Ahmad Pathoni, Jakarta – Officials say Indonesia's new national capital, to be built on Borneo island far from often-flooded and traffic-choked Jakarta, will lead to greater equality.

But residents in the area where the future city will be built fear they will have to give up their traditional farmlands and lose their livelihoods.

Jakarta – Singapore Airlines, the country flag carrier, will restart daily commercial flights between Singapore and Bali starting on February 16, the airline said in a recent statement.

Sorong, West Papua – Eleven people have been arrested after a deadly clash at a nightclub in West Papua, police said on Saturday.

The fight erupted on Tuesday in Sorong, a relatively quiet city in the province, and 18 people were killed, most of them in a blaze at the Double O nightclub.

Hellena Souisa and Natasya Salim – The Indonesian Lower House has passed a draft law on relocating the national capital, marking the official declaration of the country's new main city after the idea was first discussed three years ago.

Hreeloita S, Kenzu T, Jakarta – Indonesia added 11,588 daily COVID-19 cases on Saturday, with Jakarta accounting for the highest number of infections, according to data provided by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

On Saturday, Jakarta recorded 5,765 cases, followed by West Java (2,525 cases), and Banten (1,911 cases), the task force said.

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia is bracing for a third wave of COVID-19 infections as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives a surge in new cases, health authorities and experts said Saturday.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Health Ministry reported on Saturday that the total number of Omicron coronavirus cases has reached 2,613, an increase of 625 cases from the previous day, amid growing concerns that the highly contagious variant is now dominating new infections.

Mom Kunthear – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and his Timorese counterpart Adaljiza Magno agreed to resume trade activities and accelerate pending agreements on other sectors.

Dana Bartholomew – Indonesia's three-year-old plan to move its capital, Jakarta, to the island of Borneo, is drawing criticism for everything from its environmental impact to its very name.

Jakarta – The Jemaat Ahmadiyah Indonesia (JAI) community says that acts of intolerance such as those which occurred at Balai Harapan Village in Tempunak sub-district, Sintang regency, West Kalimantan, are spreading to other areas.

Jakarta – The latest exchange of fire between the Indonesian military (TNI) and a Papuan armed criminal group in the Gome district of Puncak regency, Papua, has again claimed lives. In total, as many as three TNI personnel were killed during the armed contact as of Thursday January 27.

Maya Ayu Puspitasari, Jakarta – A spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force, Wiku Adisasmito, said the Omicron variant contributed 4.25 percent of the nation's total caseload. Since it was first detected on December 16, 2021, the number of cases has continued to increase to 1,766 as of January 26, 2022.

Aceh Jaya – Nearly a dozen poachers were jailed by an Aceh court Thursday over the 2020 killing of five critically endangered Sumatran elephants and the illegal trade of their lucrative tusks, as Indonesia's battle with wildlife crime continues.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Commissioner for the Study and Research, Sandrayati Moniaga, highlighted the absence of legal rules related to the recognition, respect, and protection of human rights defenders.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – A number of state officials visited the project site for the new capital city in East Kalimantan. Among them were Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, and Finance Deputy Minister Suahasil Nazara.

Adrianne Ramirez – In his December 7 statement, ULMWP Interim President Benny Wenda called for the immediate release of the eight peaceful student demonstrators, and one elderly woman, that Indonesian police arrested, tortured, and charged with 'treason' for waving the Morning Star flag in Jayapura on West Papua's Independence Day (December 1).

Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy, Jakarta – Indonesia has imposed a rule starting Thursday for a mandatory portion of palm oil to be sold domestically at a maximum price of Rp 9,300 (US$0.6465) per kilogram for crude palm oil (CPO) and 10,300 rupiah per kg for olein.

Ade Junida, Uyu Liman, Jakarta – Investment Minister and head of the Investment Coordination Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, has said that he is aiming to revive 25 percent of stalled foreign investment of Rp708 trillion this year.

Egi Adyatama, Graven (Intern), Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated that the government will provide protection and support for the human rights defenders in enforcing human rights (HAM).

Eko Listiyorini – Indonesia's palm oil exports may drop by just 1 million tons this year, according to a top industry group, a sign that the government's latest policy to cool prices will not significantly crimp overseas shipments.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Three soldiers were killed and another was seriously wounded by an armed separatist group during an attack on a military post in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, the army said.

Separatist rebels have killed three Indonesian soldiers and critically injured another during an attack on a military post in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

The gunmen from the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organisation, carried out the assault at dawn on Thursday during a change of guard in the hilly district of Puncak.

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan – Earlier this week, Indonesia and Singapore signed three important treaties: a Flight Information Region (FIR) agreement, a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), and an extradition treaty. The three treaties are the culmination of more than a decade of diplomacy and negotiation, and should help bolster bilateral cooperation and regional security.

Juwita Trisna Rahayu – Lately, some schools in several Indonesian cities have had to return to online learning after detecting significant COVID-19 transmission.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A sting by anti-corruption officers in Indonesia's North Sumatra province has uncovered evidence that a powerful local official allegedly used slave labor on his oil palm plantation.

Moh Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – A spokesperson of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and the Free Papua Movement (OPM), Sebby Sambom, on Friday said they are prepared to face possible retaliation from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) after the two opposing parties engaged in a shootout on Thursday.

Mom Kunthear – East Timorese foreign minister Adaljiza Magno has requested Prime Minister Hun Sen to help her country become an ASEAN member and for technical support on its preparation to accede to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Yuliana Lantipo, Jayapura, Jubi – The shooting between security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Jenggernok Village's Tepuk hill, Gome District, Puncak Regency on Thursday, January 27, 2022, claimed the lives of three TNI members.

The Jakarta Metro Police has carried out a raid at the office of an unregistered online lender in Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), apprehending 99 people during the operation.

Police raided a shophouse in the North Jakarta neighborhood on Wednesday evening after they were tipped that it housed an online lending service not registered with the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Konradus Epa, Jakarta – More than 500 Indonesian jihadists who went to fight overseas are trying to sneak back home and pose a significant threat to the country, the National Anti-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) has warned.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – Yet another shootout reportedly occurred between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) on Thursday, January 27, in Bukit Tepuk, Jenggernok Village, Gome District, Puncak Regency, Papua. One TNI soldier was reportedly killed.

Jakarta – With the signing of three treaties on Tuesday, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong have cemented a strong foundation for the future relations between the two neighbors.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD has revealed that there has often been a lack of synchronisation between the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in the process of investigating gross human rights violations.

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD is asking people to stop urging the government to resolve nine cases of gross human rights violations which occurred before 2000.

Dili – The cost of recovery from the severe damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Seroja in East Timor in April 2021 could exceed US$420 million, but rebuilding offers the opportunity for strengthening infrastructure and enhancing disaster preparedness, according to a World Bank report released this week.

Michael Rose, ANU – In May 2022, Timor-Leste will mark 20 years of renewed independence.

Jakarta – Only coal miners compliant with Indonesia's new regulations on domestic market sales will be cleared to restart shipments when a coal export ban expires next week, with 171 miners approved so far, a ministerial advisor said on Thursday (Jan 27).

Hengky Yeimo, Jayapura, Jubi – The moderator of the Papuan Church Council (WPCC), Rev. Benny Giay, said the Church has a key role in advocating various issues in the Papuan conflict. According to him, the Synod of the Kingmi Church in the Papua Land was once co-opted by the Indonesian government in 1964.

A global Papuan student welfare advocacy group has condemned the Indonesian government's disruption of autonomous local education grants supporting studies abroad, branding the move as "assassinating" indigenous human resource development.

By Max Lane

Executive Summary

Jakarta (VNA) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded Indonesia's 2022 economic growth forecast to 5.6 percent in 2022, from 5.9 percent in its October report, due to the spread of the Omicron variant and slower global economic growth.

Edna Tarigan, Niniek Karmini – Jakarta is congested, polluted, prone to earthquakes and rapidly sinking into the Java Sea. Now the government is leaving, and moving the country's capital to the island of Borneo.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – At least 198 Islamic boarding schools have ties to terrorist networks, according to Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency.

Agency chief Boy Rafli Amar made the claim at a meeting with MPs on Jan. 25, saying the assessment was a result of the agency's terrorism prevention efforts last year.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Six police officers in Timor-Leste have been arrested for allegedly killing a man and injuring two others in a case that has sparked calls for reforms within the country's police force.

A doctor in Semarang, Central Java was sentenced to six months in prison today for indecency – and being downright gross.

The sentence was handed to Doddy Prasetyo by the Semarang District Court this morning, after the doctor was found guilty of violating Article 281 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on immorality.

Just a couple of weeks into the new semester, 90 schools throughout Jakarta had to shut temporarily after students and teachers tested positive for COVID-19.

Jakarta Vice Governor Ahmad Riza "Ariza" Patria made the announcement yesterday, going by data last updated on Jan. 22.

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is urging the government – and the police in particular – to tighten supervision of the palm oil industry following the finding of human cage at the home of non-active Langkat Regent Terbit Rencana Perangin Angin.

Sholto Byrnes – Who bears responsibility for the 1965-66 anti-communist purge in Indonesia in which at least half a million, and maybe even more than a million, people died? It's a question the capitalist world could barely be troubled to ask at the time.

Jakarta – Indonesia's central bank will keep its key interest rate low until it sees signs of rising inflation, its deputy governor Dody Budi Waluyo told a seminar on Wednesday, adding that the bank will try to be "ahead of the curve" with its policy.

Radhiyya Indra. Jakarta – The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) has opened a competition called Dancing Against Drugs for the public, with a total prize of millions of rupiah.

With "war on drugs" as its theme, the agency hopes that Indonesians can see this opportunity as a way to keep their minds off drugs, especially during the pandemic.