Huyogo Simbolon, Bandung – The Bandung branch of the Independent Journalists Association (AJI) believes that there are still a number of catch all articles in the latest version of the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP). These controversial articles have the potential to return Indonesia to the colonial era or the era of authoritarianism which curbed press freedom.

John Mcbeth – The Indonesian Government's decision to carve up the sprawling province of Papua into four has been widely seen by its detractors as a strategic move to divide and conquer the rebellious indigenous population living mostly along the central mountain chain.

Jakarta – Indonesia booked a higher current account surplus in the second quarter this year thanks to strong commodities exports performance, providing the country with much-needed support to maintain its external resilience amid slowing down global economic prospects and soaring inflation.

Jakarta – The high-profile murder case that sees high-ranking police officer Ferdy Sambo as the key suspect took a new twist on Friday as his wife is also charged with premeditated murder which carries the maximum punishment of death.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Hundreds of homes in six districts of the North Sumatra capital of Medan were inundated with waters up to 1 meter deep following heavy rains early on Thursday.

Dozens of residents were forced to evacuate; several streets were also inundated causing traffic jams.

Denny Gunawan, Jakarta – Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted Indonesia's economy. This crisis, which has also hit many other countries, is a consequence of the massive cessation of economic activities due to restrictions to suppress COVID-19 case numbers.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has urged electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla to manufacture its cars, as well as batteries, in the country, in comments made to Bloomberg News on Thursday.

Indonesia had previously wooed Tesla for investment in its nickel industry, looking to produce and supply batteries for its EVs.

Fadhil Haidar Sulaeman, Jakarta – In the face of rising inflation and global uncertainty, the highest authorities in the executive and legislative branches of government have reaffirmed their commitment to Indonesia's future capital city.

Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanti urges the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) to proactively protect the families of victims and other witnesses who will be presented in the Bloody Paniai trial at the Makassar Human Rights Court this August 2022.

Jayapura – Papua Legislative Council's (DPRP) Special Group chair John NR Gobai said the Manasari Village community suspected siltation of the river around their village, which is located in Far East Mimika District, Mimika Regency, Papua Province.

Rizky Alif Alvian – As the threat of climate change intensifies in Indonesia, radical activists are weaponising the climate crisis to gain support for their cause.

A top leader of Timor-Leste's minority Muslim community has turned down an offer from a leading Indonesian Muslim group to open its branch in his Catholic-majority country, fearing it would destroy religious harmony.

Indonesia is in the midst of yet another major data breach scandal, this time involving state utility firm PLN as well as numerous other companies based in the country.

Jakarta – The construction of Indonesia's new capital city (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan was again highlighted by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo during his State of the Nation address at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) annual session on Tuesday August 16.

Did Indonesian singing megastar Lyodra call for Papua's sovereignty in front of President Joko Widodo and other state officials during yesterday's independence day morning ceremony at the Presidential Palace? Not according to a palace spokesman, who lambasted those that implied as much.

In a press release issued by TNI spokesman Major General Prantara Santosa today, the military believes that a brigadier general by the initials NA killed stray cats in and around a military Staff and

Chris Barrett, Singapore – A bomb maker who assembled the explosives used to carry out the Bali terrorist attacks is set to be freed from prison within days after being granted an early release on Indonesia's independence day.

Sofie Syarief – Celebrity podcasts have increasingly become the go-to place for Indonesian politicians and high-ranking officials. The problem, however, is that these platforms lack the same level of journalistic integrity and scrutiny.

Rizky Suryarandika, Jakarta – Human rights activist and lawyer for the families of the victims of the 2014 Paniai massacre in Papua, Younes Douw, has revealed the reluctance on the part of the families to attend the human rights trial hearing the case. The families object because only one person has been declared a suspect.

Kuala Lumpur (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – From packed mosques during Friday prayers to the classrooms of thousands of Islamic boarding schools, Indonesia's Muslim leaders have been urged to use their sermons and influence to boost conservation efforts and win over climate change sceptics.

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has introduced additional exemptions from the urban and rural land and building tax (PBB-P2) for land and buildings with a taxable value of property (NJOP) of less than Rp 2 billion (US$134,979).

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Coal-supply crisis looms over the state-owned electricity company (PLN) again as businesses prefer to export their coal than to meet their domestic market obligation (DMO) amid skyrocketing commodity prices. The company is pushing for the establishment of a public service body (BLU) to collect coal levies that will help them secure coal supply.

Jakarta – The government has taken a moderate approach to its spending next year amid global uncertainty caused by the inflation crisis and Russia-Ukraine War.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The former mayor of the West Java town of Cimahi has been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, shortly after he completed a jail term for a previous graft conviction, the commission confirmed on Thursday.

Lani Diana Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan claimed that his political promises made during the campaign of the 2017 regional head election have been fulfilled one by one. One of them is the construction of decent housing.

Antara, Jakarta - An alleged sexual crime has once again happened in the environment of Islamic boarding schools or pesantren. This time, the reports came from a female student at a school in the Bandung Regency, West Java.

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Bhima Yudhistira on Wednesday said he doubts that the government can overcome the threat of inflation next year.

He considered President Joko Widodo's speech on financial notes which touched on infrastructure issues eleven times, was not in line with the country's main problems.

Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – The government expressed concern on Thursday that inflation in five provinces on Sumatra Island is rising far higher than the national average in the face of imminent hike in subsidized energy prices that may trigger commodity prices to soar.

Jakarta – Land transport operator TransJakarta on Thursday signed a deal with VKTR Teknologi Mobilitas and UK vehicle electrification company Equipmake Ltd. on a project to convert diesel buses to electric-powered people movers.

The initial project will involve retrofitting a number of buses as prototypes to be put on trials by TransJakarta.

Anugerah Rizki Akbari and Genoveva Alicia KS Maya – Almost three years after widespread student and civil society protests put the brakes on deliberations, Indonesia's controversial new revised criminal code (RKUHP or RUU KUHP) looks close to being passed.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Liberation Army or TPNPB warned the Nduga Regent, Namia Gwijangge, and the 172 Praja Wira Yakthi (PWY) Military Resort Command commander, Brig. Gen. Juinta Omboh Sembiring, not to enter and build the Alguru Village in Krepkuri District, Nduga Regency.

Sepaku (AFP) – Indonesia celebrated its first Independence Day at its future capital in the ancient rainforests of eastern Borneo on Wednesday (Aug 17) as the nation plans a move away from slowly sinking, traffic-clogged Jakarta.

Nusantara, which is 2,000km from Jakarta, is set to become the new political centre of the world's fourth-largest country.

Indra Arief P, Mecca Yumna, Jakarta – The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) highlighted President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) unwavering commitment to resolving cases of alleged gross human rights violations that had occurred in the past.

Mentari Dwi G, Nabil Ihsan, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) presided over the remembrance and contemplation ceremony at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, South Jakarta, to pay tributes to the fallen heroes.

The ceremony was part of the commemoration of the 77th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day that falls on August 17.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Human rights activists in Indonesia have strongly criticized a move by President Joko Widodo's to resolve past gross human rights violations through non-judicial mechanisms, saying that it will worsen impunity.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – The Navy took possession of the second of three hospital ships, the KRI Dr Rajiman Wedyodiningrat-992 in Surabaya, East Java, on Monday, after it was handed over by the state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL.

Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas – Citayam Fashion Week, a term that loosely refers to the spontaneous, outdoor gatherings of Indonesian youths in which they perform al fresco fashion shows, has caught the attention of the nation, including the country's president, Joko Widodo. "As long as it's positive, I don't think there's a problem with that. Let's not make a big deal out of it.

Jakarta – Ex-terror convict Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, known as the spiritual leader of shadowy militant group Jemaah Islamiyah that aims to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia, did the unthinkable on Wednesday as he participated in the Independence Day ceremony at his boarding school in the Central Java district of Sukoharho.

Christopher Knaus and Ben Doherty – Two Indonesian children who were imprisoned as adult people smugglers using deeply flawed evidence have asked attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, to use his mercy powers and resolve the "mockery of justice" overseen by his predecessor Christian Porter.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A child singer showed overcame nervousness as he performed a Javanese pop song that got First Lady Iriana and many prominent guests to dance after the 77th independence day flag-hoisting ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry announced that Indonesia is sending 13 delegations for the annual conference Gamescom in Germany to bump up the ever-potential Indonesian gaming industry.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor – The Bogor Natural Resource Conservation (KSDA) Agency in West Java handed over on Monday three Javan slow loris, known locally as kukang, to the conservation institution Indonesian Rehabilitation Nature Initiative Foundation (YIARI).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday boasted about Indonesia being at the pinnacle of global leadership as the international community becomes more trusting of the Southeast Asian country as it assumes the G20 presidency and plays the peacemaker role between the warring Russia and Ukraine.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi – Indonesia's major political parties have started jostling for position for the 2024 elections, where party incumbency may be forced to give way to the people's demands for the most popular choice.

Tonggo Simangunsong, Medan, Indonesia – On a recent morning in Kampung Nelayan, a village on the northeastern coast of the island of Sumatra, fisherman Heri Gunawan returned home frustrated and dissatisfied.

Jayapura, Jubi – Indonesia will celebrate its 77th Independence Day on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. The Papua Peace Network (JDP) believes that today, even after 77 years, the Indonesian government has not been able to resolve the Papua conflict, resulting in prolonged armed conflict in Papua.

News Desk, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has continued his tradition of wearing customary regional attire while delivering his annual State Address, this time donning Bangka Belitung dress.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Tuesday hailed his country's growing stature on the global stage and reiterated calls for the Southeast Asian nation to be a "bridge of peace" between Russia and Ukraine.

Jakarta – The government plans to hike fuel prices to control ballooning energy subsidies, media reported on Monday, citing comments from Energy and Mineral Resources Minister.

Jakarta – This year, as the country prepared itself to celebrate the 77th year anniversary of Indonesia's independence, the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo made a major foreign policy decision.