Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – The government has decided to postpone increasing the entertainment tax rate, which was slated to take effect this January, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said on his Instagram account on Wednesday.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has vowed to set up a production facility in Indonesia this year.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The Healthcare and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) has projected a record deficit for the National Health Insurance (JKN) program this year.

A projected gap of Rp 18.9 trillion (US$1.21 billion) between its fees revenue and benefit payouts would mark the largest shortfall the agency has experienced since its inception in 2014.

Jakarta – Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan promised that he would reinstate civil servants who were demoted and fired for choosing to remain neutral if he became president.

"We will restore all those who were considered to be not following orders," Anies said on Tuesday in Makassar, South Sulawesi, as quoted by tempo.co.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Ikhsan Abdullah, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), has reiterated the call to boycott products affiliated with Israel as a form of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Agencies, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati "continues to carry out her duties in managing state finances," her ministry said in a statement on Friday, amid reports she may resign from cabinet ahead of the Feb. 14 presidential election.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Communications Minister Budi Arie Setiadi has just dismissed rumors of mass cabinet resignation, saying that all ministers were busy focusing on their jobs.

Jayapura, Jubi – Frits Ramandey, the Head of the Representative Office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM Papua), stated that in 2024, the focus of their efforts will be on monitoring several armed conflict areas in Papua.

Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto said that farmers were the nation's heroes as they played a major role in providing food for the people.

"I extend respect to all the farmers in Indonesia. You are our nation's heroes. You are the true heroes," Prabowo said, speaking to approximately 35,000 heroes in Blora, Central Java, on Thursday.

Henderi Gunadi, Jakarta – In the run-up to the presidential election on Feb. 14, challenges in the taxation sector have been some of the most widely discussed topics in the ongoing political campaigns.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) supervisory council began a series of ethics hearings on Wednesday into the conduct of 93 employees accused of soliciting illegal payments from KPK detainees in exchange for prison perks.

Jakarta – As Indonesia enters the final stretch of the presidential election campaign season and as voters count down the days to the Feb. 14 balloting, we can certainly sense that there is a growing concern regarding President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's impartiality in this election.

Badung, Bali – Tourism operators in Bali have strongly opposed the government's new policy that increases taxes on places of entertainment, which they say will hit businesses such as nightclubs, bars and spas.

The new policy, which came into effect this month, has increased the tax from 15 percent to between 40 and 75 percent.

Jakarta – Presidential candidate Anies Baswedan has promised to prioritize education in Southwest Papua by rolling out a scholarship program for children.

During his campaign in Sorong, the provincial capital, Anies said he had met a child who was unable to attend school because of the high cost of education.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Newly inaugurated Chairman of the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) M Fanshurullah Asa has revealed that the monopoly watchdog will prioritize oversight of the mining, gas, electricity, and construction sectors in the initial 100 days of his term.

Jakarta – Political party leaders in Surakarta, Central Java, have demanded Surkarta mayor and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka to resign from his post because of his frequent leaves of absence for the presidential campaign.

Jakarta – Indonesia's presidential candidates have pledged to strengthen the government's anti-corruption agency, laying out their plans ahead of the country's Feb 14 election, to counter graft in South-east Asia's largest economy.

The candidates' promises were made at a dialogue late on Jan 17.

Jakarta – Mining activity at a nickel industrial park linked to mainly Chinese companies has contributed to mass deforestation in Indonesia, a non-governmental group said in a report.

Jakarta – Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has a commanding lead but is stagnating in popularity just a few weeks out from an election in February, an opinion poll showed on Jan 18, raising the chance of a second-round run-off in June.

Bernadette Christina, Jakarta – Indonesia aims to triple its biomass consumption in power generation to 2.83 million metric tons in 2024, from 991,000 tons consumed last year in an effort to cut its emissions, an energy ministry official said on Thursday.

Faris Mokhtar and Cynthia Li – Economists gave top marks to a dark horse candidate in Indonesia's presidential race, favoring former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan to oversee Southeast Asia's largest economy, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Lusa – The National Student Resistance of Timor-Leste (RENETIL) on Wednesday expressed concern about the country's healthcare sector and called on the government to provide an urgent response, stressing that "health is people's lives."

Rebecca Ratcliffe and Ardila Syakriah – In early December, hundreds of Rohingya refugees walked along the shore of Aceh province in Indonesia, with nothing to guide them but the faint glow of lights in a nearby village. After a treacherous journey by boat, they had already been turned away by locals in one area of Aceh and were seeking refuge elsewhere.

Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – A commemoration of 17 years of Kamisan (Thursday) actions was held opposite the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on January 18.

The action, which began at around 3 pm, was attended by scores of participants and human rights activists who could be seen wearing all black clothing symbolising their steadfast love for humanity.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's approval rating remains high, reaching 77 percent, according to the latest survey conducted by Indikator Politik Indonesia (IPI).

Muhammad Fakhruddin, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is leading in the pivotal battleground provinces of West and East Java which collectively have more than 67 million registered voters, according to a poll released on Thursday.

Jakarta – A member of the Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD campaign team, Todung Mulya Lubis, said the 2024 presidential election was the least democratic election since the start of the Reform Era, the period after the downfall of the country's authoritarian leader Soeharto.

On February 14, 2024, Indonesia will hold legislative and presidential elections.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Semarang – The Maleh Dadi Segoro or MDS Coalition raised concerns about the social and ecological impacts of the construction of the Semarang-Demak sea toll road, which also functions as an embankment. The government claimed that this national strategic project (PSN) is a solution to flooding in the areas of Semarang City and Demak Regency.

Jakarta – The prosecutors in the criminalization of Fatia and Haris should withdraw their appeal. This is a threat to freedom of expression.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A report shows that about 14 percent of the Indonesian listed companies that it had sampled are in distress, with the metal and mining sector struggling the most.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – China's electric vehicle producer Build Your Dreams (BYD) plans to invest $1.3 billion (Rp 20.3 trillion) to build a manufacturing plant in Indonesia with a capacity of 150,000 units.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The central bank has allocated funds amounting to Rp 260 trillion ($16.63 billion) ahead of major celebrations, including the 2024 elections, Ramadan, and Eid al-Fitr 2024.

Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Doni Primato Joewono, said that this amount is 35 percent larger than the funds allocated by BI for Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2023.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has called for the suspension of the controversial tax hike on nightclubs, karaoke houses, and bars due to mounting protests from industry stakeholders.

The Mahein Security Sector Research and Advocacy Foundation warned on Tuesday that human trafficking is on the rise in Timor-Leste and recommended concerted action between civil society and the authorities to combat the phenomenon.

Wamena, Jubi – In a strategic move to counter the escalating prices of essential commodities in Wamena, the provincial capital of Jayawijaya Regency in Mountainous Papua Province, the Provincial Government is set to embark on the construction of a dedicated logistics warehouse for staple goods.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has decided to raise the portion of its state budget for fertilizer subsidy, one of the Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration's last actions ahead of the upcoming 2024 elections.

Sibolga, North Sumatra – Anies Baswedan, who is campaigning on an opposition platform, has welcomed a statement from rival contender Ganjar Pranowo that calls for change at next month's polls.

Jakarta – Vice presidential candidate Muhaimin Iskandar has pledged to distribute state-owned land to farmers to improve their welfare and productivity if he and his running partner Anies Baswedan win the 2024 election.

Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir has requested presidential candidate and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to maintain religious tolerance in Indonesia.

Indonesia mourns the loss of a revered clerical figure, Abdul Syakur Yasin, from Indramayu District in West Java, who passed away on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. Known as Buya Syakur Yasin, he was the esteemed leader of Pesantren Cadangpinggan in Sukagumiwang Subdistrict, Indramayu Regency.

Bill Birtles –- On the rim of an 800-metre volcanic crater, tour guide Junaedi is shielding his face from the sulphur dioxide wafting from below.

The seasoned hiker isn't too bothered by the rotten egg smell, but some tourists are coughing, spluttering and even vomiting from it.

Resty Woro Yuniar – A new report accuses a massive China-funded nickel industrial complex in Indonesia's Maluku province of causing "significant" environmental destruction and existential threats to indigenous peoples in the area, adding to the array of issues the nation faces in becoming a major player in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

Jayapura, Jubi – The main focus of the Papua Regional Education, Library, and Archives Agency (DPPAD) in 2024 will be addressing Human Development Index, illiteracy eradication, school accreditation, and the construction of permanent school buildings.

Pat Walsh – 2024 is looming like a democratic nightmare for two of Australia's most important allies. The US may elect Donald Trump. On 14 February 2024, Indonesia may elect Prabowo Subianto.

Jayapura, Jubi – Jean Hendrik Rollo, the Head of the Food Security and Agriculture Department in Jayapura City, expressed the need to promote modern agriculture to increase interest, particularly among the younger population, in pursuing farming.

Manokwari, Jubi – The West Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Jhony Edizon Isir has ensured security in the Maybrat region of Southwest Papua, despite the local Regional Election Commission's (KPU) plan to relocate 31 polling stations (TPS) in five districts around Aifat Raya to the Maybrat Regency's capital, Kumurkek.

President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste has met with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, in the first summit between the two nations.

Lee Sue-Ann, Maria Monica Wihardja – A recent survey shows that younger Indonesian voters, like their older fellow citizens, still hold traditional media and in-person conversations in high regard when it comes to learning about the elections and deciding whom to vote for.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – The Foreign Ministry has assembled a team of experts to help formulate Indonesia's arguments in an International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory case that seeks to hold Israel accountable for its "policies and practices" in the occupied Palestinian territories.