Jakarta – The internal conflict in the National Awakening Party (PKB) must be resolved democratically. There must be no government intervention.

Antara, Jakarta – A total of 772 hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in West Java have obtained the CHSE (cleanliness, health, safety, environmental sustainability) certification from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

The license is proof that the tourism products and services comply with the predetermined health protocols against Covid-19.

Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) Chairman for Advocacy and Social Affairs, Djoko Setijowarno, said the government's decision to tighten regulations on people's mobility restriction will not affect their will to go on mudik or Eid homecoming.

Fana Suparman, Jakarta – In a very rare case, the Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK announced on Thursday it has arrested its own investigator for allegedly taking bribe.

Stepanus Robin Pattuju was named suspect on charge of accepting bribe from a mayor in North Sumatra who was facing prosecution for a separate corruption case.

The Indonesian government is imposing a ban on all arrivals from India over the latter's deadly second COVID-19 wave and to prevent the transmission of dangerous new mutations of the coronavirus. The ban is set to come into force on Sunday, April 25.

Michael Leach – The recent floods in Timor-Leste have now caused 45 deaths and some 10,000 people to be displaced, including 7000 in the capital, with widespread damage to roads and bridges, and around 4500 dwellings destroyed. The government has called for international assistance, as a number of local non-government initiatives mobilised to feed and shelter the displaced.

Johnny Blades – Indonesia's president says greenhouse gas reduction commitments by developed countries powers must be credible if developing countries are to follow suit.

Joko Widodo was among dozens of world leaders speaking at the US-hosted virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Change underway today.

Indonesia's president has ordered an all-out effort to find a missing submarine in a race against time to save the 53 crew, whose oxygen supply was only expected to last another 24 hours.

As the US military said on Thursday that it was joining the search, the Indonesian navy said its ships had found an unidentified object at a depth of 50-100 metres (165-330ft).

Tatang Guritno, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) is questioning the disappearance of two names in the indictment against former Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara prepared by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) public prosecutor.

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia has sentenced scores of prisoners to death over Zoom and other video apps during the pandemic in what critics say is an "inhumane" insult to those facing the firing squad.

Reza Gunadha and Chyntia Sami Bhayangkara – Journalist and editor of the Papuan based Tabloid Jubi, Victor Mambor, has become the victim of a terrorist act.

A car that he owns which was parked on the road near his home was vandalised by unknown individuals sometime between 12 midnight and 2am on Wednesday April 21.

Jakarta – The results of an investigation by the police's professionalism and security affairs division (Propam) has found that Malang municipal police chief Senior Commissioner Leonardus Simarmata committed a disciplinary violation when he allegedly threatened to shoot Papuan students at the Malang municipal police headquarters in March.

A young doctor who received massive backlash over his problematic TikTok video last week is facing serious consequences for putting content above professional decency, following a hearing by the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – The Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) Managing Director, Ali Ghufron Mukti, said 82.3 percent of the total population has registered under the National Health Insurance and Healthy Indonesia Card (JKN-KIS) program as of the end of March 2021.

Francisca Christy Rosana, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said on Thursday the government is set to reach the net zero emission goal faster, which was initially set for 2060. He said one of the ways is by increasing new and renewable energy mix.

Agencies, Jakarta – The East Jakarta District Court has sentenced six people to death for masterminding a riot inside a detention center at the headquarters of an elite Indonesian police unit near Jakarta in 2018, killing five police officers.

Konradus Epa, Jakarta – Indonesian police have arrested a Protestant pastor in Papua for allegedly supplying arms to separatist rebels in the restive region.

Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – The number of death sentences handed down by Indonesian courts last year rose by 46 percent on the previous year, a leading rights group says.

According to Amnesty International Indonesia, 117 death sentences were handed down in 2020, compared with 80 in 2019.

A West Papuan envoy who was gagged while addressing the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues two years ago is due to speak again today.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore – Indonesia was on Thursday night holding out hope of finding the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine that disappeared off the coast of Bali after the discovery of a mystery floating object beneath the surface.

But time is running out for the 53 crew aboard because the oxygen supply is due to last only until Saturday.

Indonesian actor Jeff Smith has become a hero for marijuana advocates in the country thanks to his ballsy defense of the maligned narcotic plant in front of cops.

The COVID-19 Task Force has issued a circular introducing tightened domestic travel regulations ahead of and after the mudik homecoming exodus ban.

Arjuna Pademme, Jayapura – The South Jakarta District Court has rejected a pretrial motion filed by two Papuan student activists accused of robbery, Ruland Rudolof Karafir and Finakat Molama, against the Jakarta Police for its alleged legal violations during the arrest

Firebrand cleric Rizieq Shihab has admitted to having written a statement refusing to have the result of his PCR swab test disclosed last year, when he was suspected to have contracted COVID-19 from mass rallies held in his honor.

Benny Mawel & Titus Ruban, Jayapura – The Human Rights Lawyers Association for Papua (PAHAM) claimed that the arrest of Paniel Kogoya, a Protestant pastor accused of supplying weapons for the National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB), violated human rights standards in law enforcement and failed to adhere to the Criminal Code Procedures.

Doni Monardo, the chief of Indonesia's COVID-19 task force, is strongly rebuking those who are considering going back to their hometowns for the upcoming Eid holidays amid the raging pandemic, warning that they could be indirectly killing their own parents.

Melissa Crouch – Universities are vital institutional actors in Australia's relations with Indonesia. Australian universities welcome thousands of Indonesian students across a broad range of programs. In doing so, they help forge connections that strengthen relations between our two countries.

Jakarta – Indonesian central bank's latest decision to keep its benchmark interest rate may indicate that it has no further room to lower its interest rate this year as higher global yields growing higher and weaker rupiah limit its options, shifting the crux to the local banks lower to their lending interest rates to support the economy.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The National Development Planning Agency, or Bappenas, revealed that achieving net-zero emission would help Indonesia save the environment and escape the middle-income trap in hopes of becoming the world's top economies in 2045.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has recorded a rise in the number of death sentences handed down by courts in Indonesia in 2020.

According to Amnesty, there were at least 117 people sentenced to death in Indonesia in 2020. In 2019 meanwhile some 80 people were sentenced to death and in 2018 only 48 death sentences were handed down.

Jakarta – Recreating Silicon Valley is not as easy as turning the back of one's hand. Without a solid ecosystem in place, the Algorithm Hill project in Sukabumi, West Java, could well be mere business cunning out to grab tax deductions and import duty waivers while establishing a special economic zone.

Joanito De Saojoao & Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is unhappy with the growing number of politicians and other prominent figures voicing their support for a homegrown Covid-19 vaccine, which has failed to obtain government approval.

Sheany – Bali officials are appealing to the central government to allow tourists into the island during the mudik ban period next month, arguing that leisure travelers should not be put into the same category as those who are returning to their hometowns.

Shotaro Tani, Tokyo – Indonesia's central bank has its hands tied by a slide in the rupiah.

Bank Indonesia on Tuesday kept its benchmark policy rate on hold for the second straight monetary policy meeting. The central bank's seven-day reverse repo rate of 3.5% is its lowest since at least 2016 when it began using the rate as its benchmark.

Yudha Baskoro, Jakarta – Ramadan is not all about abstaining oneself from eating and drinking. It is a time to reflect on one's spirituality and prayers. The sacred month also embraces a charitable spirit for those in need.

Jakarta – Indonesia has officially agreed to co-chair an international alliance that brings together producers and consumers of forest agriculture and commodities.

Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – Epidemiologist from the University of Indonesia Tri Yunis Miko Wahyono reminded the Jakarta Provincial Government to be aware of Covid-19 transmission during Ramadan.

Jakarta – Authorities have warned against the Covid-19 second wave in Indonesia, raising concerns that euphoria surrounding vaccination would cause people to drop their discipline in implementing health protocols that could trigger a spike in cases like what happened in India.

Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Salesian Archbishop Virgilio Do Carmo da Silva of Dili has called on the people of Timor-Leste to participate in the government's vaccine program and adhere to health protocols as the number of cases in the Catholic-majority country continues to rise.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) investigator Wana Alamsyah says that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's call to impoverish corruptors in order to recover state losses is nothing more than a gimmick – a trick to attract attention.

According to Alamsyah, Widodo's call, which was conveyed to law enforcement officials, is the opposite of the reality on the ground.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore – Indonesian authorities have defended the use of a locally developed COVID-19 breathalyser at airports and train stations despite fresh questions about its accuracy.

In Australia, "blowing into the bag" is simply slang for a roadside breath test, with more modern devices now being used to catch drink drivers.

The West Papua Council of Churches has called on the United Nations to intervene in what it describes as a humanitarian tragedy in Indonesia's Papua region.

This comes amid more violence in the highlands of Papua province, with two school teachers shot dead last week in Puncak district.

Farouk Arnaz, Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – The National Police has vowed to launch a cross-border manhunt to capture Joseph Paul Zhang, an Indonesian national who allegedly caused a stir in the Muslim majority country by declaring himself as a prophet, a claim that could be considered blasphemy under Indonesia's law.

Egi Adyatama, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has finally spoken up about the research of Nusantara vaccine development in Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD). The TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Achmad Riad asserted that the Covid-19 vaccine initiated by former health minister Terawan Agus Putranto is not a military program.

The Transportation Ministry said that there will not be any sanctions for those going back to their hometowns outside of the mudik ban period, which will go into force between May 6 and 17.

Before the pandemic, the annual homecoming exodus tradition usually saw around 30 million Indonesians visiting their hometowns annually.

Guteriano Neves – On April 4, Tropical Cyclone Seroja hit Timor-Leste, devastating the island nation and resulting in the worst floods in 48 years. According to the United Nations, the natural disaster took 45 lives, affected 25,709 families, and destroyed 4,546 houses, forcing nearly 10,000 people to seek shelter in the capital Dili.

Hengky Yeimo, Nabire – Evanggelis Penehasa Wandagau, a Christian Religion teacher at the Papua's Evangelical Churches Education and School Foundation (YPPGI) Elementary School, said that schools in Beoga District, Puncak Regency had not conducted learning activities after a series of shootings and class arson that took place in Beoga this month.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati uses a simple presentation to provide some insight into the massive health spending related to Covid-19 on Monday.

The local West Papua action group in Dunedin has met Taieri MP Ingrid Leary and raised human rights and militarisation issues that members believe the New Zealand government should be pursuing with Indonesia.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) says that the number of cases handled by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2020 has plummeted to its lowest level since 2015. As a result in the drop in the number of cases being handled, the [recovery] of state financial losses also plummeted.