Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), Said Iqbal, considers that increasing the value-added tax or VAT to 12 percent will worsen the economic conditions of workers and small communities. On the other hand, he said that increasing the minimum wage of only 1-3 percent is not enough to cover people's basic needs.

Jakarta – The decision by the government to write off non-performing loans (NPLs) for small businesses with state banks and funding institutions could revive stalled micro businesses. This policy is contained in Government Regulation No.

Vendro Immanuel G, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) expressed strong opposition to the government's plan to increase the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate to 12%, scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. YLKI argues that this proposed hike by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati will further exacerbate the financial burdens faced by consumers.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan publicly endorsed Pramono Anung's candidacy for Jakarta governorship on Thursday and urged his supporters to follow suit.

Anies, whose reelection bid failed due to a lack of support from any major political party, joined Pramono at a campaign event in South Jakarta to show his explicit support.

Jakarta – Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan – An economic affairs advisor to President Prabowo Subianto – revealed Thursday that many foreign-owned businesses in Indonesia's tourist haven of Bali had been breaking the rules.

Scott Waide – For a decade, Benny Wenda has tirelessly campaigned to secure West Papua's place in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), advocating for a voice in the regional arena.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) said that all provinces on the island of Papua will receive special attention due to their vulnerability to conflicts during regional elections.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission III has elected five new leaders for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for the 2024-2029 term, including Setyo Budianto as the new chairman.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition, which consists of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and Transparency International Indonesia (TII), says that the selection of the new batch of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders for the 2024-2029 period had already been conditioned (decided on in advance).

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Diky Anindya urged the House of Representatives (DPR) not to choose the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leader subjectively. He said this is especially true if the subjective choice favors the abolishment of sting operations (OTT) from the KPK.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) has ruled that President Prabowo Subianto's explicit endorsement of Central Java gubernatorial candidate Ahmad Luthfi and his running mate Taj Yasin Maimoen did not constitute an election violation, allowing the Gerindra party patron to go scot-free.

Jakarta – The piles of garbage the size of a soccer field close to Muara Bakti village, Babelan district, Bekasi regency, West Java, have caused unrest among nearby residents.

The 200-meter-long wasteland is a former excavation site about 5 m deep along the Kali Cikarang Bekasi Laut River.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) says efforts to implement the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment remain stagnant to this day.

Jakarta – The simultaneous regional head elections next week will again test the nation's commitment to democracy. After electing the president, vice president and representatives in the national and regional legislatures on Feb. 14, voters across the country will choose 37 governors, 415 regents and 93 mayors on Wednesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Habiburokhman, Chairman of the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission III, proposed that future leaders and supervisory board members of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) refrain from participating in "doorstep" interviews with journalists.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently revised Indonesia's net zero target from 2060 to 2050, much earlier compared to what his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had been aiming for.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Deputy Chair of Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR), Mohamad Hekal, said that no changes or delays to the upcoming Value Added Tax (VAT) increase are planned, despite growing calls for a postponement.

Grace el Dora, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah could potentially reach Rp 16,000 per US dollar as geopolitical tensions and a stronger greenback continue to pressure the local currency.

The rupiah depreciated 43 points, or 0.27 percent, to Rp 15,914 per US dollar, down from Rp 15,871.

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – The Golkar Party's leadership under Chairman Bahlil Lahadalia has been officially legitimized with the issuance of a new decree from the Law and Human Rights Ministry for the 2024-2029 term. The decree, presented on Wednesday, confirms the party's structure, putting an end to rumors of legal disputes over its bylaws.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Jakarta – Heavy rains in Bandung from the afternoon to the evening of Wednesday, November 20, caused the Citarum River and several other rivers to overflow. As a result, residents' houses in Dayeuh Kolot and Bojongsoang districts were flooded up to 1 meter deep.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that the impact of global climate change has led the government to decide to move the capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan. Prabowo highlighted the rising sea levels that have started to inundate some coastal areas in Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry has confirmed that it will not use Government Regulation (PP) No. 51/2023 as a reference for calculating minimum wage, including the upcoming 2025 provincial minimum wage (UMP).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.