President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday expressed regret over mass human rights violations committed in the country's past, including a violent anti-communist purge in the 1960s and the disappearance of student protesters in the late 1990s.

Last month, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, and its third-largest democracy, banned people from having sex outside marriage or even living together, at the risk of prison time.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested one of Papua’s most popular and controversial figures, governor Lukas Enembe, who had been on the commission’s radar for months after he failed to appear for a summons in relation to a bribery investigation.

Students, professionals, academics and activists have filed petitions with the Constitutional Court calling for it to annul controversial provisions in the new Criminal Code, as the judiciary faces increased pressure from the legislature to come to heel.

Authorities have accused Lukas Enembe, 55, of granting contracts -- worth up to Rp 40 billion ($2.57 million) between 2019 and 2021 -- for construction projects to a company with an inexperienced track record in the sector.

In the middle of a rambling two-hour-plus speech on Tuesday, the PDI-P matriarch said no candidates would be announced today, while reiterating that the final choice was "my prerogative".

The party chair and former president noted the achievements of several female leaders in a meandering speech lasting at least two hours on the occasion of the PDI-P's 50th anniversary.

The epicentre of the quake was 427 kilometres (265 miles) south of Ambon at a depth of 95 kilometres, the US Geological Survey reported.

"The party chairman has arrived at the decision and we are all just waiting for the announcement. We all have to follow the party chairman's decision to back this candidate and deliver victory in the general election," Puan said as quoted by Antara on Monday.

The Gerindra Party has launched a campaign and electoral committee for its chairman Prabowo Subianto, solidifying his move to enter the 2024 presidential race despite having yet to break a political stalemate with its coalition partner.

Over half of those who arrived around 2:30 p.m. Sunday were women and children, Ridwan Jamil, head of Aceh Besar disaster agency, told Reuters.

Eight out of nine political parties at the House of Representatives have expressed strong opposition to a push to return to a closed-list electoral system for 2024 legislative elections.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said more wildlife crossings would be constructed across the archipelago in order to reduce disruption to wildlife conservation and protected species.

Police are investigating a fire that broke out on Friday at a nickel smelter in an industrial park in Central Halmahera, North Maluku, injuring five Indonesian workers and two foreign workers, two severely.

After lifting all remaining pandemic health restrictions at the end of last year, the government now plans to focus its attention and resources on transforming the country’s healthcare system.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s state visit to Jakarta next week will offer an opportunity for Indonesia to strengthen its ties with Kuala Lumpur and address persisting bilateral issues, experts say, amid regional and global tensions. 

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has filed an appeal against a human rights court ruling that acquitted the sole defendant in the 2014 fatal shooting of civilians in Papua's Paniai regency, as rights groups are pushing for reinvestigation.

Speculation about a reshuffle has been growing since Nasdem, one of seven political parties in the ruling coalition, announced it would back former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in the 2024 presidential election - a politician seen as a potential rival to Jokowi's successor.

The President issued the emergency regulation on Dec. 30 to replace the 2020 Jobs Creation law, arguing global economic uncertainty and potential for global economic crisis this year meant authorities have to move fast to attract investors.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo’s electability has ticked up slightly amid speculation that the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri will make her final decision on the party’s 2024 presidential candidate during the party’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations. 

As floods hit regions in the northern coast of Central Java, Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast the rainy season in the province would reach its peak in January and February.

Indonesia condemned Tuesday's controversial visit by Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound that has stirred protests from across the Arab world.

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal and upheld the death sentence handed down to an Islamic boarding school teacher who had raped 13 of his students.

AGO investigators arrested on Wednesday three suspects in connection with the graft case surrounding the BTS procurement auction, part of the 4G infrastructure development project helmed by the communication ministry's accessibility agency, BAKTI.

The Attorney General Office (AGO) in April launched an investigation into allegations of corruption linked to the issuance of export permits at a time when shipments were restricted by the government to control soaring cooking oil prices.

Silmy Karim, a businessman with a track record of restructuring ailing state-owned enterprises, was inaugurated on Wednesday as the country’s new immigration director general.

While President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo had to endure several challenges to his administration in 2022, a recent survey found that the President closed the year with a 71.3 percent approval rating, his highest since August, buoyed by the public’s positive perception of Indonesia’s hosting of the Group of 20 Summit.