Charles Scheiner – The young nation of Timor-Leste has been blessed with $US23 billion ($F47.71b) in oil and gas revenues over the past 15 years, which has paid for 86 per cent of state activities.

But that era is almost over, and exporting the remaining oil and gas can probably finance the government for only a year or two more.

One of Indonesia's top ministers appears to have caught wind on how bars and clubs in Bali managed to avoid sanctions despite violating health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging that these establishments prohibited their patrons from posting on social media.

An environmental NGO has hailed a West Papua district head's decision to recognise customary land rights.

The head of Sorong Regency, Johnny Kamuru, has issued a decree on recognising rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Gelek Malak Kalawilis Pasa over land and forest in Sayosa sub district.

Jakarta – Indonesia received on Monday about 684,400 doses of Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine from New Zealand.

The shipment came through the global sharing mechanism Covax facility, while also bringing the total vaccines that have arrived in Indonesia – be it in finished or bulk forms – to around 292 million doses.

An Indonesian cop who was assaulted by his own boss over a trivial matter may himself face sanctions for exposing the incident to the world.

Pribadi Wicaksono, Graven Fikri (Intern), Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Covid-19 Task Force is conducting a random vaccination card checking to the people roaming around the famous tourist area in the city, Malioboro.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – Workers in a number of cities in Indonesia took to the streets again today, October 26. The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions or KSPI President Said Iqbal said they demanded a hike in the 2022 regency or city's minimum wage (UMK) by 7 to 10 percent.

Caesar Akbar, Jakarta – Aviation observer and PT Asia Aero Technology commissioner Alvin Lie on Tuesday commented on the cost of Covid-19 PCR testing, which he suspects had been priced above its reasonable price range and that the government likely let this happen.

Triyan Pangastuti, Jakarta – The Indonesian government claimed on Tuesday it has controlled 23.11 percent of global sharia bonds market by issuing a total of $23.65 billion worth of the Islamic bonds.

Lodi Aprianto – A protest action by Papuan students in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar ended in chaos after members of an ormas (social or mass organisations) forcibly broke up the demonstration. Rappocini deputy sectoral police chief Deputy Police Commissioner Widodo was injured by a rock during the incident.

Dominggus Mampioper, Jayapura – September and October have been busy months for the Indonesian and Australian Army. Three joint exercises have been held in both countries. A senior officer in the Australian Army, Maj. Gen. Justin Frederick Ellwood, commonly known as Jake Ellwood, also paid a visit to Indonesia.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – Lawmaker of Papua Legislative Council John NR Gobai said that forest products and other natural resources in Papua were mostly controlled by investors, who have permits from the central government, instead of Indigenous People. To date, Indigenous Papuans are still marginalized in natural resource management.

Lenny Tristia Tambun, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo has urged a further reduction in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test cost amid mounting pressures from air passengers who are obliged to undergo the Covid-19 diagnostic test.

Dian Septiari, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo swore in 17 new envoys at the Presidential Palace on Monday, filling various strategic posts that were previously left vacant even before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jakarta – National carrier Garuda Indonesia could face bankruptcy amid ballooning debts and financial hardships due to the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has given a red report card to the administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin marking their second year in office on October 20. The LBH Jakarta highlighted a number of issues in the report ranging from corruption to democracy.

Nur Aprilliana BS, Suharto, Medan, N Sumatra – A landslide hit a car carrying five people on Medan-Berastagi highway in North Sumatra province on Saturday night, leaving four people dead.

Paul Lashmar and Nicholas Gilby – Survivors and descendants of those massacred in Indonesia's anti-communist purge of 1965-1966 are urging the UK government to apologise for its role in what was described in a secret CIA report as "one of the worst mass murders of the 20th century".

Jakarta – Young leaders from G20 countries will have a summit in Jakarta and Bandung next year, allowing them the opportunity to get involved in the policymaking process.

The Youth 20 Summit will discuss a wide range of issues from manpower to digital transformation and from environmental sustainability to diversity and inclusion.

Jakarta – The government has released its 2021 Performance Report. The report however, does not contain an evaluation of the handling of conflicts which have occurred in Papua.

Yet, of late, there have been frequent armed conflicts between armed criminal groups (KKB) and the Indonesian military resulting in not a few lives being lost on both sides.

Lenny Trstia Tambun, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed a "total reform" in the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) whose failure to comply with international requirements has prevented the national flag from being raised when the national team won the Thomas Cup earlier this week.

Resty Woro Yuniar – Survivors and descendants of those killed in Indonesia's anti-communist purge of 1965-1966 are urging Western countries to apologise for their roles in what the CIA has itself described as "one of the worst mass murders of the 20th century".

Jefferson Ng – Over the last two years, former Indonesian army general Prabowo Subianto has become the most influential man to occupy the position of defense minister in the post-Suharto era. A confluence of presidential delegation, formal and informal networks, and personal resources has underpinned his strong position as defense minister.

Susan Price – About 200 Indonesian military personnel are taking part in a joint training exercise with 150 Australian troops in the Northern Territory. Meanwhile, in West Papua, thousands of civilians are fleeing Indonesian military operations in the Maybrat region.

Jakarta – Indonesia is on course to cut diesel fuel imports worth $3.9 billion this year thanks to the country's growing biodiesel industry, validating President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's decision to rely on biodiesel for national energy security.

Jakarta – The government is continuing its diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia, in hopes to enable Indonesian Muslims go on a minor pilgrimage or umrah to Mecca amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

"So please kindly wait," Eko Hartono, the Indonesian consul general in Jeddah, said.

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute or LBH Jakarta criticized the Attorney General's Office for not detaining the defendants in the unlawful killing case of six members of the now-defunct Islam Defenders Front (FPI). Defendants, who are policemen, were not detained as they received bail from the Jakarta Metro Police officials.

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Former investigators of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Novel Baswedan and Rizka Anungnata, reported Lili Pintauli Siregar to the KPK Supervisory Council for allegedly violating the code of ethics as she made communication with the regional head election contestant of North Labuhanbatu Regency, Darno.

Antara, Jakarta – The Bandung city government in West Java has decided to temporarily stop classroom schooling (PTM) in a number of schools after health officials reported new Covid-19 cases in schools exercising physical attendance.

The Aceh Provincial Police has denied allegations that cops turned away a woman who was reporting a rape attempt because she was unvaccinated, as reported by an advocacy group.

According to the Banda Aceh Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), a 19-year-old female college student from a village in Aceh Besar regency was home alone on Sunday afternoon, when a man knocked on her door.

Even if you're fully vaccinated, you now have to take the PCR test before boarding a plane, after the government enforced stricter screening measures for flights ahead of an anticipated boom for domestic air travel.

Developments in the oil sector and Covid-19 vaccine aid from China and Japan will improve Timor-Leste's economic prospects, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Konradus Epa, Jakarta – Indonesian students and rights groups have criticized President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin for the brutal police violence against students and human rights defenders, especially in Papua, and for ignoring past human rights violations.

Melissa Mackay – Battling heatwave conditions and pandemic precautions, about 300 Australian and Indonesian soldiers are conducting their largest ever annual joint combat training across defence bases in the Top End.

Exercise Wirra Jaya is an annual three-week training exercise between the two militaries, which takes place in either Australia or Indonesia.

Up to 200 Indonesian military personal are taking part in a joint military exercise with Australian troops in the NT.

Meanwhile in West Papua, thousands of civilians flee Indonesian military operations in the Maybrat region.

Rangga PAJ, Rahmad Nasution, Jakarta – A report book documenting the commitment and achievements of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in accelerating regional development in the provinces of Papua and West Papua was released by the Presidential Office (KSP) on Wednesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A Jakarta Legislative Council member said on Wednesday she had filed a Rp 1 trillion ($70.8 million) lawsuit against the Indonesian Solidarity Party, or PSI after her membership was terminated for allegedly inflating official expenses.

Rahmat Amin Siregar, Jakarta – Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo announced that he will not hesitate to punish on-duty police personnel who commit legal violations.

He made it clear that his firm warning is meant to protect the institution that still houses good and law-abiding members.

Khanifah Juniasari, Ek, Graven Fikri (Intern), Jakarta – Indonesian university students joined in the student alliance of Islamic State University (UIN) Jakarta staged a protest in front of the Merdeka Palace today, October 21, 2021. The Indonesian alliance of the Student Executive Board (BEM SI) also took part in the demonstration.

Abdi Purmono (Contributor), Jakarta – Heavy rains across Malang City of East Java led to flooding, submerging at least 230 houses and disrupting roads in Blimbing, Purwantoro, and Bunulrejo of Blimbing sub-district on Tuesday, October 19.

Fairuz Amanda Putri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Affairs, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is amazed at the economic recovery measures in Indonesia.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) released a report entitled 'Indonesia Strong, Indonesia Grows 2021' on Wednesday, 20 October. In the report, there is a chapter on efforts to resolve human rights violations. It said that the government continues to seek settlement of human rights violations.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head Ganip Warsito said Indonesia with its various disaster potentials deserves to be called a laboratory of disaster, instead of a supermarket of disaster.

Sonali Paul and Joyce Lee, Melbourne/Seoul – East Timor wants to press ahead with plans for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in a depleted oil and gas field off its coast as it races to fill a multi-billion dollar revenue hole starting in late 2023 when the field dries up.

Rebecca Ratcliffe – Almost one-fifth of the land used for Indonesian oil palm plantations is located in the country's forest estate, despite a law banning such activity, according to a study by Greenpeace.

Jakarta – Students held demonstration in several cities around the country on Thursday to mark seven years of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration. Widodo meanwhile chose to leave Jakarta to officiate the opening of a palm oil processing factory owned by the PT Jhonlin Group in South Kalimantan.

The disquiet which has been felt over the last two years of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's second term in office, now accompanied by Vice President Maruf Amin, was conveyed by hundreds of students from the Bandung Student Revolutionary Axis (PRMB) on Wednesday October 20.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – Papuan Customary Council secretary John NR Gobai has urged the Papua Legislative Council to investigate the disappearance of Sem Kobogau, 51, a man declared missing after being taken by a number of soldiers on Oct. 5, 2021.

Gobai demanded the Papua Legislative Council to talk with all related parties to help investigate the case.

David Lipson – On Bali's idyllic Gili Islands, the music at the Jungle Bar nightclub has been silent ever since the pandemic struck.

Owner Brendan Muir has kept the nightclub and his hostel shut since March last year.

"Pretty much every tourist left straight away, it was really depressing to see how quiet it was," he says.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Conservation groups are calling on the Asian Development Bank to tighten its scrutiny of a road project it plans to fund in Indonesian Borneo that may pose risks to Indigenous communities and the environment.