Jakarta – Indonesia's outgoing president has approved a 20% increase in defence spending through the end of next year, to upgrade the country's military hardware in response to geopolitical developments, its finance minister said.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Former figureheads of the 212 demonstrations on Dec. 2, 2016, are set to hold a 212 reunion this year on Saturday morning. The event will take place at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta from 3 to 9 a.m. local time.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Developing Indonesia's battery industry is expected to remain a challenging task, as the industry is still beset with a lack of regulation and an unclear path forward, which many fear could hamper the country's electric vehicle (EV) ambitions.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo swore in new Army chief of staff Lt. Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak, a family member of a close ally to the President, on Wednesday, despite concerns among civil groups that the outgoing president was trying to retain power by installing loyalists in top positions.

Jayapura, Jubi – The ongoing armed conflict in Papua continues to claim lives among civilians, armed groups, and security forces. According to human rights advocate Theo Hesegem, President Joko Widodo seems to have disregarded this conflict while focusing on international affairs.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Knasaimos Indigenous Community has made a formal request for acknowledgement as an indigenous group to the South Sorong Indigenous Peoples Committee. Clad in their traditional garments, they met with Dance Nauw, the Regional Secretary of South Sorong Regency and Chair of the Committee, at his official residence on Tuesday (28/11/2023).

Dicky Kurniawan, Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumado admitted that the number of sales of incentivized electric motorcycles is still scarce.

He even said that the amount of Type Test Registration Certificate (SRUT) released until September is far below the government's target.

Jayapura, Jubi – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has announced the suspension of memberships of prominent figures such as Benny Wenda and Buchtar Tabuni. This decision was conveyed through an Open Statement read by ULMWP's Executive Secretary, Markus Haluk, during a press briefing in Jayapura City, Papua Province, on Monday (November 27, 2023).

Antara, Jakarta – Several neighborhoods in Kebon Pala, Kampung Melayu Sub-district, Jatinegara District, East Jakarta were flooded due to Ciliwung River overflows on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.

Alex de Jong – In 1999, after almost a quarter century of Indonesian occupation, the small country of East Timor finally gained its independence.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The President of the Confederation of the Indonesian Workers' Union (KSPI) Said Iqbal reported that around 50,000 workers in Jakarta will start their national strike today. The workers are demanding the provincial government of Jakarta revise the 2024 minimum wage hike to 15 percent.

Singapore – Singapore and Indonesia have concluded the 22nd edition of Exercise Elang Indopura.

About 300 personnel from both air forces participated in the exercise, which was conducted from Nov 18 to 30 at the Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Indonesia, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement on Nov 30.

Jakarta – Indonesia's oil and gas lifting is expected to come in below target this year due to disruptions like a pipe leakage and a fire at a power cable, the country's upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas said on Thursday.

Rizki Dewi Ayu, Ihsan Reliubun, Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Ruling party PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri's statement likening the current government to the New Order regime has recently been in the public spotlight.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore/Jakarta – Indonesian police have swooped on a group of Bangladeshi nationals as they prepared to board a boat to Australia after paying a people smuggler $10,000 each.

Ihsan Reliubun, Jakarta – The Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari stated that phase I of logistics production for the 2024 general elections is 90 percent complete. Half of the electoral logistics, he said, have been distributed to some regions.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo swiftly addressed the accusations made by presidential candidate Anies Baswedan regarding the ongoing project to relocate the national capital to East Kalimantan, saying that it aims to create economic equality.

Jakarta – Foreign observers have consistently considered our elections as relatively peaceful, a feat that has earned us global praise for our democratic resilience. This is because, apart from the deadly post-election violence in 2019, no major incidents of violence have taken place during campaign periods and on election days in the last 20 years.

Defara Dhanya Paramitha, Jakarta – The Deputy of Funding and Investment of the IKN Authority Agung Wicaksono invited potential investors from the US to contribute to the development of the new state capital project IKN (Nusantara Capital City).

Jakarta – The Jakarta provincial administration has allocated Rp 6.9 trillion (US$446.9 million) in the 2024 city budget to curb traffic congestion in the capital city by improving public transportation.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Syafrin Liputo said most of the budget, or Rp 4.9 trillion, would be used for public service obligation (PSO).

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Zipping from Halim Station in Jakarta to Tegalluar Station in Bandung regency in 45 minutes, the Whoosh, Southeast Asia's first high-speed railway (HSR) service, has piqued the interest of many travelers.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently urged the United Nations (UN) to conduct a vote on granting full membership to Palestine which is still assuming a non-member observer status to this day.

Jakarta – Prosecutors have asked the Jakarta Military Court to hand down the death penalty to three soldiers accused of kidnapping, torturing and murdering a shopkeeper from Aceh.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) wants to see election candidates – particularly those seeking to lead the sub-national governments – include programs to tackle stunting in their political campaigns.According to BKKBN head Hasto Wardoyo, election campaigns have always been putting emphasis on practical and economic issues, amon

Jayapura, Jubi – The PMKRI St. Thomas Aquinas, representing the Indonesian Catholic Student Association, voiced solidarity with the call for a humanitarian pause to alleviate the ongoing armed conflict in Papua.

During the National Study Conference in Denpasar, Bali, activists from 46 PMKRI branches across Indonesia joined in supporting this crucial initiative.

Ikmal Fauzan Hanif, Jakarta – General Maruli Simanjuntak, the son-in-law of Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, was inaugurated on Wednesday as the new Chief of Staff of the Army.

Luhut, who has spent weeks at a Singapore hospital for treatment, attended the inauguration ceremony led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the State Palace in Central Jakarta.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Coal Mining Association (ICMA) expects the country's 2023 coal output to surpass the official target of 695 million metric tons, a group official said on Wednesday.

"As of today, output has reached 690 million tons, so it is estimated that by the end of the year production will exceed the target," said ICMA executive director Hendra Sinadia.

Mohammad Said, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Wednesday that his intensified overseas engagements in recent years are aimed at addressing global challenges impacting the national economy and security.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – The Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi highlighted the double standard in the application of international law concerning the aggression in Palestine.

Minister Retno conveyed this message during the plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in New York which discussed the issue in Gaza.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The Indonesian Traditional Market Traders Association (IKAPPI) says staple food prices have been going up long before they normally do as the year draws toward a close.

Edna Tarigan and Fadlan Syam, Jakarta – Against the backdrop of smokestacks from a nearby coal power plant, the sky above Edy Suryana's village stays grey for months at a time, while ashes and the stench of smoke hang in the air.

Jakarta – A critically endangered Sumatran elephant was born in Indonesia on Tuesday, officials said, the second rare birth in weeks that has given renewed hope to conservation efforts.

Sumatran elephants are on the brink of extinction with only about 2,400-2,800 left in the world, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua), under the leadership of Director Emanuel Gobay, inaugurated a crisis center to handle grievances regarding the mistreatment and unjust legal actions against the people in Papua. Gobay highlighted a surge in cases where they provided assistance and support, prompting the establishment of this post.

A renowned Sri Lankan Catholic journalist and social activist has received a prestigious award from the Timor-Leste government in recognition of his unwavering commitment to the country's struggle for independence from Indonesia.

Jakarta – Human rights activist and defendant in a defamation case, Fatia Maulidiyanti, claims she never insulted Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan personally in the "Lord Luhut" case.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – As the official campaign period for the 2024 presidential election kicked off on Tuesday, two of the three candidate pairs hit the trail, with presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo and his running mate Mahfud MD starting their campaign at the geographical extremes of the country, while presidential candidate Anies Baswedan and running mate Muhaimin Iskandar be

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has dismissed Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Firli Bahuri and appointed an interim head of the antigraft body after Firli was charged with the extortion of a former minister.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Executive Director of Indonesian Presidential Studies or IPS Nyarwi Ahmad believed that the absence of the running candidate for the 2024 general elections Prabowo-Gibran during several public dialogues might be part of a strategy.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – An expert said Tuesday that Indonesia could leverage the diaspora's potential to supercharge bilateral trade with their country of residence rather than urging them to return home.

Aep Supandi, Bandung – The West Java branch of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) on Tuesday criticized local leaders who have proposed substantial rises in the minimum wage, aligning closely with the demands put forth by labor unions.

Various unions across regencies and cities in the province have advocated for a minimum wage hike of at least 16 percent.

Antara, Jakarta – Mount Anak Krakatau, an Indonesian volcano located in the waters of the Sunda Strait, South Lampung, erupted again on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 11:38 a.m. local time, shooting an ash column approximately 800 meters above the summit or 957 meters above sea level.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Antara, Jakarta – Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas responded to the boycott call against Israel-affiliated products in support of Palestine. The minister asserted that the Indonesian government is not boycotting any products.

Jakarta – Not one of the country's three 2024 presidential candidates has shown any real interest in making the changes necessary to salvage our ailing state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with the firms in the construction sector in the most dire need of a dramatic overhaul.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government and the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission VIII have reached an agreement to increase the cost of the 2024 hajj pilgrimage (BPIH) to Rp93.4 million. This amount includes the hajj travel cost or BIPIH that each pilgrim must pay, which is Rp56 million.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo embarked on a journey spanning over 5,000 kilometers from Jakarta to Merauke to inaugurate his campaign on Tuesday in a locale known as "where the sunshine greets Indonesia first."

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – From television skits to social media clips, comedians have long used comedy as a tool for political criticism in the public sphere, but few women have participated in it until recently.

Adinda Jasmine Prasetyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government officially set the Hajj quota for 2024 to 241,000 pilgrims; a 20,000 increase from the previous year. The decision was taken during the meeting between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Hajj Management Agency (BPIH) at the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023.

Herman, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has demanded accountability regarding the expensive program aimed at constructing internet infrastructure in remote regions, citing the significant government funds allocated for the project.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A senior minister recently said that Indonesia should substantially wrap up the negotiations of its trade pact with the European Union (EU) before the elections.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that Indonesia calls for the realization of a two-state solution in accordance with international parameters that have been agreed to end the conflict in Gaza, Palestine.