents of Maybrat Regency joined in Aliansi Masyarakat Maybrat Peduli Kenyamanan.

Jakarta – It did not take long for potential solutions to emerge after reports about foreign tourists misbehaving in Bali spread far and wide.

One idea that has made both domestic and foreign headlines is a proposal from Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan to impose a tax specifically on foreign tourists.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – A recent uptick in the country's daily COVID-19 caseload and the discovery of more people infected with the new Arcturus strain are no cause for concern just yet, the Health Ministry has said, but it also urged the public to take health precautions ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo recently told investors at the 2023 Hannover Messe to see Indonesia as a "land of opportunity" as the Southeast Asian country tries to win the hearts of foreign firms with its "Phinisi ship".

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The Law and Human Rights Ministry's director general of human rights Dhahana Putra on Tuesday openly criticized Lampung Governor Arinal Djunaidi who reportedly took legal action against criticism coming from a vocal Indonesian TikTok user Bima Yudho Saputro aimed at the Lampung regional government.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono's policy of paving the sidewalk into road at Simpang Santa, South Jakarta, is met with criticism voiced by many, including the Bike to Work cyclist community and the Pedestrian Coalition.

Sebastian Strangio – Separatist gunmen have killed at least one Indonesian soldier in an attack on a squad of troops attempting to rescue a New Zealand pilot who has been held captive in a remote part of highland Papua since February.

Jake Kenny, Alfian Kartono and Niniek Karmini – A friend of a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by Indonesian rebels says he's disappointed by the latest failed attempt to rescue his mate, which cost lives.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Up until last week, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto had faced pressures, from within and outside his Gerindra party, to quit the 2024 presidential race because all surveys overwhelmingly showed he could not beat any of the other two likely contenders, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan.

Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) reported recently that its foreign exchange reserves rose by more than US$5 billion from February to the end of March, reaching US$145.2 billion, a level sufficient to cover 6.2 months of imports and debt payments, or twice the minimum required by international standards.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Indonesia is to receive a grant worth US$649 million from the United States to fund infrastructure development and small business projects across the country.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Sunday named Bandung Mayor Yana Mulyana and two officials of the city administration as suspects in a bribery case centering on a botched procurement of the internet infrastructure for Bandung's smart city project.

Ni Komang Erviani, Jakarta – Bali Governor Wayan Koster has clarified his repeated refusal to allow Israeli participation following his statement on Friday regarding the World Beach Games, which is set for Aug. 5-12 in the island province.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) detected 16,700 links on e-commerce and social media platforms selling food products without distribution permits. The agency's head Penny Lukito said they are imported and domestic goods.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The Labor Party held yet another demonstration in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) today, April 17. Labor Party President Said Iqbal stated that around 500 people would join the protest.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo highlighted the country's commitment to maintaining environmental sustainability when delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the Hannover Messe 2023 at the Hannover Congress Centrum, Germany, on Sunday, April 16.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The disgraced regent of Meranti Islands regency in Riau has mortgaged government buildings and lands to get Rp 100 billion ($6.7 million) in loans, officials said on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is bringing home good news for Indonesia's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem from his Hannover trip, as German automotive giant Volkswagen eyes the Southeast Asian country's e-mobility battery production.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo can only blame himself for the prolonged delay of the Jakarta-Bandung high speed train project, and the huge cost overrun which hit US$982 million according to China, and $1.49 billion according to Indonesia.

Separatist rebels in Indonesia's Papua region killed nine army personnel after Jakarta did not respond to a request for negotiations, a rebel spokesperson said on Sunday.

A military spokesperson in Papua, Herman Taryaman, confirmed the Saturday attack but could not confirm the number of soldiers killed as communications were cut due to bad weather.

Alfian Kartono and Niniek Karmini, Jayapura, Indonesia – Separatist gunmen opened fire on a military post in Indonesia's restive Papua province, killing at least six soldiers and leaving dozens of others missing, the army and the rebels said Sunday.

Antara, Jakarta – Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has regained his place as the frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election after slipping to second when voters blamed him for the country's last-minute failure to host the U-23 FIFA World Cup, according to the latest survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC).

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has granted clemency to a woman who spent more than 20 years on death row for drug smuggling, a move rights group Amnesty called "unprecedented".

Jakarta – Hundreds of congregation members of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin in Bogor, West Java, had perhaps been exhausted after 15 years of fighting for their freedom of religion that they finally accepted the mayor's offer to build a new church located only 1.5 kilometers away from their dream house of worship.

Herman, Jakarta – South Korean automaker Hyundai plans to boost production of electric vehicle model Ioniq 5 which now enjoys huge demand in Indonesia to 1,000 units per month, more than double the current output from its assembly plant in West Java, an executive said on Friday.

Jakarta – US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati signed the Rp10.2 trillion (US$698 million) Indonesia Infrastructure and Finance Compact. This is a five-year compact between the U.S. government's Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Indonesia

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) revealed that the adoption of electric vehicles or EV in Indonesia is still behind that of neighboring countries, Malaysia and Thailand. Referring to a McKinsey study in 2021, Kadin chairman Arsjad Rasjid said the country's EV adoption only stood at 0.1 percent.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – State-owned insurance company Jasa Raharja said they would pay the entire hospital bills for people who get involved in traffic accidents this upcoming Ramadan exodus.

Jasa Raharja will also provide compensation money for the victims.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's palm oil export to China and Bangladesh saw a huge jump this February, according to the industry association.

The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) recently revealed that the country's palm oil export to China witnessed a 55-percent increase from 522,900 tons in January to 809,500 tons a month later.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Deputy Coordinator for Advocacy Tioria Pretty says that nationalist policies will not resolve the structural problems in Papua.

Servio Maranda, Jakarta – The Bangka Belitung Islands High Prosecutor's Office has detained former Central Bangka Regent Yulianto Satin who is suspected to be involved in a corruption case.

Manokwari, Jubi – Since the West Trans Papua Road was established in 2014, residents of Kebar Valley in Tambrauw Regency have been conflicted as Bintuni Agro Prima Perkasa Ltd. (BAPP) planned to open a corn plantation.

Here's everything that's wrong with moral vigilantism.

Rebecca Ratcliffe, Bangkok – Indonesia is considering imposing a tax for tourists after a series of incidents in which badly behaved foreigners have violated laws or customs, according to local media.

The tourism and creative economy minister, Sandiaga Uno, told reporters this week that the possibility of a tourism tax was "currently being studied".

News Desk, Jakarta – Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka has said that when his father President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's second term ends in October 2024, he should pack up and return to his hometown in Central Java.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Medan Police have named 13 men as suspects of an assault on police officers during a drug and gambling raid in Kutalimbaru district in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

Jakarta – Authorities in Papua have reported that a civilian turbine engine aircraft was shot by members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) upon landing at Beoga Airport in Puncak regency, Central Papua, on Friday morning.

Sr. Comr. Donny Charles Go, spokesperson for the Cartenz Peace Operation, said the shots tore holes in the plane but that there had been no injuries.

BTV, Medan – A newly-installed member of the Tanjung Balai Legislative Council in North Sumatra is apparently a fugitive wanted for drug offenses, the local police said on Thursday.

Mukmin Mulyadi was sworn in as a member of the council on March 29 to fill in the seat vacated by a fellow National Awakening Party (PKB) politician who died before completing his term.

Moh Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – The new capital city (IKN) authority on Friday revealed its latest list of 167 investors that have sent letters of intent (LOI) to participate in the development of Jakarta's replacement in the East Kalimantan Province of Penajam Paser.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono on Thursday expressed his optimism in the new capital city translocation, which he believes can kick start in August 2024. He insisted on this target as the progress of the physical construction of the capital was claimed to reach 25 percent.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus and Victor Mambor, Jakarta and Jayapura – The Indonesian military on Friday accused separatist rebels in the restive Papua region of killing civilians, expelling non-Papuan traders and forcing villagers to flee their homes, charges denied by the insurgents.

Jakarta – The toll road between Cikopo and Palimanan, also known as Cipali, and the Merak ferry port in the western tip of Java Island will take the brunt of the massive spike in vehicle traffic during the Ramadan exodus starting this weekend, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said in Jakarta on Friday.

A West Papuan leader has accused Indonesia of imposing a "martial law" on the Melanesian region in response to the kidnapping of a New Zealand pilot by rebels fighting Jakarta's contested rule.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo acknowledged it was very difficult to prevent corruption in major infrastructure projects and pledged he would conduct more monitoring to catch future wrongdoings.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The government is considering a tax for foreign tourists after controversial incidents made their rounds on social media, but industry associations warn that businesses may suffer as a result.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan called for the new levy to be imposed soon.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – A 22-year-old man was caught allegedly sneaking into the women's locker room and recording videos of visitors showering at Atlantis Water Adventures, a waterpark in Ancol, North Jakarta, on April 9.