Jakarta – A number of political parties, the government and the General Elections Commission (KPU) have responded to the discourse initiated by President Prabowo Subianto who proposed that regional heads be chosen by Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) rather than through direct elections.

Zach Hope – Greetings from Jakarta. My favourite Christmas carol is O Holy Night, that stirring ballad of almost impossible range.

You don't hear it around the shopping centres in Australia as much as other carols. Maybe it's not boppy enough. Maybe the lyrics, which declare Christmas "the night of our dear Saviour's birth", are just a little too ... Jesusy.

Max Lane – The new president has been in power nearly two months but many questions remain unresolved.

Jakarta – Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas underscored the need to consider and study the discourse on electing regional leaders through members of local representative councils (DPRD).

Jakarta – Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto has suggested scrapping one of the country's two nationwide elections to cut costs, advocating a return to a model similar to that used during its three-decade era of authoritarian rule.

Jakarta – Senior United Development Party (PPP) politician Sandiaga Uno has said former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed the party's leadership to pay close attention to citizens' aspirations during their latest meeting in Surakarta, Central Java.

Jakarta – There is no mistaking the signs that the government is getting serious about nuclear energy as a way out of the power supply dilemma.

Yustinus Paat, Bogor – President Prabowo Subianto suggested on Thursday that he would support the idea of abolishing direct elections for governors, regents, and mayors, citing the significant financial burden they impose on the state and politicians.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is still weighing the pros and cons of joining President Prabowo Subianto's giant political alliance, according to its matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Any economic decision made by the US President-Elect Donald Trump is set to affect Indonesia, according to a top brass at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Djaka Riyanto, Cikarang – Daikin Industries Indonesia (DIID) has completed its first full-scale air conditioner (AC) factory in Cikarang, West Java. The 20-hectare facility was built with an investment of Rp 3.3 trillion ($206 million).

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – Gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil officially conceded defeat on Friday, accepting the victory of rival Pramono Anung in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Minister of Law (Menkum) Supratman Andi Agtas has revealed that it has been proposed that as many as 18 prisoners involved in cases related to Papua are to be given amnesty.

Yustinus Paat, Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Several political figures, including leaders from Golkar and the National Awakening Party (PKB), support President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to eliminate direct regional elections (pilkada) for local leaders such as governors, regents, and mayors, suggesting these positions should instead be filled by local legislatures (DPRD).

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Cigarette prices will rise in 2025, even though the government is not increasing tobacco excise duties, under new rules set by Finance Minister Regulation (PMK) No. 97/2024 on tobacco excise.

Jakarta – A 14-year-old allegedly killed his father and grandmother and injured his mother at their home in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta. This is a heartbreaking tragedy. MAS is both a perpetrator and a victim of complicated circumstances for which we, as adults, should all bear responsibility.

Mutia Yuantisya, Linda Trianita, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned the Head of the Sub Directorate of Processing at the Directorate of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products at the Ministry of Agriculture Suprihartono. Investigators also questioned PT Haje Multi Plasindo Director Erfie Jahja.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, recorded that 20,629 residents were affected and 3,464 residents were evacuated due to floods and landslides in several districts in Sukabumi since Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A top brass at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently said that the international lender was not worried about Indonesia's ability to pay off the money it has borrowed for its energy transition, among others.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – A new fuel subsidy scheme will come into effect early next year, according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

The government has been exploring new fuel subsidy schemes for a more precise distribution. Indonesia will soon decide and announce the scheme that is also expected to help the country save money.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry is currently finalizing the regulations for the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) that will be implemented starting next year. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has ensured that this tax will not be imposed on essential goods.

Andriadi Perdana Putra, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan – At least three people died after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Gudang Hulu village, the district of Selimbau, on Tuesday afternoon.

Jakarta – Pramono Anung's outright win in the Jakarta gubernatorial election looks set to go uncontested after closest rival Ridwan Kamil didn't file a dispute with the Constitutional Court until the deadline at 11.59 p.m. on Wednesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The circulation of illegal cigarettes in Indonesia is becoming increasingly widespread. In addition to being cheaper, illegal cigarettes are readily available at small stalls along the streets.

Antara, Bali – The Ngurah Rai Airport Immigration Office in Bali's Badung Regency has established a cyber unit to enhance surveillance of foreign nationals (WNA) potentially violating immigration regulations.

Antara, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), expressed her support for the free nutritious meal program (MBG) proposed by her rival, President Prabowo Subianto. However, she called for a reassessment of the allocated budget, set at Rp 10,000 ($0.63) per serving.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The European Green Deal may help commodity-exporting countries such as Indonesia to reap economic benefits from increased trade with European nations, but doing so may potentially move environmentally harmful practices from Europe to countries with less stringent environmental policies, researchers have warned.

Jakarta – State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga expects more than 3 million total vehicles to leave the capital over the year-end travel season for Christmas and New Year, up 17.9 percent from the usual volume and 2.4 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has provided further context regarding the recent comments made by President Prabowo Subianto about Indonesia's relatively high Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR).

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto once again reassigned 300 high-ranking officers within the TNI on December 6, 2024. Two months prior, TNI Commander also issued a decree concerning the reassignment of 64 high-ranking TNI officers.

Dede Leni Mardiant, Jakarta – Gunfire engagement between a group calling themselves the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) occurred again in Lanny Jaya, Papua Mountains, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Annelise Giseburt – Biomass energy subsidies in South Korea and Japan are threatening Southeast Asia's tropical forests, warns a new report by environmental NGOs. Of particular concern is the nascent but rapidly growing woody biomass industry in Indonesia, where rainforests are already being cleared to make wood pellets to be burned for electricity.

Hariz Baharudin, Jakarta – Barely 50 days into his presidency, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration is already grappling with gaffes involving high-profile appointees, which some say cast an early shadow on his governance.

Observers, however, remain divided on whether these incidents have far-reaching implications.

Ucu Martanto – Fewer Indonesians exercised their voting rights in the last round of regional elections, raising further questions about the state of democracy in the country.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto made a joke while delivering a speech at the inauguration of the Silaturahmi Tunnel between the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption) in the courtyard of the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday, December 12.

Jakarta – The Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) has expressed hope for assistance from neighboring countries, including Indonesia, to help address Japan's labor crunch.

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Bandung – Head of the West Java Manpower and Transmigration Agency Teppy Wawan Dharmawan stated, the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) of West Java for 2025 was decided to increase by 6.5 percent from the 2024 UMP or raised by Rp133,737.18.

Jakarta – The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Police have revealed that at least 15 women, including underage girls, have fallen victim to alleged sexual harassment over the past few months by a 22-year-old man identified by his initials IWAS.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has criticized senior minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra for "empty rhetoric" in a speech he gave to commemorate International Human Rights Day, amid sluggish progress in resolving past atrocities and persistent reports of police brutality and discrimination against religious minorities.

Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that the number of violations against freedom of religion in Indonesia has declined over the last four years.

Imparsial Director Ardi Manto believes that the decline in the number of violations is a positive record for the police under the leadership of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Jakarta – Natural disasters over the past two weeks have damaged 58 elementary schools in 11 districts across Cianjur regency, West Java, an education official said on Tuesday.

Vitorio Mantalean, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that the International Human Rights Day speech delivered by the Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Institutions, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, was "empty rhetoric" which does not reflect the real situation on the ground.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) launched the White Paper on Mapping Human Resources Needs (Areas of Expertise) and Centers of Excellence for Indonesia's Golden Years 2045.

Jakarta – The gubernatorial election in Jakarta has always been one of the most-watched polls in the country. The city is after all, at least for the time being, still the fully functioning capital of Indonesia.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Indonesia is aiming for Rp 1,906 trillion ($119.72 billion) in investment for 2025, marking a 15.45 percent increase from the 2024 target.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – Transgender celebrity Lucinta Luna stated that she will embrace her male identity when performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca, acknowledging her biological sex as male despite her legal recognition as a woman.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra acknowledged that Indonesia's anticorruption efforts have not been sufficient, despite earlier regulatory updates aimed at combating corruption.

Antara, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Teguh Setyabudi has announced that Jakarta's provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2025 will rise to Rp 5.4 million ($339.6) per month, reflecting a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year's Rp 5.07 million.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The state budget recorded a deficit of Rp 401.8 trillion ($25.2 billion) as of November, but Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday that the figure remains within safe limits.

Jakarta – Indonesian fruit seller Budi was seeking better prospects when he signed up for an IT job in Cambodia. But he found himself detained in a heavily guarded compound where he was forced to carry out online scams.