Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Indonesia, Adies Kadir, claimed that the increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12 percent would not affect the general community commodity sector.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto claimed on Monday that palm oil is a national asset and the government must increase and expand palm oil plantations in the country.

The head of state also directed his staff to bolster the security measures over palm oil to protect the commodity from external interests.

Chandni Vatvani and Calvin Yang, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indonesian artefacts that were in the Netherlands for more than a century – the bulk of which were looted by the Dutch during their colonial rule – are now on display at Indonesia's National Museum in Jakarta.

They are among the latest batch of items returned after a lengthy process involving both countries.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo acknowledged that public trust in the police remained low in 2024, with a majority of netizens expressing negative sentiments throughout the year. He disclosed these findings during the National Police's Year-End Report on Tuesday.

Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators have arrested two suspects in connection with a corruption case related to the construction of a tsunami shelter near Bangsal Port in North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, in 2014.

The KPK declared that the alleged corruption resulted in Rp 18.4 billion (US$1.14 million) in financial losses.

Eko Listiyorini – Indonesian consumers, fuel retailers and palm oil producers are facing higher costs from the government's plan to expand its biofuel program after the price of the tropical oil surged.

Grace Sihombing and Norman Harsono – Indonesia scaled back its planned increase in the value-added tax rate just hours before it was set to take effect on January 1 amid escalating public outcry.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Environmental campaign organization Satya Bumi criticized President Prabowo Subianto's statement that the expansion of palm oil plantations would have no impact on deforestation.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto alluded to the western understanding of economics known as neoliberalism. According to him, this understanding is not adopted by Indonesia because he claims that the nation's founders structured the economy based on the principle of family.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed that there have been no reports of influenza type A (Flu A) and Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases in Indonesia.

Natau Lasniroha Sinaga, Jakarta – Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Mhd. Zakiul Fikri proposed that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issue a government regulation in lieu of law (perpu) to cancel the 12 percent increase in value added tax (VAT). The reason is, there are many demands voicing rejection.

Medan – Dozens of students from the North Sumatra Student Alliance held a demonstration at the North Sumatra (Sumut) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Monday December 30. They were protesting the increase in value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent that will come into force on January 1, 2025.

Jakarta – Several catering businesses in Kediri, East Java fell victim to a fraud scheme, in which they were promised to be the suppliers for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meal program.

Eager to participate, these businesses quickly paid down payments to secure their position as providers for the free meal initiative.

Roy Triono, Tanggamus, Lampung – A wild elephant rampage in Gunung Doh village, Bandar Negeri Semuong district, Tanggamus, Lampung Province, left an elderly woman dead and her husband injured on Monday morning.

Izzatun Najibah, Reni Susanti, Surabaya – Protests against the planned increase in value added tax (VAT) are continuing. Hundreds of students who are members of the East Java Student Alliance held a petition signing action at Bungkul Park in the East Java (Jatim) provincial capital of Surabaya on Sunday December 29.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto took a jab at his critics during a keynote speech at the National Development Planning Forum (Musrenbangnas) on Monday while reaffirming his administration's commitment to securing Indonesia's future through economic self-reliance.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto urged Monday Indonesian judges to stop being too soft on graft convicts, alluding that the business tycoon Harvey Moeis deserves a longer jail time.

Jogja, Adji G Rinepta – Protesters calling themselves the Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) Alliance demonstrated in front of the Yogyakarta provincial Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Jalan Malioboro in Yogyakarta city on Monday December 30.

They were rejecting the planned increase in value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent and demanding that the policy be cancelled.

Jakarta – Chair of the House of Representatives' (DPR's) Budget Agency Said Abdullah said that the increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent next year will support the President's strategic programs.

The VAT increase will be directed to support the government's strategic programs, which are funded by the state budget, he informed.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The 2024 National Online Shopping Day on Dec. 10-16 recorded Rp 31.2 trillion or about $1.9 billion in transactions.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asserted on Monday that he never sought a third presidential term, describing the rumors as part of a smear campaign against him.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto and Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas have walked back comments they made several weeks ago suggesting that the government might pardon graft convicts.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesian carmakers are expecting a minimal impact from the planned value-added tax (VAT) increase to 12 percent which is set to take effect in January 2025, thanks to fiscal incentives designed to offset the burden.

Linda Yulisman, Garut (West Java) – A decades-old social forestry scheme where local communities tend to state land mostly for the purpose of conservation has become a key part of the government's free meal programme for millions of people.

Jakarta – The Honor Council (MKD) of the House of Representatives (DPR) plans to summon Rieke Diah Pitaloka, serving at DPR's Commission VI, over her opposition to the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) voiced on social media.

Jakarta – Indonesia has proven its economic resilience this year, with expected gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5 percent, according to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank.

Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Jakarta – The Indonesian government plans to impose a 12 percent increase in Value Added Tax or VAT on various sectors, including education, especially international standard education services. This policy is planned to come into effect in January 2025.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesia's Center for Education Standards and Policy (PSKP) revealed that male students are vulnerable to becoming victims of sexual violence. This finding is based on data from the National Assessment of the Ministry of Education and Culture or Kemdikbud throughout 2022 and the results of the PSKP analysis.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Saturday that his government had zero intention to make Indonesians suffer, while asking people to give more time for his relatively new cabinet to prove itself.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently clarified what he meant by pardoning people engaged in graft, saying that all he wanted was for the criminals to return the money that they had stolen.

Jakarta – If we allow President Prabowo Subianto to get his way in reforming the regional electoral law, we will be betraying the spirit of the political reforms which turned Indonesia into a democratic nation.

Antara, Majalengka – The Indonesian National Police's counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, arrested five suspects in West Java on Friday, believed to be part of a terrorist network. The arrests took place in Majalengka and Tasikmalaya in separate operations.

Cut Mery, Banda Aceh – The city government of Sabang, located in the conservative province of Aceh, issued a statement on Saturday banning any form of New Year celebrations, citing adherence to Islamic teachings.

Jakarta – Anything can happen if it is forced. This is what happened when the government ordered a number of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to reduce the costs of their services affect the price of plane tickets.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has voiced support for the government's decision to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent, despite public opposition.

"The government must have already conducted calculations and considerations regarding the concerns raised by the public," Jokowi said on Friday in Solo, Central Java.

Anis Firmansah, Kediri – A group claiming to be involved in President Prabowo Subianto's flagship Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program for children and pregnant mothers has defrauded dozens of catering business owners in Kediri, East Java.

Wahyu Prakoso, Esposin, Solo – Students who are members of the Greater Solo Student Executive Council (BEM) Alliance and civil society activists held a demonstration in the Gladak area of Solo, Central Java, on Saturday afternoon December 28 to reject the planned value added tax (VAT) increase.

Aswin Ariyanto Azis, Indonesia – Indonesia's decision to pursue membership in BRICS, a bloc of emerging economies comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, signals that President Prabowo Subianto is steering foreign policy in a direction that contrasts with his predecessors.

Jack Moore and Marchio Gorbiano, Jakarta – France has sent Indonesia an official request for the transfer of a French death row inmate who has spent nearly 20 years in prison, an Indonesian minister told AFP on Saturday.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah weakened sharply against the US dollar at Friday's close, depreciating by 0.28 percent to Rp 16,235 per dollar, amid mounting external pressures. The currency briefly dipped to a low of Rp 16,190 on Tuesday.

Antara, Jakarta – The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency, South Kalimantan reported that floods have submerged three subdistricts in the past two days. BPBD has deployed 25 members of the Rapid Response Team to help 6,340 people affected by the floods.

Jakarta – In the Batanghari River, corruption and abuses of authority have directly led to environmental destruction. The longest river in Sumatra is now in very poor condition because of uncontrolled exploitation. Dredging of sand, gold and coal mining, cultivation of trees and oil palm plantations – both legal and illegal – are the causes of this degradation.

Tenggara Strategic, Jakarta – The establishment of Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) as both a superholding agency for Indonesia's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and an investment management agency has raised questions among investors due to its unclear scope and legal basis.

Jakarta – When early in his administration around three months ago President Prabowo Subianto made a pledge to crack down on corruption, the decision to name secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Hasto Kristiyanto suspect in a graft case was most likely not at the top of his priority list.

Radhiyya Indra, Banda Aceh – As Aceh commemorates 20 years since the 2004 earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands in the province, authorities are striving to ensure that people are better prepared when future disasters come knocking at the door.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – A Jakarta court on Friday sentenced business tycoon Budi Said to 15 years in prison and imposed a massive financial penalty after he was found guilty of fraud involving gold purchases from state-owned supplier Aneka Tambang (Antam).

Edo Rusyanto, Jakarta – Several foreign investors from China, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have expressed their readiness to invest in the construction of 6 million houses, officials said on Thursday.

Pranoto Susilo, Tegal – A massive fire broke out at the main port in Tegal, Central Java, early on Friday, destroying at least 11 vessels anchored in the dockyard.

Fire Department officials reported that the blaze began at approximately 3:15 a.m., quickly spreading across the dockyard and sending thick black smoke into the air.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Antara, Jakarta – The type of foods given to the schoolchildren in the upcoming free meal program will vary depending on the region. This means that some students will receive moringa leaves, locally known as kelor, instead of milk for their calcium intake, according to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).

Fika Nurul Ulya, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – University of Indonesia (UI) Political Studies Centre (Puskapol) Director Hurriyah believes there is a hidden agenda by the political elite who are proposing changing the election of regional heads (Pilkada) from a direct to indirect system.