Dicky Christanto, Jakarta – The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has been warned to tread carefully with its latest plan to reopen its soccer leagues, Liga 1, Liga 2 and Liga 3, since there is still no end in sight to the country's COVID-19 pandemic.

Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – Indonesia's capital city Jakarta has come out as the winner of the global 2021 Sustainable Transport Award (STA) for its ambitious integrated public transportation programs. Indonesia is the first-ever Southeast Asian country to have received the prestigious award.

Arya Dipa, Bandung – The Bandung-based NGO Syamsi Dhuha Foundation (SDF) in West Java has launched a smart walking cane called BriCane for the visually impaired to help their mobility.

The cane is connected to an application that can warn users when they get lost, said SDF head Dian Syarief.

Jakarta – Former Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari was released from prison on Saturday after completing her four-year jail sentence for corruption.

Siti, who served during the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono presidency, was convicted of taking Rp 1.9 billion ($129,000) in bribe concerning a government medical equipment procurement project in 2005.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP) is considering the prospects of supporting former Jakarta deputy governor and businessman Sandiaga Uno in the 2024 presidential election, with several members of its branch executive board (DPC) promoting his candidacy for PPP chairman.

Jakarta – Three cyclists were attacked with acid by unidentified assailants while riding across Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, on Thursday morning.

The three acid attacks occurred separately at 6 a.m., 6:17 a.m. and 6:40 a.m. local time.

Alya Nurbaiti, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has condemned a statement made by French President Emmanuel Macron on Islam, calling it insulting and offensive to Muslims the world over.

The President claimed that Macron's statement could spark division among different faiths at a time when the world needs unity to face the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arya Dipa, Bandung – The West Java administration is carrying out randomized COVID-19 screening at 54 tourist destinations across 14 regencies and municipalities to contain transmission of the coronavirus.

The screenings began on Wednesday and are to be conducted until Saturday in anticipation of a large number of travelers during the long weekend.

Jakarta – A junior high school student in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, committed suicide on Tuesday reportedly as a result of stress he faced as a result of remote learning, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) says.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – Three Indonesian biosphere reserves have been added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program following a high-level online meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A biosphere reserve is a unique ecosystem that is conserved and protected for research and educational purposes.

Jakarta – Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, reported zero new COVID-19 cases for six consecutive days from Oct. 24 to 29, but it continues to be categorized as a medium-risk "orange" zone, according to the local coronavirus task force.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – Labor unions have lambasted Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah for leaving the minimum wage unchanged for 2021, accusing her of siding with businesses over workers.

Budiarti Utami Putri, Jakarta – A survey by the pollster Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) on Thursday, October 29, suggests that the public satisfaction level towards the current administration led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and VP Ma'ruf Amin had dwindled in a poll held on June 8-20.

Jakarta – COVID-19 volunteer coordinator Andre Rahadian has invited public health graduates to join his team to help the country fight the coronavirus.

Andre said in a statement on Wednesday that the needed public health graduates would be deployed as contact tracing volunteers.

Jakarta – Most young people still do not believe they could be infected with COVID-19, according to a survey carried out by Statistic Indonesia (BPS).

The survey shows that 17 of 100 respondents aged 17 to 30 said they did not believe they could be exposed to COVID-19.

Made Anthony Iswara, Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Ministry has established new criteria for Indonesians intending to go on umrah (minor haj) as Saudi Arabia is set to open its doors to international pilgrims on Nov. 1.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – An independent team calling itself the Intan Jaya Humanity Team has alleged that Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel were behind the fatal shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani last month in Intan Jaya regency, Papua as well as a series of violence prior to the killing.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The Soccer Association of Indonesia's (PSSI) executive committee announced on Thursday that it would cancel all soccer matches in 2020 following the National Police's decision not to issue a permit for the leagues amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Nina Loasana, Jakarta – Jakarta airports and toll roads have been crowded with travelers as hundreds of thousands of Jakartans are expected to leave the capital during the five-day weekend from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1.

Arlina Arshad – From China to the United Arab Emirates and Britain, Indonesia has been scouring the world for potential vaccines against the coronavirus while ramping up local output and carrying out human vaccine trials at home to tackle the spread of the infectious disease.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said he aimed to realize the full potential of the country's sharia financial industry by merging state-owned sharia banks, likening the industry to a "sleeping giant" that could boost the sluggish economy.

Jakarta – The head of the Papua Province Humanitarian Team for Cases of Violence Against Religious Figures in Intan Jaya Regency, Haris Azhar, has announced the results of their investigation into the shooting of Pastor Yeremia Zanambani who was allegedly shot by a rogue Indonesian military (TNI) officer in Hitadipa District, Intan Jaya, on September 19.

Jakarta – The National COVID-19 task force has been using a real-time data platform called Sistem Bersatu Lawan COVID-19 (BLC) Monitoring Perubahan Perilaku (United in Fighting COVID-19 Monitoring Behavioral Change System) to curb the spread of the disease.

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie, Jakarta – Graft busters at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested fugitive Hiendra Soenjoto, a suspect in a bribery case involving former Supreme Court Secretary Nurhadi on Thursday, after eight months on the run.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – Two residents of Cilacap, Central Java, have been admitted to the Banyumas Medika Hospital for intensive care after contracting COVID-19 while sheltering from floods.

The two were among hundreds of residents who were evacuated after floods in Cilacap worsened due to overnight downpour from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning.

Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman, Jakarta – Indonesia is seeing a steep decline in textile exports to Turkey – a major market for textile products – blamed on additional duties and the coronavirus pandemic's effect on global trade.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – Fear of losing jobs. Cabin fever and inability to focus while working from home. Limited interaction with friends and families. Unable to afford daily needs.

For the past seven months, the outbreak has changed the lives of many Indonesians.

Jakarta – A long weekend is just around the corner, expected to begin with Prophet Muhammad's birthday on Oct. 29 and combined with collective leave days from Oct. 28 to 30 as well as the ensuing weekend.

News Desk, Jakarta – The Aceh Police have named five suspects for allegedly trafficking Rohingya refugees to Indonesia in June.

Jakarta – A Semarang Police brigadier in Central Java is filing another lawsuit against the force's decision to dishonorably discharge him because of his sexual disorientation.

Arizka Warganegara and Paul Waley – The Indonesian parliament has passed a controversial new act known as the Omnibus Law, so named because it brings together a raft of different measures.

Jakarta – The amount of medical waste found in the Cisadane River has been increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic began, says Tangerang City Environment Agency head Dedi Suhada.

"Our environment activists often find [medical waste] in the Cisadane River that flows through Tangerang," Dedi said on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Dyaning Pangestika, Jakarta – The Health Ministry has urged regional governments to enforce health protocols in order to prevent COVID-19 from spreading further during the long weekend.

The government has declared Wednesday and Friday collective leave days, surrounding the public holiday of Maulid (commemoration of birthday of Prophet Muhammad) on Thursday.

Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – The United States has praised the Indonesian government's effort in addressing the issues of regulatory roadblocks, corruption and nontransparency in the business sector as it seeks to strengthen economic ties with the archipelagic country.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The National Covid-19 Task Force said on Thursday that the percentage of active coronavirus cases in proportion to the total number of reported cases have been declining every month.

Task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito said Indonesia now has lower percentage of active cases than the global average.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has taken a jab at the country's millennials, questioning their contribution to the nation in a fiery speech on Wednesday in response to the recent nationwide rallies against the controversial Job Creation Law.

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has signed a presidential regulation (Perpres) on corruption case investigation supervision, which details the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in taking over graft cases from other law enforcement bodies.

Jakarta – The number of visitors on the resort island of Bali has doubled ahead of the long weekend at the turn of the month.

With Maulid (commemoration of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad) falling on Thursday and the government having declared Wednesday and Friday collective leave days, most Indonesians are enjoying a five-day break.

Tri Indah Oktavianti, Jakarta – Indonesia has invited the United States to invest in the development of Riau Islands' Natuna regency, one of the archipelago's outer islands in the southern part of the disputed South China Sea, which has become the flashpoint for escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing in the region.

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has warned residents of the capital to be careful of COVID-19 transmission from family members as citizens enjoy five consecutive days off until this weekend.

James Massola and Karuni Rompies – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has heaped praise on Indonesia for taking "decisive action to safeguard its maritime sovereignty" over the Natuna Islands, while criticising China's for its "unlawful" claims in the South China Sea.

Jakarta – The police arrested activists from the Save Indonesia Coalition for spreading hate. This is a foolish way to deal with differences of opinion.

Jakarta – Labor unions and university students have once again taken to the streets in Jakarta to protest against the Job Creation Law, this time expressing their discontent in conjunction with the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day on Wednesday.

Norman Harsono, Jakarta – State-owned electricity giant PLN has booked trillions of rupiah in losses so far this year due to lower energy demand and a weak rupiah exchange rate during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Tax incentives stipulated in the recently passed Job Creation Law have raised questions among economists over whether they can attract investment and boost state revenue going forward.

Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie, Jakarta – Jakarta and Canberra reasserted their commitment to bolstering their bilateral partnership during the seventh Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council Meeting on Law and Security on Tuesday.

Jakarta – A new COVID-19 cluster has emerged in Karawang, West Java, after 11 people who attended the anniversary of a dance group tested positive for the virus.

Karawang COVID-19 task force spokesman Fitra Hergyana said that one person had been infected with the virus when they attended the event recently at a restaurant in West Karawang.

Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has found that more candidates running in the 2020 regional elections are opting for direct campaign rallies rather than going online, despite the election organizer's call for greater use of indirect campaigning to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – Coinciding with the Youth Pledge Day [Sumpah Pemuda], the labor unions GEBRAK and the Indonesian People's Faction (FRI) announced to hold a rally at Central Jakarta's Tugu Proklamasi [proclamation monument] on Wednesday, October 28, in protesting against the passing of the omnibus law on job creation.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – Hundreds of students held a demonstration against the Omnibus Law of the Job Creation Law in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, at Jalan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta. The rally coincided with the national Youth Pledge Day that falls on October 28.