Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Amid growing public resistance to the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT), a close ally of President Prabowo Subianto clarified on Friday that specific goods and services will remain exempt from the tax.

Antara, Jakarta – The Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry has shut down three Instagram accounts with a combined following of over one million for promoting online gambling activities. The accounts – @mimin_storyy (774,000 followers), @awcogans (430,000 followers), and @meme.kocakk25 (177,000 followers) – have been removed.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) recorded 62 cases of torture with a total of 128 victims from December 2023 to November 2024, spread across Indonesia. This data was collected through the Human Rights Monitoring conducted by KontraS over the past year.

Olena Wibisana, Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Jakarta – Islamic preacher Miftah Maulana Habiburrahman, popularly known as Gus Miftah, announced Friday that he would resign from his position as the president's special envoy for religious harmony.

The 43-year-old preacher's resignation came after a video of him and an iced tea seller went viral on the internet.

Andrew Johnson – I have a friend Julian King, who Duncan Graham reports has been subjected to a stun grenade as our Australian Federal Police burst through his door to seize his PhD research, phone and computers. Reportedly, the AFP are concerned about OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka _Free Papua Organisation), the indigenous independence movement in West Papua.

Jakarta – Femicide, or the killing of a woman or girl by a man, typically because of her gender, and other incidents of gender-based violence regularly make national and local headlines in the country.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto already has a plan to help Jakartans breathe cleaner air, according to his senior economic advisor Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – The government is now trying to find the middle ground following huge backlash to the 12-percent value added tax (VAT) plans, according to President Prabowo's economic advisor Mari Elka Pangestu.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently urged countries to stop supplying weapons to Israel during an emergency special session on the Gaza crisis at the UN General Assembly.

Jakarta – At least seven people are missing following floods and landslides that hit Sukabumi regency, West Java in the past week, while authorities said at least five villagers lost their lives during the disaster.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 15 November 2024, thousands of Papuans went to the streets after the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) called for peaceful Papua-wide demonstrations against the central Government's plan to relaunch the transmigration program, with West Papua being one of the target areas.

Jakarta – Situ, as small lakes in the western part of Java are known, are part of the freshwater ecosystem, but often escape attention. These curved bodies of water have never been recorded as state assets because they formed naturally, without any proof of ownership. As a result, many of them are not maintained, and sediment builds up until they become ordinary land.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto hinted on Friday that he would warmly welcome his predecessor, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, should the latter choose to join the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).

Vinnilya, Jakarta – The textile industry is bracing for further hardship as a planned increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) to 12 percent takes effect in January 2025, potentially exacerbating an already difficult situation.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has revealed that there were 45 extrajudicial killings by state apparatus in the past year. This data was collected by KontraS monitoring between December 2023 and November 2024.

Asher Ellis – Indonesia's recent scuffle with Apple over iPhone 16 sales offers a revealing window into the Prabowo administration's emerging trade and industrial policy.

Zulfakriza Z. – 20 years have passed since the Aceh tsunami, which left deep scars on Indonesia, especially for those directly affected. Aceh was also recovering from a three-decade armed conflict between the Free Aceh Movement and the national government

Jakarta – The Aceh Transition Committee (KPA) raised the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) flag during a ceremony that drew hundreds of attendees to commemorate GAM's 48th anniversary in Lhokseumawe, Aceh, on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono acted calmly on Monday when House of Representatives Commission I legislators overseeing defense and foreign affairs bombarded the new chief diplomat with questions about several of President Prabowo Subianto's contentious decisions, including his controversial joint statement with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Teachers' associations remain skeptical about President Prabowo's recent announcement to significantly increase the remuneration of educators, noting that the new leader might have confused the plan with the prevailing certification program that has been in place for over a decade.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The foremost global conference on climate change resulted in a commitment from developed nations to fund climate change initiatives in developing nations to the tune of US$300 billion a year, but it is unclear how exactly Indonesia might avail itself of that funding.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – All political parties in the House of Representatives confirmed on Thursday the appointment of five commissioners for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and five members of its oversight body.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Batam – Recent statements made by the Batam Development Authority or BP Batam during a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) have ignited strong opposition from residents who continue to vehemently reject the Rempang Eco-City project.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Martha Warta Silaban, Surabaya – The Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, stated that the Domestic Component Level or TKDN policy has received much criticism from various countries. Although he did not mention which country criticized it, he said such criticism is common for the Ministry of Industry.

Devy Ernis, Antara, Jakarta – Ahmad Zuhdi Muhdlor, chairman of the Tanfidziyah of the Nahdlatul Ulama Regional Board (PWNU) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, proposed that the government create rules prohibiting children and teenagers under 16 from using social media.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Pramono Anung has won the Jakarta gubernatorial election by above 50 percent, eliminating the prospect of a runoff, according to the provisional tallies from all districts on Thursday.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is designing various incentives and stimulus measures to support the industrial sector in dealing with the impact of a 6.5 percent increase in the provincial minimum wage (UMP), Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said on Wednesday.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The planned increase in Indonesia's value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent could reduce the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by Rp 21 trillion ($1.3 billion), an economist warned on Thursday.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – The government will proceed with plans to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent on January 1, 2025, despite growing objections from businesses and the public, a senior lawmaker confirmed on Thursday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The business deals that President Prabowo Subianto had secured from his first-ever foreign trip had totaled $21.36 billion, much bigger than the previously announced figures, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said on Wednesday that no school is allowed to reject students with special needs.

Nasaruddin reiterated the Ministry of Religious Affairs' commitment to ensuring equal access to education for all students, including those with special needs.

Intan Setiawanty, Clara Maria Tjandra Dewi, Jakarta – Press Council will summon journalists who are suspected of being involved in police report manipulation in the shooting case of SMKN 4 Semarang students. This summons is also addressed to the management of CNN Indonesia to provide clarification.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Thousands of houses were inundated by floods after heavy and prolonged rain poured over the Lebak Regency, Banten, on Monday, December 2, 2024. The rain also caused landslides and several tree falls in the early hours.

Bella Evanglista, Kupang – President Prabowo Subianto called on government officials to reduce business trips and ceremonial events that use state funds.

Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry has asked for an additional budget allocation of Rp 14.8 trillion (US$87 million) next year to pay for construction projects in the planned new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A consumer protection association recently proposed sugary drink excise as a sweet alternative to the controversial value-added tax (VAT) hike, citing that such measures could prevent children from getting diabetes.

Alfida Rizki Febrianna, Jakarta – The government's plan to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent in January is expected to further reduce Indonesia's middle-class population, which has already been shrinking since 2018 due to weakened purchasing power.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto underscored the importance of prosperity for the people during a speech at the 112th anniversary of Muhammadiyah in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The theme of this Islamic organization's congregational meeting is to create prosperity for all Indonesian people.

Ezra Toara - December 1, 2024 is a date deeply significant to all West Papuans, marking 63 years since the Morning Star Flag was first raised for independence and justice for West Papua.

This year's event in Vanuatu's capital was commemorated at Sorovango School.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will continue investigating a case implicating acting Pekanbaru mayor Risnandar Mahiwa by looking into the possible involvement of other parties suspected of benefitting from the alleged graft.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government would get much more money from seizing assets lost in corruption compared to raising the value-added tax or VAT, according to a retail association.

Dina Afrianty and Filipus Yudiandito – One of President Prabowo Subianto's bold moves after taking office on 20 October 2024 was granting human rights a separate ministry. Through Presidential Decree 139/2024, Prabowo established the Ministry of Human Rights as one of the 48 ministries in his "Red and White" Cabinet, the largest since the Sukarno era.

Lusa – In Timor-Leste, a bus dubbed the 'Demokrasia – bis' is serving as an information sharing centre, driving around the country to hear the concerns and suggestions of young Timorese in order to then bring them to the attention of political decision-makers.

Heru Andriyanto, Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – Retail associations on Tuesday urged the government to reconsider its plan to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate next year, as businesses and consumers continue to struggle with rising costs and weak demand.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid urged mobile telecommunication operators to tighten monitoring of phone credit, commonly known as pulsa, top-up transactions to help combat online gambling.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Following a series of incidents involving police misuse of firearms, a lawmaker has raised the question of whether Indonesian police should continue carrying guns.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A proposal by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to transfer the National Police under the authority of the Home Affairs Ministry has been firmly rejected by seven other incumbent political parties.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Acting Pekanbaru Mayor Risnandar Mahiwa was arrested during a raid by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Riau capital on Monday.

Risnandar, a senior official with the Home Affairs Ministry, was appointed acting mayor on May 22 to fill in the position until an elected mayor is sworn in next month.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The ethics council of the House of Representatives has scheduled separate hearings on Tuesday with three lawmakers accused of misconduct.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A senior minister recently said that the government was still testing whether it was possible to feed students across the archipelago with nutritious meals that cost no more than Rp 10,000 ($0.63).