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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Olena Wibisana, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta – Behind the walls of Yogyakarta Women's Prison, Mary Jane Veloso, a Philippine national once destined for execution, has found a second chance. She now spends her days teaching fellow inmates the art of batik-making, a surprising turn for a mother who has endured 14 years on death row.

[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.]

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.

Ifan Ahmad, Makassar – South Sulawesi Police uncovered a human trafficking operation involving 77 university students from Makassar who were lured to Germany to participate in a holiday work program known as "ferienjob."

Jakarta – Golkar Party chairman Bahlil Lahadalia urged the public to choose local leaders with strong connections to the central government as he attended a campaign rally of Central Java gubernatorial candidate Ahmad Luthfi in Sragen on Thursday.

Violet George – In a significant move for Indonesia's energy sector, BP and its partners have committed a $7 billion investment to a groundbreaking project in Papua. This initiative combines the development of a new gas field, Ubadari, with cutting-edge carbon capture technology.

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.

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.

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.

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 piles of garbage the size of a soccer field close to Muara Bakti village, Babelan district, Bekasi regency, West Java, have caused unrest among nearby residents.

The 200-meter-long wasteland is a former excavation site about 5 m deep along the Kali Cikarang Bekasi Laut River.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently revised Indonesia's net zero target from 2060 to 2050, much earlier compared to what his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had been aiming for.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) says efforts to implement the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment remain stagnant to this day.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has ruled that President Prabowo Subianto's explicit endorsement of Central Java gubernatorial candidate Ahmad Luthfi and his running mate Taj Yasin Maimoen did not constitute an election violation, allowing the Gerindra party patron to go scot-free.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Deputy Chair of Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR), Mohamad Hekal, said that no changes or delays to the upcoming Value Added Tax (VAT) increase are planned, despite growing calls for a postponement.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Habiburokhman, Chairman of the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission III, proposed that future leaders and supervisory board members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) refrain from participating in "doorstep" interviews with journalists.

Jakarta – The simultaneous regional head elections next week will again test the nation's commitment to democracy. After electing the president, vice president and representatives in the national and regional legislatures on Feb. 14, voters across the country will choose 37 governors, 415 regents and 93 mayors on Wednesday.

Grace el Dora, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah could potentially reach Rp 16,000 per US dollar as geopolitical tensions and a stronger greenback continue to pressure the local currency.

The rupiah depreciated 43 points, or 0.27 percent, to Rp 15,914 per US dollar, down from Rp 15,871.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – The Golkar Party's leadership under Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia has been officially legitimized with the issuance of a new decree from the Law and Human Rights Ministry for the 2024-2029 term. The decree, presented on Wednesday, confirms the party's structure, putting an end to rumors of legal disputes over its bylaws.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Jakarta – Heavy rains in Bandung from the afternoon to the evening of Wednesday, November 20, caused the Citarum River and several other rivers to overflow. As a result, residents' houses in Dayeuh Kolot and Bojongsoang districts were flooded up to 1 meter deep.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the impact of global climate change has led the government to decide to move the capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. Prabowo highlighted the rising sea levels that have started to inundate some coastal areas in Indonesia.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Diky Anindya urged the House of Representatives (DPR) not to choose the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leader subjectively. He said this is especially true if the subjective choice favors the abolishment of sting operations (OTT) from the KPK.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition, which consists of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and Transparency International Indonesia (TII), says that the selection of the new batch of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders for the 2024-2029 period had already been conditioned (decided on in advance).

Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry has confirmed that it will not use Government Regulation (PP) No. 51/2023 as a reference for calculating minimum wage, including the upcoming 2025 provincial minimum wage (UMP).

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan publicly endorsed Pramono Anung's candidacy for Jakarta governorship on Thursday and urged his supporters to follow suit.

Anies, whose reelection bid failed due to a lack of support from any major political party, joined Pramono at a campaign event in South Jakarta to show his explicit support.

Jakarta – Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan – An economic affairs advisor to President Prabowo Subianto – revealed Thursday that many foreign-owned businesses in Indonesia's tourist haven of Bali had been breaking the rules.

Scott Waide – For a decade, Benny Wenda has tirelessly campaigned to secure West Papua's place in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), advocating for a voice in the regional arena.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) said that all provinces on the island of Papua will receive special attention due to their vulnerability to conflicts during regional elections.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission III has elected five new leaders for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the 2024-2029 term, including Setyo Budianto as the new chairman.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) continues to urge the House of Representatives (DPR) to prioritize the Asset Forfeiture Bill, as its passage would strengthen efforts in fighting corruption.

Grace el Dora, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron for some talks on defense cooperation, among others, in Brazil.

Carolyn Cowan – Camera-trap surveys have documented a sizeable but struggling population of Sumatran tigers clinging on in unprotected forests in Indonesia's Aceh province.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The planned value-added tax (VAT) hike, set to take effect on January 1, may hinder national economic growth, which relies heavily on household consumption, an analyst warned on Wednesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Retired police general Benny Mamoto attributed the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) recent losses in pre-trial hearings to a lack of professionalism among its investigators.

Warief Djajanto Basorie – Power is the proverbial drug that leaders find hard to quit. After ten years as Indonesia's president, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has passed the baton to Prabowo Subianto October 20.

However, Jokowi is no lame duck. He has made moves that can still allow his influence to be felt.

Jakarta – Indonesia has urged the international community, especially the Arab and Muslim world, to sever all economic, trade and investment ties with Israel as a means of pressuring the country to end its aggression against Palestine.

Jakarta – The promise of multilateralism is under siege, and the evidence is stark. The recent impasses at COP29, APEC and the G20 summits reveal a troubling trend: multilateral forums have become battlegrounds for protectionist policies and geopolitical rivalries rather than platforms for resolving shared global challenges.

Baku, Azerbaijan – Climate finance needs to be increased under a new collective quantitative target to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, Special Envoy, Ambassador for Climate Affairs of Timor-Leste Adao Soares Barbosa said as he delivered her national statement at the COP29 summit today, Trend reports.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka urged the Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) to ensure the 2024 elections are conducted peacefully and without violence, following a deadly incident in Sampang, East Java.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto and his entourage arrived on Wednesday morning at London Stansted Airport to meet with some of the United Kingdom's leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles III.

Tama Salim, Jakarta – Indonesia aims to enhance "good neighborliness" through its new joint development plan with China, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday, assuring it will not compromise legal rights or jurisdiction in waters adjacent to a contested sea.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has decided to maintain the central bank's interest rate at 6 percent, the deposit facility rate at 5.25 percent, and the lending facility rate at 6.75 percent to keep inflation within the target range of 2.5 percent for 2024 and 2025 while supporting sustainable economic growth.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Deputy Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Alexander Marwata, said that sting operations, commonly known as operasi tangkap tangan (OTT), cannot be abolished because they are crucial in combating corruption and are protected by law.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) celebrated its 16th anniversary yesterday (November 19, 2008-November 19, 2024). Commemorations were held in several different regions, both inside and outside the land of Papua.

RFA and Benar News Staff – Indonesia has officially asked Russia if it could buy more of its weapons, Russian media reported, signaling what an analyst said was an aim to diversify its sources of arms while retaining its non-aligned status.