Antara, Jakarta – The executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, has announced the establishment of a limited liability company, Berkah Usaha Muamalah Nusantara (BUMN), to manage between 25,000 and 26,000 hectares of mining concessions previously owned by Bakrie Group's Kaltim Prima Coal in East Kalimantan.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's oil production has shown significant improvement over the past two months, reaching 600,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) in November and December 2024, up from 580,000 BOPD in August, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

Ilham Oktafian, Tangerang – A shooting at the kilometer 45 rest area along the Tangerang-Merak toll road in Banten on Thursday resulted in the death of Ilyas Abdul Rahman, 48, a resident of Aceh Province. Another victim, Ramli Abu Bakar, 60, also from Aceh, was critically injured. The shooting is suspected to be linked to a car rental fraud scheme.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission VIII criticized the government's proposed 2025 Hajj pilgrimage cost (BPIH), which is only slightly lower than the previous year's figure. The Religious Affairs Ministry has proposed the 2025 BPIH at Rp 93,389,684 ($5,756), a decrease of just Rp 20,600 ($1.3) compared to 2024.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – The Indonesian government said it's reviewing the Constitutional Court's decision to abolish the presidential threshold, said Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas, claiming it necessary as the court did not have a timeline set to enforce the ruling.

Dani Aswara, Aisha Shaidra, Jakarta – Indonesian people's spending has the potential to increase in 2025 because they have to pay several new levies and certain tariff increases. The 12 percent VAT increase on a number of goods and services is one of them.

Tri Listiyarini, Jakarta – A smallholder association recently urged the Indonesian government to rethink before raising the export levy on crude palm oil (CPO).

Yustinus Paat, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court on Thursday instructed lawmakers to draft a new law on presidential elections to prevent an overabundance of candidates following its decision to ease nomination requirements.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's annual inflation rate for December 2024 stood at 1.57 percent, aligning with the government's target of around 2.5 percent. The figure showed a slight increase compared to November 2024's inflation rate of 1.55 percent, but was lower than the 2.61 percent recorded in December 2023.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said that state revenue for 2024 did not meet the established target. She attributed this shortfall to economic pressures experienced during the first half of 2024.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia in the 11-month period ending in November has exceeded the total for the entire year of 2023, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced on Thursday.

Hanif Musyaffa, Jakarta – Hermawati Setyorinny, General Chair of the Indonesian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Industry Association Akumandiri, criticized the government's poor communication regarding MSMEs' involvement in the free nutritious meal (MBG) program.

Jakarta – There is no doubt that 2024 was one of the most harrowing years for aviation in recent memory. A string of tragic incidents in the final week of the year has left a deep scar on the global aviation industry and has shaken public confidence in air travel.

Fabby Tumiwa, Jakarta – During his first overseas visit last November, President Prabowo Subianto made two important statements highlighting Indonesia's ambitions for an energy transition.

Divka Talulla, Jakarta – Speaking at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Peru, President Prabowo Subianto assured that all foreign investments entering Indonesia will be protected because foreign investment plays a vital role in driving economic growth, bringing in capital, creating jobs and advancing technology.

Jakarta – A local fire department has pointed to fireworks as the cause of two fires early on New Year's Day that damaged several houses and the roof of a government office in North Jakarta.

Jakarta – The National Police have dishonorably dismissed Jakarta's narcotics investigation chief, Sr. Comr. Donald Parlaungan Simanjuntak, after allegations of extortion against the division's officers related to Malaysian festivalgoers at the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP).

Ni Kadek Trisna Cintya Dewi, Jakarta – Reports of violence against journalists in Indonesia have increased, followed by a decline in the national press freedom index (IKP). The 2024 Press Freedom Index (IKP) survey showed a decline to 69.36 compared to 2023 which was at 71.57. This is a fairly sharp decline compared to the 2022 IKP which reached 77.88.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) responded to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's (OCCRP) inclusion of Indonesia's 7th president, Joko Widodo or Jokowi, among the candidates for its 2024 Organized Crime and Corruption figures.

Hammam Izzuddin, Eko Ari Wibowo, Jakarta – The House of Representatives Ethics Committee (MKD) will summon a member of the House of Representatives, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, for alleged ethical violations. Rieke was reported by a person named Alfadjri Aditia Prayoga, who felt that the PDIP politician was provoking the public to reject the value-added tax policy or PN 12 percent.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto opened the option of sinking ships smuggling textile commodities from abroad. This was done because according to Prabowo, textile smuggling could endanger Indonesia's sovereignty. He said he would consult with legal experts to resolve this issue.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – A legal expert from Indonesia's Mulawarman University, Herdiansyah Hamzah, said former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's nomination for the most corrupt figure of 2024 by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is unsurprising, given his track record.

Tria Dianti and Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Jakarta – Indonesia has said it aims to start producing nuclear power by 2032 to meet electricity needs and attain environmental goals although serious concerns remain about the cost, safety, and risk of setting up an atomic power plant.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Public anger has ensued following a court verdict that sentenced businessman Harvey Moeis to 6.5 years in prison, with many saying the punishment is too lenient considering the scale of the case, which has cost the state Rp 300 trillion (US$18.5 billion), one of Indonesia's largest corruption cases.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin announced on Thursday that five companies have been named corporate criminal suspects for their alleged involvement in an illegal tin mining scandal.

Nabilla Azzahra, Eko Ari Wibowo, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) will draft the omnibus law Politics Bill this year. Commission II is currently in the stage of listening to informal input from the public and will determine the agenda after the House's recess, which runs until January 20, 2025.

Jakarta – Indonesia has not collapsed. Although the authorities have repeatedly manipulated the law, violated ethics, used all means to suppress democracy, and repressively silenced critical voices, we still have civil society groups that are persistent in preventing the Republic from falling into lawlessness.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto greeted thousands of National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers stationed in Papua via video call alongside Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on New Year's Eve.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Medan, Indonesia – Winston, a medical doctor who lives and works in the capital of North Sumatra Province, is a self-proclaimed Apple fan.

Currently the proud owner of an iPhone 15, Winson had been looking forward to upgrading to the latest model, the iPhone 16, released in September.

Jakarta – National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo has transferred Semarang City Police chief Sr. Comr. Irwan Anwar amid an investigation by Central Java Police of a fatal shooting incident that killed a vocational high school student.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) on Wednesday announced the dismissal of two officers involved in extorting concertgoers, mostly Malaysians, at the Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) 2024, following an internal ethics trial. The officers, identified only by their initials, D and Y, were found guilty of misconduct during a hearing on Dec. 31, 2024.

Hanif Musyaffa, Jakarta – Usra Hendra Harahap, Indonesia's Ambassador to Nigeria, is facing allegations of sexual harassment from a former staff member at the Indonesian Embassy in Abuja.

The allegations were brought to light through a petition filed by the victim's legal team, seeking intervention from Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Rizka Ardina Nugraheni, Jakarta – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has dismissed allegations made by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which included his name in its 2024 nominations for figures linked to organized crime and corruption. Jokowi urged critics to present evidence to back their claims.

Prima Wirayani and Norman Harsono – Bank Indonesia intervened to stabilize the rupiah after President Prabowo Subianto's surprise decision to scale back a tax hike sent the currency weakening by nearly 1%.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir announced on Wednesday that the government has canceled plans to build a fourth terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as part of its cost-efficiency measures.

A study of the Greater Sunrise gas field by British engineering and consulting company John Wood Group has confirmed the viability of developing the project in Timor-Leste. The study was carried out between April and November of this year and was reported by the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has doubled down on his stance against those convicted of graft, days after making an apparent U-turn on an earlier statement suggesting his administration might pardon those accused of the crime.

Chandni Vatvani and Calvin Yang, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indonesian artefacts that were in the Netherlands for more than a century – the bulk of which were looted by the Dutch during their colonial rule – are now on display at Indonesia's National Museum in Jakarta.

They are among the latest batch of items returned after a lengthy process involving both countries.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) of Indonesia, Adies Kadir, claimed that the increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12 percent would not affect the general community commodity sector.

Jakarta – The government is considering whether to declare a month-long school holiday for students during Ramadan 2025, Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Syafi'i said on Monday.

"There is already discussion" of the proposal, Syafi'i said on Monday at the House of Representatives compound, as quoted by tempo.co.

Jakarta – Authorities have arrested and charged a wealthy entrepreneur from Makassar identified as ASS who they say is the primary actor in a counterfeit money syndicate linked to Alauddin State Islamic University

ASS is currently undergoing medical treatment for health issues.

Josa Lukman, Jakarta – With a year as packed as 2024, we were curious what drew our readers in. Were they looking for updates on election day drama, the latest twists on the global stage or something lighthearted to distract from the world's ever-burning dumpster fire?

Turns out, they wanted all of it.

Jakarta – All things considered, 2024 turned out to be a good year for Indonesia. Talk of possible vote-rigging, election meddling and electioneering in the lead-up to the February presidential and legislative elections raised the stakes and sparked real fears that things could go sideways after the votes were tallied.

Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – The Indonesian stock market is set to face significant hurdles in 2025 with the introduction of a 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) starting January 1. This policy is expected to impact various economic sectors, particularly those reliant on domestic consumption, such as retail, automotive, and property.

Balipuspa News, Bali – The coastal area of Candidasa in Karangasem Regency, Bali, has been severely affected by oil spills, causing an unpleasant odor that has driven several tourists to leave prematurely.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – The government must establish quality control and oversight teams to ensure the effective implementation of Indonesia's first-ever free nutritious meal program, which aims to benefit school-aged children and expectant mothers.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has announced that the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo or Jokowi, has been nominated as a finalist for the 2024 Organized Crime and Corruption Figure.

Grace Sihombing and Norman Harsono – Indonesia scaled back its planned increase in the value-added tax rate just hours before it was set to take effect on January 1 amid escalating public outcry.

Bambang Ismoyo, Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto officially announced a hike in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent, effective January 1, 2025. The announcement was made at the Finance Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's statement about not being afraid to open new palm oil plantations and plans for palm oil expansion is not particularly surprising, as these plans are already evident in existing policies and programs.