Ayat S. Karokaro, Langkat, Indonesia – Syafi'i has spent three decades picking up the crabs scurrying along the coast here in Langkat district on Sumatra Island's northeastern coast, a reliable trade that provided first for his children, then his grandchildren.

Aqida Salma – Indonesia's democracy faces the threat of digital authoritarianism. However, there are ways to mitigate the risks, even as state-driven propaganda floods digital public spaces.

Tiza Mafira Khalifa Akbar – The 2022 G20 Summit marked a turning point for Indonesia's energy transition with the signing of an agreement to explore the early retirement of Cirebon-1 coal-fired power plant.

Jakarta – It is that time of the year again when the United Nations climate change conference runs longer than scheduled only to produce an inadequate deal about how the world, especially rich nations, fund efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Antara, Jakarta – Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah was arrested on Sunday for allegedly extorting subordinates in the provincial government to fund his reelection campaign, according to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Pandjaitan has raised concerns about foreign firms operating in Bali, citing that many of them have violated rules and did not comply with business regulations.

Luhut cited those findings from audits prepared by the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP), stressing they are "serious problems".

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq has announced a series of mandatory programs set to roll out next year, aimed at addressing critical environmental issues such as water and air pollution, as well as the negative impacts of industrial activities.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) is deploying 169,369 personnel to safeguard the 2024 regional elections scheduled for November 27.

Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Jakarta – Adhi Kismanto, an expert staff member at the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, has been named a suspect in a case involving the alleged abuse of power related to blocking online gambling websites.

Antara, Jakarta – Coal mining companies seeking to extend their contracts must establish a downstream industry ecosystem, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Monday.

"One of the main requirements for extending Coal Mining Work Agreements (PKP2B) is developing downstream industries," Bahlil told Antara news agency.

Hendro D – Situmorang, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta. The Information Commission on Monday urged the government to reconsider its plan to raise the Value Added Tax (VAT) to 12 percent, which will take effect in January 2025.

Associated Press, Karo, North Sumatra – Rescuers in Indonesia recovered 16 bodies under tons of mud and rocks or that were swept away in flash floods that hit mountainside villages in North Sumatra, officials said Monday. Six people are still missing, officials said.

Antara, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia, which runs the local operations of the British oil company, has denied closing all of its gas stations in the country.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The government's plan to raise the value-added tax, or VAT, is raising concerns from Indonesian car buyers, some even choosing to make their purchase before the policy enters into force.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU) said hundreds of polling stations in the region are located in flood-prone areas.

"As many as 572 polling stations are located in potential flood-prone areas," said the head of KPU Jakarta's Data and Information Division, Fahmi Zikrillah, to the media on Monday, November 25, 2024.

Endy Bayuni, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto reached the country's top job by winning the February presidential election in his third attempt. No one can question his faith in the democratic process. But now that he is the president, the question has become will he continue to abide by democratic principles and respect freedom and human rights?

Daryl Guppy – There is more to the eye in the official photo and video of Indonesia President Prabowo on the phone to President-elect Trump. Australia misses the vital details.

Jakarta – Indonesia has agreed to return to Australia the five remaining members of the so-called Bali Nine drug smuggling ring who are currently serving life sentences in the country, a minister said on Saturday.

It will also seek the repatriation of Indonesian prisoners held in Australia, Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas told Reuters on Saturday.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Teguh Setyabudi directed city officials to remove all campaign materials from public spaces as the gubernatorial election enters its cooling-off period on Sunday.

Delfi Neski, Padang – Adjunct Commissioner Dadang Iskandar has been charged with premeditated murder after fatally shooting a fellow mid-ranking police officer in West Sumatra. The charge, under Article 340 of the Criminal Code, carries a maximum penalty of death by firing squad, police said on Saturday.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Economist from Segara Institute, Piter Abdullah, assessed that the increase of Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11% to 12% is feared to burden the middle class in Indonesia even more.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Legal complications may impede Indonesia's planned transfer of five Australian drug trafficking convicts who have served nearly two decades of their life sentences in Indonesia, as well as a Filipina on death row, to their home countries, as the administration of President Prabowo Subianto seeks to shore up diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.

Hendri Dunan, Bengkulu – Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Sunday, just three days before the local election in which he is seeking reelection. The governor faces a single challenger in the race, making the arrest a major development ahead of the polls.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) inched up 0.48 percent to close at 7,195.57 during the week of Nov. 18-22, compared to more robust performance in the US, where the S&P 500 gained 1.7 percent, erasing most of its losses from the prior week.

Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – Transgender influencer Isa Zega has addressed accusations of religious blasphemy stemming from their Umrah pilgrimage, a controversy that has sparked debate in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Indonesia's plan to raise its value-added tax (VAT) to 12 percent in early 2025 is expected to disproportionately affect the middle class, according to Mohammad Faisal, Executive Director of the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia.

Wendy Tuohy, Amilia Rosa, Karuni Rompies and Patrick Begley – A member of the Bali Nine drug syndicate cried tears of joy on hearing he and the remaining detainees serving life sentences in Indonesia jails could be transferred to Australia, according to a prison doctor.

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Jakarta – Heavy rainfall on Thursday, November 21, led to the collapse of the Cisunggala River embankment in Panyadap Village, Solokan Jeruk District, Bandung Regency, as confirmed by Acting Head of the West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Anne Hermadianne Adnan.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department has uncovered nearly 400 human trafficking cases and rescued more than 900 victims within a one-month period, from Oct. 22 to Nov. 22.

Djibril Muhammad, Banjarmasin – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman traveled across Kalimantan on Thursday to find new agricultural lands and expand the workforce, especially among the young generation in the farm sector.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto revealed that he had secured business deals worth $18.5 billion so far from his first-ever foreign trip, an amount he said was beyond his expectations.

Prabowo – who has just passed the one-month mark in office – is currently on a multi-nation tour. He departed on Nov. 8 and has yet to come home ever since.

Jakarta – State-owned construction firm PTPP recently announced that it would speed up the construction of its toll road expansion ahead of the upcoming year-end holidays.

Antara, Jakarta – Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has called on Indonesia's automotive industry to refrain from laying off workers despite mounting challenges in the market.

"Even during the far more severe pressures of COVID-19, there were no layoffs. Now, with these extraordinary challenges, layoffs must still be avoided," Agus said on Friday.

Delfi Neski, Jakarta – Adjunct Commissioner Ryanto Ulil Anshar was shot to death by a fellow officer after his team arrested suspects in the ongoing investigation into alleged illegal mining activities in South Solok Regency, West Sumatra, early on Friday.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The Industry Ministry is assessing an upgraded investment proposal from Apple Inc. seen as the company's latest effort to win the green light to sell its latest iPhone models in Indonesia.

Vincent Fabian Thomas, Jakarta – The government plans to slash the share of coal-fired power generation in the country's energy mix to just 33 percent, while increasing the contribution of renewables to 42 percent by the end of 2040.

Jakarta – There is little enthusiasm for the newly elected leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), given that three of the five are old faces, including the new chairman, Setyo Budiyanto, a three-star police general who once served as the KPK's investigations director.

Jakarta – A coalition of animal rights activists staged a protest in front of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Thursday, protesting the decision to reject a proposed bill banning the trade of dog and cat meat.

Edna Tarigan and Firdia Lisnawati, Jayapura, Indonesia – On the southeastern coast of the city of Jayapura, Petronela Merauje walked from house to house in her floating village inviting women to join her the next morning in the surrounding mangrove forests.

Jakarta – Activists and animal lovers who are members of Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) held a demonstration at the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday November 21 after the lawmakers rejected a Draft Law on the Prohibition of Violence against Domestic Animals and the Prohibition on Trading Dog and Cat Meat.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – When Mr Prabowo Subianto arrived for his inauguration at the Indonesian parliament complex in Jakarta on Oct 20, he was seen using a white Toyota Alphard multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

But by the time he emerged as Indonesia's eighth president, a different ride was waiting for him at the lobby: a Maung Garuda.

Radityo Dharmaputra and Ahmad Rizky M Umar – It is less than a month into Prabowo Subianto's presidency, but already he has signalled a major departure from his predecessors' well-established foreign policy positions.

[The following is a statement by the Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) that was issued during a protest action at the Ministry of Labour offices in Jakarta on November 20, 2024.]

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) expressed strong opposition to the government's plan to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12%, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. YLKI argues that this proposed hike by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati will further exacerbate the financial burdens faced by consumers.

Jakarta – The decision by the government to write off non-performing loans (NPLs) for small businesses with state banks and funding institutions could revive stalled micro businesses. This policy is contained in Government Regulation No.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, considers that increasing the value-added tax or VAT to 12 percent will worsen the economic conditions of workers and small communities. On the other hand, he said that increasing the minimum wage of only 1-3 percent is not enough to cover people's basic needs.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Bandung – Lecturers and researchers from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), James Nobelia Isnania Wardhana, designed an active filter technology to filter groundwater.

Julie Wark – Indonesia's new president, war criminal Prabowo Subianto, couldn't even wait to be sworn in. He established a "strategic initiative" of five "Vulnerable Area Buffer Infantry Battalions" in the Keerom, Sarmi, Boven Digoel, Merauke, and Sorong Regencies of West Papua to "enhance security" with an additional 5,000 troops as backup for the 25,000 already there.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) urged its newly elected leadership to focus on strengthening anti-corruption regulations in line with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), particularly addressing issues such as foreign bribery and cross-border corruption.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reminded that Papua's special autonomy funds (otsus) must be managed transparently. Do not let there be abuse such as bribery to project procurement that leads to corruption.