Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said on Wednesday that no school is allowed to reject students with special needs.

Nasaruddin reiterated the Ministry of Religious Affairs' commitment to ensuring equal access to education for all students, including those with special needs.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The business deals that President Prabowo Subianto had secured from his first-ever foreign trip had totaled $21.36 billion, much bigger than the previously announced figures, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – The government will proceed with plans to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent on January 1, 2025, despite growing objections from businesses and the public, a senior lawmaker confirmed on Thursday.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The planned increase in Indonesia's value-added tax (VAT) rate from 11 percent to 12 percent could reduce the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by Rp 21 trillion ($1.3 billion), an economist warned on Thursday.

Asher Ellis – Indonesia's recent scuffle with Apple over iPhone 16 sales offers a revealing window into the Prabowo administration's emerging trade and industrial policy.

Ezra Toara - December 1, 2024 is a date deeply significant to all West Papuans, marking 63 years since the Morning Star Flag was first raised for independence and justice for West Papua.

This year's event in Vanuatu's capital was commemorated at Sorovango School.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Thousands of houses were inundated by floods after heavy and prolonged rain poured over the Lebak Regency, Banten, on Monday, December 2, 2024. The rain also caused landslides and several tree falls in the early hours.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto underscored the importance of prosperity for the people during a speech at the 112th anniversary of Muhammadiyah in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. The theme of this Islamic organization's congregational meeting is to create prosperity for all Indonesian people.

Alfida Rizki Febrianna, Jakarta – The government's plan to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from 11 percent to 12 percent in January is expected to further reduce Indonesia's middle-class population, which has already been shrinking since 2018 due to weakened purchasing power.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A consumer protection association recently proposed sugary drink excise as a sweet alternative to the controversial value-added tax (VAT) hike, citing that such measures could prevent children from getting diabetes.

Bella Evanglista, Kupang – President Prabowo Subianto called on government officials to reduce business trips and ceremonial events that use state funds.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will continue investigating a case implicating acting Pekanbaru mayor Risnandar Mahiwa by looking into the possible involvement of other parties suspected of benefitting from the alleged graft.

Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry has asked for an additional budget allocation of Rp 14.8 trillion (US$87 million) next year to pay for construction projects in the planned new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Jakarta – Environment Minister Hanif Faisal Nurofiq has urged regional administrations to address the problem of illegal final disposal sites (TPA) within their jurisdictions.

Eddie Spence – Indonesia needs to shut multiple coal plants a year while also tripling renewables to meet its new president's ambition of a full phase-out of the fossil fuel by 2040, according to climate consultancy Ember.

Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has affirmed that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has the authority to investigate corruption cases in the Indonesian Military (TNI) until the issuance of a final and legally binding verdict, as long as the KPK was the initial body to bring the case.

Grace el Dora, Jakarta – The rupiah slipped 0.25 percent to close at Rp 15,946 against the US dollar on Tuesday, as markets awaited signals of an interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – The Investment Minister and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Rosan Roeslani, announced plans to improve transparency in business licensing processes starting in early 2025.

Rosan made the statement while speaking at the Investor Daily Round Table (IDRT) event at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in South Jakarta on Friday, Nov. 29.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – The Investment Ministry/the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is creating a roadmap for the downstream industrialization of 28 key commodities in Indonesia. Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani announced the initiative during the Investor Daily Round Table at the Ritz Carlton Pacific Place in South Jakarta on Friday, Nov. 29.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government would get much more money from seizing assets lost in corruption compared to raising the value-added tax or VAT, according to a retail association.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Following a series of incidents involving police misuse of firearms, a lawmaker has raised the question of whether Indonesian police should continue carrying guns.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The indigenous people of Merauke held an audience with Committee II of the South Papua Regional Government Council at the Merauke District Office, Papua, on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Beritasatu Team, Jakarta – Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid urged mobile telecommunication operators to tighten monitoring of phone credit, commonly known as pulsa, top-up transactions to help combat online gambling.

Heru Andriyanto, Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – Retail associations on Tuesday urged the government to reconsider its plan to increase the value-added tax (VAT) rate next year, as businesses and consumers continue to struggle with rising costs and weak demand.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's aspirations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) have received a warm welcome from Canada. Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, hopes that more countries will be interested in joining CPTPP.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – As the January 2025 deadline for the value-added tax (VAT) increase from 11% to 12% looms, uncertainty persists regarding the policy's implementation. Despite widespread public opposition, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) continue to pass the buck.

Dina Afrianty and Filipus Yudiandito – One of President Prabowo Subianto's bold moves after taking office on 20 October 2024 was granting human rights a separate ministry. Through Presidential Decree 139/2024, Prabowo established the Ministry of Human Rights as one of the 48 ministries in his "Red and White" Cabinet, the largest since the Sukarno era.

Yolanda Agne, Jakarta – The proposed notion to place the National Police (Polri) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has invited a series of criticisms.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) was one of the supporters of this proposal, which was brought up under the issue of neutrality and national security.

Jakarta – The North Jakarta city administration has relocated 43 families living under the Ir. Wiyoto Wiyono toll road in the Jembatan Tiga area of Pejagalan subdistrict, Penjaringan district, to rusunawa (low-cost rental apartments) as of Monday.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Jakarta Environmental Office said the compliance rate towards vehicle emissions tests remained below 30 percent in three years, from 2022 to 2024, as reviewed from five administrative areas in Jakarta.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – All seven senior ministers under President Prabowo Subianto have asked for a much bigger budget for next year, totaling around Rp 5.18 trillion ($363 million) in additional spending.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A senior minister recently said that the government was still testing whether it was possible to feed students across the archipelago with nutritious meals that cost no more than Rp 10,000 ($0.63).

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A proposal by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) to transfer the National Police under the authority of the Home Affairs Ministry has been firmly rejected by seven other incumbent political parties.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Acting Pekanbaru Mayor Risnandar Mahiwa was arrested during a raid by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the Riau capital on Monday.

Risnandar, a senior official with the Home Affairs Ministry, was appointed acting mayor on May 22 to fill in the position until an elected mayor is sworn in next month.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The ethics council of the House of Representatives has scheduled separate hearings on Tuesday with three lawmakers accused of misconduct.

Jakarta – In response to broad public opposition, a number of officials have suggested pushing back a long-planned value added tax (VAT) hike meant to kick in at the turn of the year. The brouhaha is overblown.

For a start, the money we pay in taxes does not evaporate but gets used, and hopefully for the benefit of the public.

Sorong – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP), the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua (FRI-WP) and the All-Surabaya Papua High School and University Students Association (IPMAPA Surabaya) have expressed their firm opposition to National Strategic Projects (PSN), the transmigration program and military mobilisation in Papua.

Jakarta – Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding says there is strong demand for Indonesian migrant workers in several countries, such as Japan, which has requested up to 70,000 workers this year.

Jakarta – There should be a wider gap between the general elections and regional head elections, and this can be considered when revising Law No. 7/2017 on General Elections, the House of Representatives Commission II vice chairman Dede Yusuf said.

Lusa – In Timor-Leste, a bus dubbed the 'Demokrasia – bis' is serving as an information sharing centre, driving around the country to hear the concerns and suggestions of young Timorese in order to then bring them to the attention of political decision-makers.

Twenty five Pacific civil society organisations and solidarity movements have called on Pacific leaders of their "longstanding responsibility" to West Papua, and to urgently address the "ongoing gross human rights abuses" by Indonesia.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Indonesian Teacher Union Federation (FSGI) urges the government to clarify the statement regarding the salary increase for teachers that was previously disclosed by President Prabowo during a speech at the National Teacher's Day event at Velodrome, East Jakarta, on Thursday, November 28, 2024.

Jakarta – Some delegates at the COP29 climate conference have scoffed at the US$300 billion annual fund pledged to developing countries to finance losses and damages from climate change while making the transition to cleaner and renewable energy. Nobody is laughing, but they are right, the sum is laughable.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) revealed that the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan will continue with a focus on completing the government center.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Former four-term lawmaker Effendi Simbolon has been expelled from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) after he made an unacceptable mistake: meeting with former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, the party said on Sunday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) has voiced opposition to the 6.5 percent hike in the 2025 minimum wage, warning that the policy could hinder business expansion and lead to widespread layoffs.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Member of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Idham Holik said the rerun elections for regions where "empty box" wins will commence in September 2025.

Idham said the empty ballot boxes won in two regions, out of the 36 regions with uncontested regional elections. These regions are Pangkalpinang City and the Bangka Regency.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) noted that there are still practices of slavery in East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This practice persists due to the social stratification system in the Marapu culture applied by some local communities.

Jakarta – Indonesia and China are seeing solid progress in their bilateral economic cooperation, with the ties helping bolster expectations that Southeast Asia's largest economy will become a trading hub for the region, an expo forum heard in Jakarta on Thursday.

Jakarta – The annual inflation was recorded at 1.55 percent in November, compared to 1.71 percent in the previous month, driven primarily by price hikes in food, beverages, and tobacco products.

The month-to-month inflation stood at 0.30 percent while year-to-date inflation was 1.12 percent, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) released on Monday.