Alfitria Nefi P, Juli Hantoro, Jakarta – The Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI) found that 43.9 percent of teachers became actors of violence against students in schools. This data is based on reports of violence in the education sector collected by JPPI throughout 2024.

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.

Hariz Baharudin, Singapore – The anti-corruption agency's decision to name Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto as a graft suspect has sparked claims that the move is politically motivated and reflects the agency's bias.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia's plan to clear rainforests half the size of Switzerland for sugarcane plantations isn't just an agricultural gamble, experts warn – it's a potential environmental catastrophe.

Sarah MacDonald – Tributes are pouring in for Irishman Tom Hyland, who played a pivotal role in highlighting the genocide in East Timor, following his death on Christmas Eve in the Timorese capital of Dili.

The 72-year-old former Dublin bus driver from Ballyfermot was described by President Michael D. Higgins as "exceptional".

Don Wiseman – Indonesia's new president Prabowo Subianto has revealed plans to pardon as many as 44,000 convicts – about a third of the country's prison population.

It is being cast as a human rights gesture but given Prabowo's own record on human rights, critics believe it may be a tough sell.

Gaza – Israeli troops forced the evacuation of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza and many patients, some of them on foot, arrived at another hospital miles away in Gaza City, the territory's health ministry said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – The Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry is reevaluating a ministerial regulation issued by the previous administration regarding incentives for lecturers, including a performance allowance.

Banda Aceh – A siren rang out as survivors and relatives of victims began commemorations Thursday for more than 220,000 people killed when a tsunami hit nations around the Indian Ocean 20 years ago.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has secured a Japanese loan worth 23.1 billion yen or approximately $146.7 million from Japan to repair disaster management facilities damaged by volcanic eruptions.

Prisma Ardianto, Nusantara, East Kalimantan – The future national capital, Nusantara, has attracted 112,000 visitors since September, largely due to the adoption of the city tour app known as IKNOW. Public enthusiasm is evident in the increase in app downloads, which now total 99,600 users, with an additional 15,000 downloads since early December.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia stands out as a bright spot in the global transition to electric mobility, with strong growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales in 2024, even as major markets like Germany and Japan experience declining demand.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – It is best for the government to focus on having a tax evasion crackdown rather than raising the value-added tax (VAT), according to an analyst.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry predicts layoffs in the textile industry could rise sharply, with job cuts potentially increasing from 80,000 in 2024 to 280,000 workers, according to Deputy Minister Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan.

Wijayanti Putri, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka recently said he had nothing to do with the corruption charges against Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto.

Septia Ryanthie, Sukoharjo – Some 15,000 workers from PT Sri Rejeki Isman Textile, or Sritex Group, planned to take to the streets in Jakarta to protest the Supreme Court (MA) that rejected an appeal to revoke Sritex's bankruptcy status, which had previously been decided by the Semarang Commercial Court.

Dani Aswara, Antara, Jakarta – Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto said his ministry noted that Christmas remissions and sentence reductions given to a total of 15,976 inmates could result in state budget savings of Rp 8.19 billion.

Makassar – Students from the Makassar State University (UNM) held a protest action rejecting the Prabowo Subianto administration's plan to increase the value added tax (VAT) rate to 12 percent by blocking the road in front of the university campus.

Jakarta – Scores of protesters from the Populist National Association of Student Executive Councils (BEM SI Kerakyatan) held a demonstration in the Horse Statue area of Central Jakarta on Thursday afternoon, December 26, to oppose the planned increase in value added tax (VAT) to 12 percent.

Dayat, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Former chief legal affairs minister Mohammad Mahfud MD on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the government's idea of pardoning corruption convicts and suspects in return for payment.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Karyoto has initiated a significant reshuffle, rotating 34 officers in response to a high-profile extortion scandal targeting foreign attendees at the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) concert.

Algi Muhamad Gifari, Bandung – At least 104 motorists have suffered dermatitis and burns due to spills of liquid caustic soda from a tanker along an intercity road in Cimahi, West Java, police reported on Thursday.

Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), made his first public statement on Thursday after being named a corruption suspect, declaring his resolve to resist what he calls political intimidation.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Jakarta High Court has upheld the corruption conviction of Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh and added his jail time by another two years in one of the country's most complicated trials.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has just adopted a new rule that forces its employees, including ministers, to go on fewer foreign trips in a bid to save state money.

Michelle Gabriela, Jakarta – Lim Chai Hock, one of the key figures behind PT Bayan Resources, is included in Forbes' list of the richest people in Indonesia in December 2024, with a wealth of around US$1.5 billion, or equivalent to Rp 24 trillion.

Mahmud Ichi, East Halmahera, Indonesia – Halik Fanen and his wife, Fatimun, spent much of the day sifting the couple's inheritance into seven plastic sacks near the east of Indonesia's Halmahera Island.

Jakarta – It is difficult to hope that the composition of the new leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will result in improvements for the anti-graft body. The domination of law enforcement officials means that it is vulnerable to pressure from outside, which ends in major cases vanishing before they are properly investigated.

Jakarta – The government has allocated 9.55 million tons of subsidized fertilizers worth Rp 46.8 trillion (approximately $2.9 billion) to be distributed across the archipelago next year.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry is ramping up efforts to streamline state-owned companies through mergers, aiming to reduce their number from 47 to just 30.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced a series of programs and incentives aimed at sustaining economic growth, including a Rp 20 trillion ($1.3 billion) credit facility for labor-intensive industries.

Herman, Vinnilya, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wished Christians across Indonesia a joyful Christmas, calling the nation to embrace the holiday's spirit of peace, harmony, and hope for a prosperous future.

Ibnu Malikh, Cilegon – Thousands of vehicles formed long queues at the Merak Ferry Terminal in Banten, on the western tip of Java Island, waiting to cross to Bakauheni Port in Lampung, Sumatra Island, on Wednesday.

As patience wore thin, several motorists shouted protests when a government vehicle attempted to bypass the line.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has requested that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to not stop investigating the bribery case involving PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto (HK).

Anis Firmansah, Kediri – Police have arrested two men in the East Java town of Kediri after they appeared in a video attacking the vehicle of the local district prosecutor chief, who brandished a gun in response and fired warning shots into the air.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, was recorded by a bystander, and the video quickly went viral on the internet.

Jakarta – Jailed former leaders of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) extremist group are being considered for parole, a senior counterterror official said Tuesday, after the network disbanded and members pledged allegiance to the country.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addressed the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name Hasto Kristiyanto, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as a corruption suspect.

Lusa – Australia is to invest in the qualification of workers in Timor-Leste and create an infrastructure fund for the country with some of its share of profits from the Greater Sunrise offshore gas field, the prime ministers of the two countries have announced.

Jakarta – High-profile businessman Harvey Moeis, nicknamed Indonesia's "perfect husband" by netizens, was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison and a penalty of 210 billion rupiah (US$13 million) for his role in a massive tin-mining corruption case on Monday (Dec 23). He was also fined 1 billion rupiah.

Jakarta – What can Indonesian Christians of all denominations hope for as the most welcome news from the state this Christmas? As the Holy Bible says, an angel of the Lord appeared unto shepherds in Bethlehem, saying, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people". What is the good news for them and the whole nation?

Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies, Banda Aceh – Heri Syahrial thinks his family is here, somewhere under his feet and the crumbling path, amid the roots of the now-towering trees. Mum, Dad, grandmothers, niece, uncle, both brothers and a sister.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The government has ramped up its efforts to curb the so-called epidemic of online gambling, which is indulged in by around 8.8 million Indonesians and had an illicit turnover of Rp 900 trillion (US$55 billion) this year alone.

Antara, Jakarta – Renowned artist Yos Suprapto has withdrawn his artwork from an exhibition at the National Gallery of Indonesia (Galnas) following disagreements with the gallery and a former curator. The exhibition, themed "Revival: Land for Food Sovereignty," was originally scheduled to run from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 19, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency or BGN said Tuesday that parents would not have to spend a dime for the upcoming nutritious school lunch program, let alone buy a lunchbox.

Antara, Jakarta – As many as 20 rural banks (BPR) were shut down by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in 2024 after shareholders and management failed to implement effective recovery efforts.

Sopian Hadi, Bali – The Bali National Narcotics Agency (BNNP Bali) conducted a raid at a villa in the Canggu area, North Kuta, Badung, uncovering a suspected illegal party involving foreign nationals on Saturday, Dec. 21. During the operation, officers discovered 50 individuals, many of whom were in a semi-nude condition.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that the shooting of two civilians by para-military police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, last August, was a human rights violation.

Imam Suhartadi, Jakarta – As people's purchasing power weakens, Indonesians will likely hold back on spending this holiday season, according to an analyst.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has been named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly bribing a senior election official to secure a parliamentary seat for fellow party executive Harun Masiku.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) alleged on Tuesday that political motives were behind the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, as a corruption suspect.