Johnny Johan Sompotan, Jakarta – Instagram influencer Isa Zega, popularly known as Mami Online, is accused of violating Islamic teachings by wearing female clothing and performing the Umrah pilgrimage according to female guidelines, despite being a biological male.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The third debate of the Aceh Regional Election was forced to stop because supporters of the regional head candidates were involved in a brawl. These supporters were reported to push and argue with each other on the debate stage. The election debate took place at The Pade Hotel in Aceh Besar on Tuesday night, November 19, 2024.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has determined that the Draft Law on Indigenous Peoples will be included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). This bill was proposed to be included in the priority prolegnas for 2025 by three DPR members: Sulaeman Hamzah, Martin Manurung, and Rudianto Lallo.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – The Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), Arief Prasetyo Adi, has expressed his intention to cease rice imports as early as next year. This goal aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture's accelerated paddy field expansion program.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Head of the Trade Policy Agency at the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, Fajarini Puntodewi, said Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election could revive the "America First" policy. The president-elect from the Republican Party is expected to prioritize domestic economic protection.

Wahyu Sahala Tua, Jakarta – The iconic Ford Mustang, a symbol of American muscle cars, is set to hit the Indonesian market next year.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – The upcoming hike on value-added tax (VAT) has sparked worries among Indonesian hotels and restaurants with the industry association saying that it could deal a blow to the overall sales.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Ossy Dermawan stated that they will carry out the legalization of palm oil plantation land if the land is no longer part of the forest area. For this reason, the Ministry of ATR/BPN will coordinate with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry or KLHK.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives on Tuesday amended the law on the Jakarta administration and stipulated that the city's governors from the 2024 election onward will no longer be called the leader of the national capital.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has refuted allegations made by the legal team of former trade minister Tom Lembong regarding the arbitrary appointment of suspects in the sugar import corruption case. The AGO maintains that Tom's designation as a suspect adhered to legal procedures.

Yolanda Agne, Jakarta – The Charity Aid Foundation (CAF) has once again unveiled its annual World Giving Index 2024, and Indonesia has reclaimed its position as the world's most generous country for the seventh consecutive year.

Jakarta – The investigation into the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry employees backing online gambling is expanded to include many people. Ill-gotten gains from a political operation.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto, has revealed that President Prabowo Subianto has tasked the ministry to evaluate the current general election system.

Sukma Kanthi Nurani, Jakarta – PT Sarimelati Kencana Tbk (PZZA), the licensee of Pizza Hut in Indonesia, has reported a decline in both its outlet count and workforce.

Moh. Tamimi, Nagekeo, Indonesia – The land weighed on Mateus Bhui as he sifted the Rendubutowe soil through his fingers into a traditional container.

"To our ancestors: please don't be angry," Mateus said, repeating the lament as he clasped another handful of earth. "I never wanted to sell this land."

Negar Mohtashami Khojasteh, Montreal, Canada – In Indonesia's humid heat, I watched as dozens of men on motorcycles lingered outside the garment factory gates, their children hanging off their shoulders, as they waited for their partners to finish their shift. These men – many without jobs of their own – came to pick up the women who provide for their families.

Jakarta – Indonesia is considering the possibility of a new tax amnesty programme, a senior lawmaker said on Nov 19, which would be the country's third in the past decade despite criticism that repeatedly offering the relief could lead to more tax avoidance.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help Indonesia train more doctors so the country can have enough physicians to treat its people.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine at the G20 Brazil Summit as the war hit the 1,000-day milestone.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Textile Industries of the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) Reni Yanita disclosed why Indonesia keeps importing salt despite having expansive seas.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) and the government on Tuesday have agreed to include 41 draft bills and revisions in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The proposed increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12 percent in 2025, which has faced widespread criticism, remains a topic of discussion and has not yet been finalized, according to Adies Kadir, Vice Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) for economic affairs.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and other labor unions will organize a national strike involving 5 million workers across Indonesia if the government raises the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent in 2025 and fails to meet minimum wage demands.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Amid plans to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent, raising concerns among many Indonesians, the House of Representatives (DPR) has decided to include the Tax Amnesty Bill in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

Vinnilya Huanggrio, Jakarta – The impending value-added tax (VAT) increase set to take effect next year is expected to exacerbate challenges for Indonesia's already struggling automotive industry amid weak sales performance, an executive from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMIN) warned on Tuesday.

Zunita Putri, Jakarta – Transwoman and celebrity Isa Zega has caused a stir on social media after she performed the Umrah pilgrimage (a smaller version of the haj pilgrimage to Mecca) wearing a sharia hijab. Mufti Anam, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction says that Zega's actions are a form of blasphemy.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) revealed that the state's financial losses in a corruption case involving the commodity trading system within the tin mining concession area of state-owned tin producer PT Timah from 2015 to 2022 amounted to Rp 332.6 trillion (US$21 billion) following the arrest of Hendry Lie.

Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is asking Tangerang Municipal Police (Polresta) investigators not to pursues a report against government critic and former State-Owned Enterprises Ministry (BUMN) secretary Said Didu for criticising the Pantai Indah Kapuk 2 (PIK) National Strategic Project (PSN).

Nabiila Azzahra A, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) has revealed that the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) is now attracting about 3,000 to 5,000 visitors daily. This influx comprises both domestic and international tourists, as well as prospective investors.

Jakarta – The Labour Party and the Confederation of the Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) is opposed to the government's plan to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11 to 12 percent in 2025. Labour Party President and KSPI President Said Iqbal has threatened that they will hold demonstrations if the plan is not cancelled.

Tria Dianti, Jakarta – After holding their breath for nearly eight months, Southeast Asia investors and economists heaved a sigh of relief when Indonesia's "rock star" economist, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, announced she was asked to stay on as finance minister in the new government.

Vinnilya Huanggrio, Jakarta – The government should reconsider the plan to implement a hike in value-added tax next year because Indonesia currently has the highest VAT in Southeast Asia, the chairman of the Indonesian Global Brand Retailers' Association (Apregindo) said on Monday.

In what claims to be the only woman-run cafe in the capital of Indonesia's most conservative province, owner Qurrata Ayuni says she and her baristas provide an alternative to rowdy, smoke-filled male haunts.

Jakarta – Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu'ti said the ministry will soon roll out a a new plan that will allow students to be taught on the subjects of artificial intelligence and coding.

Mu'ti, however, said that the lesson on AI and coding would be elective and would only be available for students in fourth grade.