Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – It is best for the government to focus on having a tax evasion crackdown rather than raising the value-added tax (VAT), according to an analyst.

Anis Firmansah, Kediri – Police have arrested two men in the East Java town of Kediri after they appeared in a video attacking the vehicle of the local district prosecutor chief, who brandished a gun in response and fired warning shots into the air.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, was recorded by a bystander, and the video quickly went viral on the internet.

Jakarta – The government has allocated 9.55 million tons of subsidized fertilizers worth Rp 46.8 trillion (approximately $2.9 billion) to be distributed across the archipelago next year.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – The State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry is ramping up efforts to streamline state-owned companies through mergers, aiming to reduce their number from 47 to just 30.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto announced a series of programs and incentives aimed at sustaining economic growth, including a Rp 20 trillion ($1.3 billion) credit facility for labor-intensive industries.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has requested that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to not stop investigating the bribery case involving PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto (HK).

Ibnu Malikh, Cilegon – Thousands of vehicles formed long queues at the Merak Ferry Terminal in Banten, on the western tip of Java Island, waiting to cross to Bakauheni Port in Lampung, Sumatra Island, on Wednesday.

As patience wore thin, several motorists shouted protests when a government vehicle attempted to bypass the line.

Herman, Vinnilya, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wished Christians across Indonesia a joyful Christmas, calling the nation to embrace the holiday's spirit of peace, harmony, and hope for a prosperous future.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addressed the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name Hasto Kristiyanto, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as a corruption suspect.

Jakarta – Jailed former leaders of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) extremist group are being considered for parole, a senior counterterror official said Tuesday, after the network disbanded and members pledged allegiance to the country.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) clarified on Tuesday that settling corruption cases through financial payments is not recognized under Indonesia's existing anti-corruption laws.

The statement came in response to the Prabowo Subianto administration's proposal to pardon graft suspects or convicts who return stolen state assets.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has been named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly bribing a senior election official to secure a parliamentary seat for fellow party executive Harun Masiku.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesian police have confiscated Rp 2.5 billion ($154,322) in cash during an internal investigation into 18 officers accused of extorting Malaysian attendees at the recent Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) music festival.

Ananda Ridho Sulistya, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is said to want to pardon corruptors as long as they return the money to the state. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, responded to President Prabowo Subianto's idea of pardoning the corruptors.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Exactly two months into his term as head of state as of December 20, 2024, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has received attention in recent weeks with a series of controversial statements. The General Chair of the Gerindra Party has drawn criticism because his statements are considered not pro-populist or not on the side of the people.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya recently denied Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's claims that President Prabowo is currently unwell.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency or BGN said Tuesday that parents would not have to spend a dime for the upcoming nutritious school lunch program, let alone buy a lunchbox.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will issue a Letter of Termination of Investigation (SP3) for Awang Faroek Ishak, the former Governor of East Kalimantan, who passed away at the age of 76 on Sunday.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reportedly named Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), as a suspect in a graft case tied to the replacement of a legislative member in the 2019-2024 House of Representatives.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) alleged on Tuesday that political motives were behind the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) decision to name its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, as a corruption suspect.

Imam Suhartadi, Jakarta – As people's purchasing power weakens, Indonesians will likely hold back on spending this holiday season, according to an analyst.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has stated that the shooting of two civilians by para-military police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers in Dekai, Yahukimo regency, last August, was a human rights violation.

Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies, Banda Aceh – Heri Syahrial thinks his family is here, somewhere under his feet and the crumbling path, amid the roots of the now-towering trees. Mum, Dad, grandmothers, niece, uncle, both brothers and a sister.

Lusa – Australia is to invest in the qualification of workers in Timor-Leste and create an infrastructure fund for the country with some of its share of profits from the Greater Sunrise offshore gas field, the prime ministers of the two countries have announced.

Jakarta – High-profile businessman Harvey Moeis, nicknamed Indonesia's "perfect husband" by netizens, was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison and a penalty of 210 billion rupiah (US$13 million) for his role in a massive tin-mining corruption case on Monday (Dec 23). He was also fined 1 billion rupiah.

Jakarta – What can Indonesian Christians of all denominations hope for as the most welcome news from the state this Christmas? As the Holy Bible says, an angel of the Lord appeared unto shepherds in Bethlehem, saying, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people". What is the good news for them and the whole nation?

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The government has ramped up its efforts to curb the so-called epidemic of online gambling, which is indulged in by around 8.8 million Indonesians and had an illicit turnover of Rp 900 trillion (US$55 billion) this year alone.

Antara, Jakarta – Renowned artist Yos Suprapto has withdrawn his artwork from an exhibition at the National Gallery of Indonesia (Galnas) following disagreements with the gallery and a former curator. The exhibition, themed "Revival: Land for Food Sovereignty," was originally scheduled to run from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 19, 2025.

Antara, Jakarta – As many as 20 rural banks (BPR) were shut down by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in 2024 after shareholders and management failed to implement effective recovery efforts.

Sopian Hadi, Bali – The Bali National Narcotics Agency (BNNP Bali) conducted a raid at a villa in the Canggu area, North Kuta, Badung, uncovering a suspected illegal party involving foreign nationals on Saturday, Dec. 21. During the operation, officers discovered 50 individuals, many of whom were in a semi-nude condition.

Bill Birtles and Mitch Woolnough in Jakarta – Mohamad Rizky's parents don't know how he spends his Friday nights in Jakarta and the 15-year-old doesn't dare tell them.

That's because the mischievous teen is out on his motorbike, racing along the twists and turns of the capital's narrow streets.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesman Roy Soemirat said Monday that President Prabowo Subianto to this day still has not received any invitation to attend US President-Elect Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration next month.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer, or Noel, says there have been at least 80,000 cases of layoffs since the beginning of the year until December 2024. He considers the situation as macabre.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Manpower Immanuel Ebenezer expressed suspicion regarding the bankruptcy of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex. "We suspect that in this bankruptcy process, there is the hand of Satan at play," he said at his office on Monday, December 23, 2024.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – More than 5.64 million people have been victims of natural disasters in various regions in Indonesia throughout this year, from January 1 to December 22, 2024. They suffered and had to evacuate due to floods, landslides, tornadoes, earthquakes, land fires, volcanic eruptions, and moving soil.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah is expected to face continued depreciation into early 2025, according to Dian Ayu Yustina, Head of Macroeconomic and Financial Market Research at Bank Mandiri. According to Dian, ongoing uncertainty in the global economy, particularly due to the upcoming US presidential inauguration in January 2025, could further pressure currency markets.

Haryanti Puspa Sari, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) General Chairperson Muhammad Isnur has emphasised that granting amnesty or abolition to corruptors on the condition that that they compensate for state losses is contrary to the principles of justice.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – A viral video on social media suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walked out of the D-8 Summit in Egypt while Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was giving a speech supporting Palestine on Thursday. The video sparked speculation that Erdogan left in the middle of Prabowo's remarks.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – The terrorist group Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (East Indonesia Mujahideen), or MIT, has been said to be wiped out following the death of its last fugitive Al Ikhwarisman a.k.a. Jaid in 2022.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's plan to pardon corruptors who return their wealth from corruption to the country has been flooded with criticism. A number of parties, from legal experts to anti-corruption activists, disagree with the idea. They consider this effort to be against the rules and seems to protect perpetrators of corruption.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Member of the House of Representatives (DPR) of the Gerindra Party Faction, Heri Gunawan, said that PDIP does not need to play drama by pretending to defend people over the increase in value-added tax (VAT) to 12 percent. He said that PDIP's changed stance could now be seen as an opportunist stance that uses the stage for image building.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said that the Iranian government had sent a letter requesting the transfer of prisoners. However, Indonesia has yet to determine its stance on the request.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), has disputed the government's assessment of the impact of the upcoming VAT increase from 11% to 12%.

Antara, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Yenny Wahid, the daughter of the late President Abdurrahman Wahid, widely known as Gus Dur, expressed her appreciation for a recent statement by President Prabowo Subianto signaling the government's plan to declare her father a national hero.

Jakarta – Floods and landslides triggered by extreme weather have struck various regions across the archipelago in the past week, as millions of people prepare to hit the road and flock to popular tourist destinations for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Jakarta – There are good reasons for (and against) hiking the value added tax (VAT) by one percentage point on Jan. 1, 2025, but there is no good reason for dithering once a decision has been made.

A VAT hike raises the price of consumption, the idea being that consumers pay a little extra so that the state has additional resources for public programs.

Alloysius Joko Purwanto and Nuki Agya Utama, Jakarta – Indonesia's abundant agricultural resources present a pivotal opportunity to transition from fossil fuels to bioethanol, a cleaner and renewable energy alternative.

Jakarta – State-owned railway firm PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) introduced women-only cars on the Greater Jakarta Light Rapid Transit (LRT) on Monday. The special service will be available throughout the LRT's operational hours on weekdays but will not operate on weekends and public holidays.

Jakarta – Civil society organizations have condemned the assault committed by an unidentified group on environmental activist Sulfianto Alias in Teluk Bintuni regency, West Papua, on Friday, with one of the perpetrators claiming to be a police officer.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Thousands of former members and sympathizers of the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) gathered in Solo, Central Java, on Saturday to declare their renouncement of radical views and pledge allegiance to Indonesia.