Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday named North Maluku Governor Abdul Ghani Kasuba as a suspect for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for helping certain companies secure road construction projects in the province, a region that has witnessed rapid economic growth in recent years.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – While the 2024 presidential candidates have been pounding the pavement seeking to win over the country's voters, some of the political parties backing them appear to have turned their attention away from the top of the ticket and toward the legislative elections.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has formed a long-awaited permanent three-member ethics council in an apparent bid to restore public trust after a series of ethical scandals in the court, although analysts are unconvinced that the members and the council's design will prevent future ethics complaints.

JAKARTA – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was absent from Gadjah Mada University's (UGM) anniversary event in Yogyakarta on Tuesday after strong remarks from the university's student body calling him the "most embarrassing" alumnus.

Bangkok – Three trafficked Sumatran orangutans were sent back from Thailand to Indonesia on Thursday as part of a joint effort between the countries to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – State-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina is planning to make an investment worth $900 million in Algeria over the next decades, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi claimed that the Nusantara Capital City or IKN will become the greenest capital city in the world.

Defara Dhanya, Ihsan Reliubun, Jakarta – A member of running presidential pair Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar's winning team Wijayanto Samirin claimed that the government's food estate program is not the appropriate solution to the food issue in Indonesia.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Presidential candidate number 3 Ganjar Pranowo assessed that signs of a new order have lately emerged since people's freedom of expression has been curtailed. He highlighted a lot of recent news reports of injustice, discriminatory treatment, and even threats or intimidation against freedom of expression.

Antara, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi today, Dec. 21, 2023, left for East Kalimantan to monitor the progress of the construction of the Presidential Palace complex in the new capital of Nusantara (IKN). He was accompanied by State Secretary Minister Pratikno, Head of the IKN Authority Bambang Susantono, and IKN Development Curator Ridwan Kamil.

Defara Dhanya, Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) Head, M. Aqil Irham, said halal certificates have been issued for 1.1 million food and beverage products in the country.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) urged Jakarta Metro Police investigators to immediately detain Firli Bahuri, a suspect in the alleged extortion case against former minister of agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

Jakarta – The families of the victims of forced disappearances admit that they are disappointed with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for reneging on a promise to resolve cases of past human rights violations.

Jakarta – The families of the victims of the enforced disappearances in 1997-98 have raised the possibility of holding a massive Kamisan (Thursday) action in front of the Presidential Palace complex in Central Jakarta ahead of the 2024 elections.

Workers held a protest action at the Horse Statue in Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Thursday December 21, in which they made three demands.

Muhammad Mutaqin, Jakarta – The Labour Party held a protest action in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta on Thursday December 21 at which Labour Party president Said Iqbal called for an end to the Palestine-Israeli war and a permanent ceasefire.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo wants Indonesians to seek medical treatment in the country, particularly in the future capital, as work is underway to build the city's healthcare infrastructure.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia, trailing its neighbors in the electric vehicle (EV) race, is stepping on the gas with a package of tax incentives aimed at revving up its domestic industry, a government official has said.

The revised presidential regulation published on Dec. 12 offers a two-year window for automakers willing to build EV plants in the archipelago.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has begun studies to map the potential of rare earth minerals in domestic coal and is also considering other ways to increase the value derived from the commodity beyond its use as a power plant feedstock.

Jakarta – Last week's revelations from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) that illicit money could be flowing into campaigns for the 2024 general election should be taken very seriously, as they offer yet another reason to question the integrity of the upcoming polls.

Hellena Souisa, Riza Salman on Wawonni island, and Sally Brooks – In a bra and shorts, a woman stands on an earthmover and fends off attempts by men around her to cover her upper body.

In the video shared with ABC Indonesia, a group of villagers yell and watch on as a second unsuccessful attempt is made to clothe the woman and get her off the machinery.

Lintang Budiyanti P, Resinta Sulistiyandari, Jakarta – An official at the Ministry of Health denies circulating information that Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes can cause humans to become lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT).

Jakarta – The Jakarta administration has kicked off the construction of a wastewater pipeline network amid efforts to build a domestic wastewater management system (SPALD) that complies with environment quality standards and improves public access to proper sanitation.

Jakarta – Despite the notable age difference compared to other vice-presidential candidates, Gibran Rakabuming Raka is ready to engage in the vice-presidential debate scheduled for Friday, Dec. 22, 2023.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Newly released data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reveal a deep discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots in Jakarta, given that the townspeople's spending average sits far above national per-capita expenditure.

Erwan Hartawan, Jakarta – Indonesia's electricity company PLN provided a total of 624 Public Electric Vehicle Charging (SPKLU) distributed across 411 strategic posts in anticipation of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry announced that only registered users will be able to purchase subsidized 3 kg LPG canisters starting from January 1, 2024.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Official records from the General Election Commission (KPU) indicate that presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto has accumulated the highest campaign funds among his rivals, Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police revealed on Wednesday the dismantling of a syndicate involved in the production and sale of counterfeit license plates and vehicle registration documents at premium rates to specific buyers.

Mohammad Said, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has signed a decree prolonging the tenure of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders for an additional year, an aide confirmed on Wednesday.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Batam – Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has finally issued Presidential Decree (Perpres) No. 78 of 2023 as the basis for the Rempang Eco-City project in Batam City, Riau Islands Province. The decree was signed on December 8, 2023.

Jayapura, Jubi – The President of the Union of Baptist Churches in West Papua, Rev. Ambirek G. Socratez Yoman, has made a heartfelt plea to the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) for the release of pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage for nearly a year by the Free Papua Movement's armed faction.

Cassie Freund – Indonesia's shark and ray trade is highly regulated but poorly monitored, opening the door for illegal activity alongside the legal sale and purchase of these fish and their products. Finding an easy and low-cost way to identify which species are being caught and where processing of restricted species occurs would greatly help improve trade monitoring.

Hendro Situmorang, Jakarta – Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian on Tuesday reiterated the government's commitment to uphold the process of electing the governor of Jakarta, opposing a parliamentary bill that prefers a president's appointee as the city's leader.

News Desk, Jakarta – Vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka made his first visit to the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan and said he was impressed with the megaproject's progress.

"This is my first time visiting the IKN. This is amazing," Gibran said while meeting communities in the area on Saturday, as quoted from detiknews.

Arie Firdaus (BenarNews), Jakarta – Activists have slammed vice presidential candidate Mahfud MD, calling him sexist and misogynistic, after he suggested that the wives of graft convicts were to blame for their husbands' offenses.

Jakarta – Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto has appointed his former wife Siti Hediati Hariyadi, daughter of former president Soeharto, as a party advisor amid his campaign for the presidency in 2024.

Jakarta – Abdul Gani Kasuba, the North Maluku Governor, was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) during an operation at a Jakarta hotel on Monday evening, just 13 days before concluding his second term and retiring with honor.

The anti-graft raid took place at Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta, occurring three days before the governor's 72nd birthday.

Linda Novi Trianita, Imam Hamdi, Ihsan Reliubun, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi instructed law enforcement agencies to follow up on the findings of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) regarding illegal campaign funds. He stressed that illegal funds coming out ahead of the 2024 election must be investigated thoroughly.

BTV, Jakarta – A Finance Ministry official revealed on Tuesday that the cumulative state revenue has reached Rp 2,553.2 trillion ($164.8 billion) year-to-date, amounting to 96.8 percent of the full-year target.

Antara, Jakarta – The Ministry of Finance said on Monday that the government will draw new debt totaling Rp648.1 trillion (US$41.8 million) in 2024 to close the deficit of projected state budget (APBN).

Adil Al Hasan, Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Executive Director of the human rights group Lokataru Foundation, Delpedro Marhaen, believes that President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's statement that there were no restrictions on freedom of expression during his rule is a lie and obscures the facts.

Ari Sandita Murti, Jakarta – On Sunday December 17, a Zara shop at the Pondok Indah Mall in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, was visited by several women concerned about Palestine where they held a peaceful protest.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Director General of Information and Public Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kominfo), Usman Kansong, said the ministry recorded a slight increase in the number of hoaxes during this year's election campaign period.

Antara, Riani Sanusi Putri, Bogor – Presidential candidate number one Anies Baswedan believes that Indonesia's path to becoming a developed country does not solely rely on industrialization. The more important requirement is to be a country that is willing to learn.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded an 11.4 percent increase in its palm oil export in October 2023, industry association data shows.

The double-digit growth follows skyrocketing exports of oleochemicals, which are key in personal care and cosmetics production.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – A judge at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday rejected a plea by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Chairman Firli Bahuri to halt the ongoing criminal investigation against him.

Yohanes Maharso, Amelia Rahima, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the government was considering lifting the ban on the export of lobster seed again. The ban was previously imposed by his predecessor Susi Pudjiastuti.

Subel Rai Bhandari, Atauro Island, Timor-Leste – Donning a weathered diving mask, Manuel Gamboa comes ashore after four hours in the sea, visibly weary from the early morning catch with a dozen young Timorese fishers.

Student Executive Councils (BEM) from a number of campuses in greater Solo (Surakarta) held a protest action in front of the office of Solo mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's eldest son and is running as a vice presidential candidate alongside Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.