Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – An Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) official announced on Sunday that the US mixed martial arts show Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is haram and urged the government to ban it from local TV networks.

Rama Sukarta, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has declared short selling as haram (forbidden under Islamic law). MUI's statement followed the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) announcement of short-selling regulations to be implemented in the second half of this year.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Indonesia's Bali island is shrinking at a faster rate than most coastal areas in the world due to human activities and wave circulation, according to a recently published study.

Amy Sood – Indonesia faces significant hurdles to realise its aim of becoming a major semiconductor player alongside Malaysia and Singapore as it does not have a coherent strategy to develop advanced chipmaking facilities, analysts say.

Kiki Siregar, Jakarta – She was born in Padang and grew up in Jakarta, but Ms Dewi Brewer, 53, has lived about half her life abroad, spending two decades in Singapore before moving to the United States about seven years ago.

The financial specialist became a US citizen last year and is a federal employee with the US government.

Jakarta – Indonesia is using a weather modification technique known as cloud seeding around the site of its future capital to reduce intense rains that have hampered construction of the new city, a weather agency official said on Friday.

Jakarta – As Jakarta celebrates its 497th anniversary today, many believe it will be the city's last as the nation's capital, now that President Joko "Jokowi" has signed Law No. 2/2024 on the special region of Jakarta. Even acting governor Heru Budi Hartono says so.

Jakarta 00 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has officially enacted Law Number 3 of 2024 concerning Villages. Among several policies outlined in the legislation, a key provision established by the government is the provision of social security protection for village chiefs, village officials, and members of the Village Consultative Board (BPD).

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – Thousands of BYD electric vehicles have finally arrived in Indonesia, marking its entry into the market dominated by Japanese, Korean, and European car manufacturers.

Antara, Jakarta – In response to long queues caused by immigration service disruptions due to a nationwide outage at the National Data Center (PDN) server since Thursday, 100 additional personnel have been deployed at immigration checkpoints (TPI) at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Laila Afifa, Jakarta – The assault of invasive alien species on dozens of national parks in Indonesia must be taken seriously. These attacks must be prevented because these invasive species could seriously damage the ecosystem and result in major ecological and economic losses.

The documentary film "Those Who Are Never Lost" (Yang Tak Pernah Hilang) began screening at the Epicentrum 2 Cinema in Jakarta today, Saturday June 22. The film was conceived as a form of memorialisation and to support the struggle to #MelawanLupa (Fight Forgetting) the dark history of human rights violations in 1997-98.

Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – The management of Safari Park in Bogor, West Java, is tracking down a male visitor who drew outrage on the internet after he was caught on video feeding a hippo plastic waste.

Jakarta – In recent weeks, we have been alerted to a string of gambling-related suicides and other forms of deep distress resulting from the illegal practice, including the case of a woman who set fire to her own husband for gambling away their fortune.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – East Java should continue to boost both its manufacturing and agricultural sectors to unlock economic growth, according to its former vice governor Emil Dardak.

Emil, who was number two in power in the provincial government for the 2019-2024 term, said that the manufacturing sector was pivotal to East Java's economy.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo convened the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK) at the Presidential Palace on Thursday to address the recent depreciation of the rupiah and current economic developments.

The KSSK expressed confidence that the rupiah would strengthen due to Indonesia's solid economic fundamentals.

Tri Listiyarini, Jakarta – Indonesia's tuna exports reached $374 million between January and May 2024, marking a 4.3 percent increase compared to $359 million in the same period in 2023.

The share of tuna in total national fishery exports also grew from 16 percent in January-May 2023 to 16.4 percent in the same period this year.

Muhammad Fakhruddin, Jakarta – President-elect Prabowo Subianto extended his warm birthday wishes to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on his 63rd birthday, Friday. Prabowo conveyed his greetings through his personal Instagram account @prabowo on Friday.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry will implement a high tax tariff on imported ceramics. Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan, also known as Zulhas, stated that this policy aims to maintain domestic ceramic prices.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, disclosed that the budget for Prabowo-Gibran's free lunch program will be allocated gradually. In the initial stage, it is expected to be Rp20 trillion.

Luhut said the program was being discussed together with President-elect Prabowo Subianto's team.

Andika Dwi, Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – A wave of layoffs is sweeping across large companies worldwide, including tech startups in Indonesia. This trend reflects the ongoing "tech winter", a period of economic slowdown impacting the technology sector since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antara, Jakarta – Passport services have resumed at two Immigration Offices in South Sumatra after being temporarily halted on Thursday due to a nationwide outage at the National Data Center (PDN).

Bagus Pribadi, Jakarta – Tempo Media Group has published guidelines outlining terms and conditions for the use of its journalistic content by generative artificial intelligence (AI) companies, which can be accessed at tempo.co.

Antara, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) Deputy Governor Doni Primanto Joewono said the circulation of counterfeit money continues to decline in Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – The head of the Industrial Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDMI) of the Ministry of Industry, Masrokhan, said that Indonesia's industry needs for human resources have reached 682 thousand per year.

Laila Afifa, Jakarta – A number of Prabowo Subianto supporters have been appointed as SOE commissioners. This risks compromising their oversight function.

Max Walden – The world's largest single-day elections, held in February 2024, granted Prabowo Subianto his long-held dream of becoming Indonesian president.

Timor-Leste will now issue entry visas at seven embassies in order to "simplify" the process and improve border control.

Duncan Graham – There's nothing profound about the Biblical quote; variations are embedded in many religions and cultures.

So it needs no prophet, seer or conman to make this prediction: After a war like the current one in Gaza has cooled, the survivors will be bent on revenge.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The digital economy sector has contributed Rp 25 trillion ($1.5 billion) to government tax revenues in the past four years and five months, according to data from the Taxation Directorate.

Yurike Metriani, Surabaya – Mining giant Freeport Indonesia's new smelter in Gresik is expected to create a multiplier effect for East Java's economy.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – After initially indicating he was open to becoming a running mate of Anies Baswedan in the Jakarta gubernatorial election, Kaesang Pangarep said on Friday that he and the former governor were unlikely allies due to their differences.

Jayapura – The Papua Human Rights Lawyer Association (PAHAM Papua) believes that the Indonesian Military (TNI) police headquarters (Puspom) appears to be covering up and has been silent about the legal process involving the 13 suspects in the torture of three Papuan civilians in Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province.

Windarto, Herman, Jakarta – The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has uncovered several issues and fraudulent activities within the ailing state-owned pharmaceutical company Indofarma (INAF) and its subsidiary, Indofarma Global Medika (IGM).

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – An analyst recently said that the public should not interpret clashing opinions among ministers as disharmony within President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's cabinet.

Advist Khoirunikmah, Jakarta – The leader of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement or TPNPB-OPM Egianus Kogoya plans to release the Susi Air pilot Philip Mark Mehrtens without political demands, a Tempo source said. The time for the release, however, remain unknown.

Tempo.Co, Jakarta – The No-Trash Triangle Initiative (NTTI) launched the 'No-Trash River' project this week which aims to install 20 barriers throughout Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, to reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the Bunaken Marine National Park.

Hendro Dahlan Situmorang, Jakarta – Chief Cultural Affairs Minister Muhadjir Effendy addressed the issue of several pilgrims having to sleep outside tents due to overcapacity in Hajj accommodations and inadequate toilet facilities.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is aiming to increase its gross national income (GNI) per capita beyond $5,500 in 2025 as the country wants to escape the middle-income trap, according to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas).

Algi M Gifari, Bandung – Efforts to clean up the Citarum River in the BBS area of Bandung Barat Regency seemed promising after a week of intensive cleaning, and years of restoration. However, rain brought a resurgence of garbage flooding the river on Thursday.

Yustinus Patris Paat, Jakarta – In a reconciliatory gesture, the National Democratic Party (Nasdem) announced on Thursday that it has invited both President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his successor Prabowo Subianto to separately attend its upcoming congress and deliver the opening and closing remarks.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Indonesia calls for an effective, inclusive and balanced process to push for peace following its decision to not back a joint communique seeking to resolve the war in Ukraine adopted during a high-level world peace summit over the weekend.

Jakarta – The issue of transportation should be one of the themes covered during a debate between candidates ahead of the Jakarta gubernatorial election, a transportation experts association has urged.

Jakarta – The Constitution grants the president the prerogative to replace cabinet members at any time, especially if they fail to perform or to follow the head of government's policies and directives.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi gathered cabinet ministers at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, June 20 to discuss Kratom plants. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said three issues would be highlighted: governance, trade, and classification of the plants, which are suspected of containing narcotics.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Communications and Information Technology (Kominfo), Budi Arie Setiadi, confirmed that the government will block Telegram if the messaging application from Russia does not comply with the third warning regarding cooperation to eradicate online gambling that the ministry sent this week.

Sarjan Lahay, Pohuwato, Indonesia – Moji Tiok has spent more than a decade casting off into the Gulf of Tomini, where he spends hours hunting with traditional fishing gear among a diminishing pool of octopus south of Indonesia's Gorontalo province.

Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Hadi Tjahjanto, who leads the newly established anti-online gambling task force, said on Wednesday that his team was investigating how fraudulent bank accounts and payment services at mini-marts allegedly had been used for online gambling.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – The political parties behind the victory of president-elect Prabowo Subianto plan to join hands once again for the upcoming regional head elections in key regions in Java, which look increasingly like showdowns between candidates aligned with both the incoming and outgoing governments and those considered outsiders.

Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Yogyakarta – The Foreign Affairs Ministry revealed on Thursday that 165 Indonesian nationals are currently facing death sentences on various criminal charges.

Of that figure, 155 are being prosecuted in Malaysian courts, said Judha Nugraha, the ministry's director of Indonesian citizen protection.