Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The regent of oil-rich Meranti lslands Regency who has controversially threatened to "take up arms" in protest of disproportionate revenue sharing with the central government has been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK.

Jakarta – Development fund allocated for Indonesia's soccer association is being frozen by FIFA after the country was stripped as hosts of this year's Under-20 World Cup, soccer's governing body said on Thursday.

Fadli, Batam – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD is questioning the National Police over their handling of a human trafficking case in Riau Islands province in which they have yet to detain any suspects.

Mahfud said he was appalled that the two suspects who had been named still remained free.

Jakarta – The results of Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy research reveal that the city of Cilegon in Banten province occupies the 94th position or the lowest ranking in the 2022 City Tolerance Index with a score of 3.227. First place or the most tolerant city was secured by Singkawang, West Kalimantan, with a score of 6.583.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani recently revealed that the government has prepared a generous outlay of up to Rp 695.3 trillion ($46.5 billion) on the education sector for next year, reaching a historic high.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – World football governing body FIFA handed an administrative sanction to Indonesia after the country was stripped of the right to host the U-20 World Cup just a month before the tournament begins due to local opposition to Israel's participation.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – Separatist group Free Papua Movement or OPM asked to have a peaceful negotiation with the Indonesian government, the Military (TNI), and the police concerning the hostage of Philip Mark Merthens, a pilot for Susi Air. They asked the TNI and the police to stop military operations to rescue to New Zealand man.

Firdaus Cahyadi – "In Indonesia, now, wherever you look there is corruption," the country's Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin (Mahfud MD), said in Kompas recently.

Herman, Jakarta – The Transport Ministry is telling airlines, particularly those who serve domestic routes, to make their economy-class tickets cheaper as the Eid holiday exodus is approaching.

Makassar – A demonstration by Papuan students commemorating 56 years of PT Freeport Indonesia in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on April 7 was broken up by the Indonesian Muslim Brigade (BMI) and a biker gang as the protesters were marching towards the Mandala Monument.

Adhyasta Dirgantara, Jakarta – Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) Advisory Board Chairperson Badaruddin Andi Picunang says that his party has "acquired" the Berkarya Party (Working Party) regional leadership board (DPW) offices in Jakarta.

Adrial Akbar, Jakarta – A number of student organisations that were holding a demonstration against the Job Creation Law (Ciptaker) have tried to get into the House of Representatives (DPR) building by pushing down the main entrance gate. They also threw dead rats into the building.

Jakarta – Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil biodiesel user, is now working to introduce bioethanol mandates for gasoline to further cut fuel imports and carbon emissions, but it will first have to secure more bio feedstock and solve thorny technical problems.

Ahead of Easter, Christians in Indonesia's West Java province are left in the lurch after their church, functioning from a building without a permit, was sealed off by the administration.

The Purwakarta district administration shut down the building of the Simalungun Protestant Christian Church on April 1.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Liberation Army of West Papua-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) stated that they are willing to release New Zealand pilot Captain Philips Max Mehrtens through peace negotiations.

Jakarta – Initial public offerings (IPOs) by two nickel companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange show unmistakably that the government's downstream industry push has come a long way.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry is planning to earmark up to Rp 200.8 trillion ($13.4 billion) for the 2024 healthcare budget, as the government gets increasingly concerned about Indonesia's stunting prevalence and high tuberculosis incidence.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in a press statement on Thursday elaborated on the government's reasoning behind the decision to import 2 million tons of rice grains until the end of this year.

Antara, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi called on the public to participate in voting for the logo for the new capital city of Nusantara or IKN. The government prepared 10 electric motorbikes for participants as prizes.

Antara, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia still needs 9 million digital talents to fulfill its digital economy potential of US$146 billion in 2025.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian super app Gojek confirmed that it did not allocate Eid holiday allowances (THR) for drivers due to the partnership relationship between them. The on-demand platform which is part of the GoTo group, however, provides more sustainable incentives.

Aryo Putranto Saptohutomo, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Deputy Chairperson Ardi Manto Adiputra is concerned that the formation of new regional military commands (Kodam) in every province, including the new autonomous regions (DOB) in Papua, will be prone to politicisation.

Muhammad Nursam, Makassar – Being of the view that council members are no longer able to accommodate the aspirations of the people, hundreds of demonstrators that are part of the Makassar Student Alliance (AMM) threw garbage into the courtyard of the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building in Makassar on the afternoon of Thursday March 6.

Jakarta – The Commission VII of the House of Representatives on Wednesday visited copper smelter PT Smelting in Gresik, East Java, during which the lawmakers praised the progress of its expansion.

An Indonesian court has begun the trial of two rights activists accused of defaming a minister, who was allegedly involved in a controversial gold mining project in the strife-torn Papua province.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government is aiming to convert 50,000 motorcycles that run on fuel to electric ones this year, as part of its drive to spur the mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.

The scheme, a government official from the Mineral Resources Ministry said, could help Indonesia reduce its reliance on fuel oil imports.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM Papua) assesses that the Indonesian government lacks seriousness in resolving past human rights violations. ELSHAM Papua also said that the non-judicial settlement of past rights violations carried out by the state was only meant to fulfil President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's political promises.

Dave Smith, Bali, Indonesia – A Hindu island floating in the middle of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, Bali is famed for its religious and cultural tolerance – an attribute that's helped its rapid ascension to a world-famous tourist destination.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Student and People's Caring for Papua Front held a free speech at the Mimika student dormitory in Jayapura City on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. They called on all warring parties to stop all forms of violence and find peaceful solutions to resolve problems in Papua.

Sylviana Hamdani, Jakarta – More Indonesian customers are becoming environmentally responsible and seeking to reduce carbon emissions by making smart choices.

Indonesian influencer Ankayama decided to buy only organic and vegan beauty products in 2019. This decision mainly arises from her desire to protect her sensitive skin and Planet Earth.

Jakarta – Securing Indonesia's reelection as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for another three years and, more importantly, demonstrating that we are serious as a nation about enacting the council's long list of recommendations should be top priorities for the government this year.

Ghee Peh – Downstream coal projects in Indonesia need a government subsidy of at least US$354 per tonne of dimethyl ether (DME) fuel to maintain a profit margin, according to the latest calculations by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).The extent of financial support necessary should send a signal that subsidizing such projects makes no economic sense

Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is expected to grow 4.8 percent in 2023 and 5.0 percent in 2024, which would mark a significant slowdown from the 5.3 percent it achieved last year, according to the latest Asian Development Bank (ADB) assessment.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo claimed that prices of nearly all basic needs have dropped ahead of the 2023 Eid al-Fitr. He made the conclusion after conducting an impromptu visit to Johar Baru Market and Rawamangun Market in Central Jakarta, Wednesday, April 5.

Jakarta – A protest action by scores of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) students against the Job Creation Law (Ciptaker) has disbanded after they were involved in a scuffle with police.

The action was held in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday April 5. The protesters disbanded just before 8 pm.

BTV, Jakarta – Indonesian Military Chief General Yudo Margono said on Wednesday he prefers peaceful means to rescue a pilot from New Zealand who has been taken hostage by the separatist group Free Papua Movement, or OPM, for almost two months now.

Yudo said the use of a military operation risks civilian casualties and could be politicized by the rebels.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairman Prabowo Subianto asked media tycoon Hary Tanoesoedibjo to get his party into the big coalition of pro-government parties for the upcoming elections as the two men met in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

Sebastian Strangio – Earlier this week, an Indonesian court began a trial against two prominent human rights activists accused of defaming a powerful member of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's cabinet.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) questioned the salaries of employees in the new capital city or IKN Nusantara that have not been paid for months allegedly due to the lack of Presidential Regulation on the matter.

The House's Commission II member, Guspardi Gaus, opined that President Jokowi should quickly issue the regulation.

Antara, Jakarta – Head of the Finance Ministry's Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), Febrio Kacaribu, has said he expects the inflation rate to remain under control during the fasting month of Ramadan 1444 Hijri.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – The government is mulling allowing companies whose smelter construction is affected by Covid-19 to export unprocessed ores and partially processed minerals (concentrates) past the deadline on June 10, 2023.

Antara, Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri stated that corruptors are not afraid of imprisonment but of being impoverished.

He made the statement during a press conference on the detention of a former official of the Tax Directorate General, Rafael Alun Trisambodo, who is named a suspect in the alleged gratuity case.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno targeted the economic impact during the Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran holiday to be between Rp100 trillion – Rp150 trillion. The economic impact increases due to the rising public movement during the Islamic holiday which was predicted by the Transportation Ministry to reach 123.8 million people.

Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) officially passed the bill on the stipulation of the government regulations in lieu of law or Perpu Number 1 of 2022 concerning the amendments to Law Number 7 of 2017 on general elections into law today, April 4.

Antara, Pelni, Jakarta – Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono or AHY is fighting back against the President's Chief of Staff Moeldoko's judicial review filed to the Supreme Court over the appellate decision in the Democratic Extraordinary Congress case.

Nithin Coca – Indonesia's plans to develop a coal gasification industry have been thrown into doubt following the withdrawal of a major foreign investor.

BTV, Banjarnegara, Central Java – A recent investigation into a missing person case led the Central Java Police to a suspected serial killer and graves containing at least 10 bodies.

BeritaSatu, Tangerang – A major garment factory in the Indonesian town of Tangerang will close down the business and lay off 1,163 workers after its main customer sportswear giant Puma stopped orders due to sluggish demand in the European markets, a local government official has said.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government on Tuesday said that the electric motorbike conversion, which is now enjoying an incentive scheme, could help Indonesia reduce its reliance on fuel oil imports.

Indonesia is trying to drive up the adoption of electric vehicles, among others, by subsidizing the conversion of conventional two-wheelers.

Jakarta – Given Indonesia's abundant production and surpluses of rice in the past few years, there should be no urgency in importing rice this year. The fact that State Logistics Agency (Bulog) lacks stock for price stabilization is primarily a result of the government's rigid bureaucracy.