The Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) has taken delivery of its first C-130J-30 Super Hercules transport aircraft from Lockheed Martin.

A handover ceremony was conducted on Tuesday, with representatives from the Southeast Asian nation and the American company in attendance.

Rangga Pandu A J, Resinta S, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on all governors across Indonesia to encourage public spending in a bid to drive national economic growth.

Parker Novak – On 21 May, voters in Timor-Leste will head to the polls for the country's fifth parliamentary election since 2002. Elections in one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant democracies are always a competitive affair, and the Timorese treasure their right to vote because the simple act of casting ballots secured their path to independence in 1999.

Jayapura, Jubi – Three Lanny Jaya residents, namely Yakinus Murib, Uras Telenggen, and Diminus Kogoya, who were arrested by joint forces on February 7, 2023 in Kimbim District, Jayawijaya Regency, are now still in Jayawijaya Police custody. The three of them were charged with alleged sale and purchase of 70 rounds of ammunition.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of Papua Province wishes to turn Papua a Melanesian Sports Center, therefore exploring cooperation with neighboring countries in the Pacific Region.

Jakarta – Out of the blue, the government recently announced a plan to form new regional military commands (Kodam) in each of the country's 37 provinces, citing the need to strengthen the national defense system, which should involve both military and civilian elements, including the police and local governments.

Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) spokesperson Sebby Sambom has responded to a request by the chairperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Benny Wenda, to release Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens who is being held hostage by the OPM.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Commissioner Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo on Thursday said the separatist group in Papua – known as the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) and Free Papua Movement (OPM) – which has taken a New Zealand pilot Philips Max Mehrtens as hostage once asked for ransom and arms as the requirement to release the pilot.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently building the brand new state capital of Nusantara from scratch, and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is confident that the government can finish the presidential palace on time.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Acting Governor of Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono encouraged residents to use Transjakarta buses in a bid to ease traffic jams in the capital whose congestion ranking increased to 29th out of 389 cities in 56 countries in 2022 from previously 46th in 2021.

Chris Gunness, London – For the past four months, Indonesia's Constitutional Court has been considering a petition to allow cases according to the principle of universal jurisdiction, by which a state may prosecute and punish certain crimes regardless of where the crime was committed or the alleged perpetrator's nationality.

Jakarta – Indonesia on Wednesday launched the first phase of mandatory carbon trading for coal power plants, part of efforts by Southeast Asia's biggest economy to boost renewable energy and achieve net zero emissions by 2060.

Shut up and just squeeze on board, Jakarta commuters. The boss of the capital's KRL Commuterline has made his feelings known about the constant complaints towards the railway service, which they have worked really hard to develop and maintain, okay?

Ankur Banerjee and Patturaja Murugaboopathy, Singapore – A sudden surge of foreign interest in Indonesian bonds may be reaching a peak, as investors see local interest rates holding steady while the outlook for U.S. rates again rises.

Brurce Muhammad Mecca – Despite the country's good progress in addressing climate change, two recent surveys have shown many Indonesians do not understand climate change or its causes.

A man who was arrested for assault has come under even more public scrutiny after people learned that he has been living large as the son of a tax official.

Jayapura, Jubi – Field coordinator in a protest defending Victor Yeimo Mully Kogoya said his party defended Victor Yeimo because he was a victim of racism accused of treason.

Norman Harsono and Eko Listiyorini – Indonesia is unveiling a slew of tax breaks to lure companies and people to move to its new capital in the heart of Borneo.

Meri Radinibaravi – Any human rights issues in West Papua must not be overshadowed by the fact that the country remains under the sovereignty of Indonesia.

These were the sentiments expressed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape at a news conference in Suva yesterday.

Yogyakarta (Asia News Network) – Malaysia and Indonesia will review the cost of hiring domestic Indonesian workers at a more reasonable rate, said Malaysian Minister of Human Resources V. Sivakumar.

The Human Resources Minister said the reduction in the cost of recruitment would be discussed at the two-day Joint Working Group Meeting in Yogyakarta beginning Wednesday.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Race teams have begun to arrive at Lake Toba in North Sumatra for the upcoming F1 PowerBoat Championship slated to be held over the weekend.

Around 20 drivers spread across 10 teams from six countries will compete on the lake, which was formed by a violent prehistoric volcanic eruption 74 thousand years ago.

Kenji Kanasugi, Jakarta – The view from the top of the mountain was impressive and thought-provoking. This is no ordinary mountain; it is a 50-meter-high trash mountain of the Bantar Gebang landfill site located in Bekasi, West Java, where all household waste is transported from the entire Jakarta area.

Apriadi Gunawan and Nurni Sulaiman, Medan – A Sumatran elephant has died of malnutrition and malabsorption during treatment due to a dental infection at the Aek Nauli Elephant Conservation Camp (ANECC) in Simalungun, North Sumatra.

Tunggul Wirajuda, Jakarta – Leading Australian expert on Indonesia Max Lane recounts late Indonesian literary giant Pramoedya Ananta Toer's role in inspiring the downfall of former president Soeharto's New Order regime through his Buru Quartet tetralogy

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Deputy State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Kartika Wirjoatmodjo announced an agreement had been reached between Indonesia and China regarding the amount of Jakarta-Bandung High Spseed Rail (HSR) project cost overrun, but the figure seems to be classified.

Merauke, Jubi – Internet services in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, will be disrupted in the next week due to a shunt fault or injury to the sea cable communication system (SKKL) for the Sorong-Merauke section.

Mirza Bagaskara, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Ali Fikri said the Papua People's Assembly or MRP chairman Timotius Murib had undergone an examination on February 20, 2023. He said Murib was grilled over the alleged flow of funds in the graft case of Papua Governor Lukas Enembe.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The plan voiced by Jakarta provincial government to purchase 21 electric vehicles or EVs for the city officials in 2023 has drawn controversy.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF), Tauhid Ahmad, responded to the government's target of zero extreme poverty by 2024. He argued that the government must optimize the social assistance program to achieve the goal.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Semarang – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) of Central Java revealed its audit results that Wings Group, one of the country's leading fast-moving consumer goods or FMCG companies, is the most polluting company in the province.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta Regional Office of the Religious Affairs Ministry (Kanwil Kemenag) assessed that the waiting time for the hajj pilgrimage in the region has now exceeded 30 years.

Jakarta – The governor of the government's policy think-tank the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), Andi Widjajanto, says that the violence in Papua has tended to increase under the leadership of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has recorded that as of December 2022 as many as 60,642 civilians have been displaced – and 732 of these have died – as a consequence of the armed conflict between the TNI (Indonesian military) and the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti says that the humanitarian pause negotiated by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has failed to provide a solution to the armed conflict in Papua.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia still has 68 unexplored oil and gas basins across the archipelago, and the resource-rich country wants to ramp up its exploration, according to Energy Minister Arifin Tasrif on Tuesday.

Jakarta (Agencies) – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has officially nominated Bank Indonesia governor Perry Warjiyo for a second five-year term in the post, a senior lawmaker at the House of Representatives familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, confirming that no other candidates would be nominated.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Samsung is zeroing in on Indonesia's smartphone market, of which OPPO still commands the biggest share, with its foldable devices capturing more consumers in the high-end segment, according to a recent report.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Government is targeting to pull in Rp1,650 trillion in investment in 2024, stated Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, at the Presidential Palace on Monday.

He made the statement after attending a limited meeting on the "2024 Macroeconomic Framework (KEM) and Points of Fiscal Policy (PPKF)."

Hipolitus Wangge, Jakarta – The abduction of Susi Air pilot Phillip Mehrtens of New Zealand by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), in Paro district in the Papua highland regency of Nduga has received wide attention from within and outside Indonesia.

Jakarta – The South Jakarta District Court's decision to hand down a relatively lenient sentence to justice collaborator Second Agent Richard Eliezer last week marked a breakthrough in the enforcement of the law and the country's efforts to improve its criminal justice system. Such a reward should inspire more people to help law enforcers uncover major crimes and catch big fish.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The government plans to introduce incentives on electric vehicle (EV) purchases in March in a bid to boost EV adoption, while helping the country to reduce consumption of costly imported fuel.

Papua independence movement leader Benny Wenda says the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens held hostage by armed rebels is out of his hands.

The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) fighters kidnapped Mehrtens on February 7 after he landed a small commercial passenger plane in Nduga Regency.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Trade Ministry's acting director general of domestic trade, Kasan, said the oil palm domestic obligation market (DMO) realization had only reached half of the target. The government has increased the palm oil DMO to 450,000 tons to produce cooking oil sold in bulk and under the Minyakita brand.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) chairperson M Afif Hasbullah revealed a number of findings of hoarding of bulk cooking oil in simple packaging dubbed Minyakita reaching hundreds of tons.

Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The results of a survey organised by Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) in January shows that the United Indonesia Party (Partai Perindo) is the non-parliamentary political party with the highest electability.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – The Bali administration has set a target of collecting Rp 31.5 billion (US$2.07 million) in tourist donations this year. The voluntary donation is to be used for the preservation of the island's culture and environment.

Tria Sutrisna, Jakarta – Human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti are ready to face trial on charges of defamation against Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD claims that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo wanted cases of past gross human rights violations to be brought to trial.

After daybreak, the village of Labota begins to shudder with the roar of motorbikes. Thousands of riders in canary yellow helmets and dust-stained workwear pack its ramshackle, pothole-ridden main road, in places six or seven lanes wide, as it runs along the coast of Indonesia's Banda Sea.

Amalinda Savirani – Four new parties will compete in the 2024 elections. One of them is the revived Labour Party (Partai Buruh), which was established by more than 50 labour unions in 2021.