President Prabowo Subianto is preparing to assign Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka a special mandate to oversee matters related to Papua, including accelerating development and addressing ongoing human rights issues in Indonesia’s easternmost region, according to a senior government official.

Speculation continues to mount over the health of former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as government officials remain tight-lipped and offer little clarity about the medical care typically extended to former heads of state.

The state’s antigraft body is still studying documents submitted by the minister regarding his wife’s trip to several European cities.

Army general Novi Helmy Prasetya has stepped down as president director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to end his contentious appointment and brief tenure at the state-owned enterprise, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has confirmed, citing prevailing regulations that limit active-duty officers from holding civilian posts.

An unexpected House of Representatives hearing on a recent Constitutional Court ruling that ordered that national and local elections be held separately starting in 2029 has alarmed activists and experts, who warn that lawmakers may be looking for ways to delegitimize the court decision.

Indonesia has moved closer to filling the long-vacant ambassadorial seat in the United States after the government nominated former senior minister Indroyono Soesilo, who was screened by the House of Representatives on Saturday.

Attorney General’s Office (AGO) prosecutors demanded that the bench declare former trade minister Thomas Lembong guilty in a corruption case pertaining to sugar imports and sentence him to seven years behind bars.

The confirmation hearing for 24 names submitted by President Prabowo Subianto for various Indonesian ambassadorial posts abroad will be carried out behind closed doors over the weekend, according to a member of House Commission I overseeing foreign affairs.

Several lawmakers in the House of Representatives have called the Constitutional Court’s ruling that ordered split local and national elections “unconstitutional” and “not final and binding”.

Prosecutors of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) urged the bench to declare Hasto guilty of bribery and obstruction of justice in a case involving former General Elections Commission (KPU) member.

The National Police have launched several digital initiatives aimed at improving their public image, including a new video-sharing platform called PoliceTube. However, critics argue that these efforts fall short of addressing the deeper issues underlying the erosion of public trust.

Peace negotiations to end the armed conflict in Aceh 20 years ago may provide a lesson to resolve today’s global conflicts, former officials involved in the deal have said.

President Prabowo Subianto has commended the National Police for keeping people safe and supporting the country’s development agenda despite criticism from observers and rights groups over police brutality and human rights violations.

The House of Representatives has grilled Foreign Minister Sugiono about the empty Indonesian ambassador post in Washington DC, with the minister promising to provide potential names for the vacancy this week.

The National Police have emphasized that three-star general Setyo Budiyanto will continue to lead the antigraft agency, attributing his recent rotation within the force to a technicality due to his impending retirement.

Political parties have responded cautiously to the Constitutional Court’s recent decision to split national and regional elections starting in 2029, citing rising campaign costs and potential disruption to governance as major concerns.

North Sumatra Public Works and Housing Agency head Topan Obaja Putra Ginting, who has been named a suspect by the KPK in an alleged corruption case pertaining to road projects in the province, is reportedly close to North Sumatra Governor and former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s son-in-law Bobby Nasution.

The Constitutional Court says the regional executive and legislative elections must be carried out no sooner than two years, but not later than 2.5 years after the national polls.

A recent survey by the research arm of Kompas daily revealed that more than 6 of 10 surveyed Jakartans are satisfied with Governor Pramono Anung’s performance in his first 100 days in office, with some room for improvement on community outreach.

The Home Ministry is planning to organize a retreat for regional secretaries nationwide, potentially combining it with the upcoming third regional leaders’ retreat in a bid to enhance coordination and accelerate the implementation of national development programs at the local level.

The agreement, signed on Tuesday, would allow prosecutors to access telecommunication recordings and enable data exchange for law enforcement purposes.

Issues such as the island ownership dispute between Aceh and North Sumatra as well as the nickel mining permits in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, should be handled by cabinet ministers, said Gerindra Party secretary-general Ahmad Muzani.

An AGO spokesman says that investigators might have follow-up questions for Nadiem as a witness in the Chromebook graft case, opening the possibility of a second round of questioning after the first round on Monday, when the ex-minister was grilled for 12 hours.

Following a rise in administrative claims over regional islands, possibly triggered by the recent Aceh-North Sumatra dispute, the Home Ministry plans to engage with relevant state and local institutions to review, remap and ultimately resolve any outstanding boundary issues.

At a Constitutional Court hearing, House of Representatives lawmakers and government ministers asked the justices to drop judicial review petitions against the recently revised Indonesian Military (TNI) Law, arguing that the plaintiffs lack a legal standing.

Following a meeting with the President on Tuesday, Nahdlatul Ulama has been entrusted with managing 1,000 meal kitchens and is already active at several sites.

The House of Representatives opted not to take up a petition to impeach Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during Tuesday’s plenary session, a demand analysts say is unlikely to gain momentum anytime soon as the coalition aligned with President Prabowo Subianto and Gibran’s father, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, remains united.

After being touted as a potential PSI chairman candidate, former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo decided not to participate in the election and to instead support his youngest son incumbent party chair Kaesang Pangarep.

Former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s appearance during his recent birthday celebration has sparked renewed speculation about his health, and whether it played a role in his decision not to enter the race for the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) chairmanship.

Days after the Aceh-North Sumatra dispute was settled, other regions stepped forward with unresolved claims of their own and challenged the same ministerial decree, which they say fails to reflect spatial plans of the regions and historical administrative boundaries.