Jakarta – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has embarked on his first working visit to China to discuss cooperation between the two countries in the defense sector.

Jakarta – As if managing waste on a daily basis was not enough, Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) officers in Jelambar, West Jakarta, have been apparently told to take a dip in a gutter to qualify for a contract extension – according to a viral video that made the rounds on social media over the weekend and triggered criticisms from netizens and city officials alike.

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Just a week after he was named Indonesia's new religious affairs minister, retired army general Fachrul Razi sparked a controversy by suggesting a ban on the niqab – a face veil for women – and men's cropped pants in government offices.

Luthfi T. Dzulfikar, Amin Abdullah and Kamaruddin Amin – In an attempt to offer an alternative Islamic university model to the current dominance of Middle Eastern universities, Indonesia has announced plans to open the Indonesian International Islamic University (UIII) in Depok, West Java.

The 79 member states of the Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) group are seeking international action over human rights abuses in West Papua.

A resolution was passed by the group at its 9th ACP Summit of Heads of State and Government, calling for urgent attention to be paid to the rights situation in Indonesia-ruled Papua region.

Antara, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, formally asks regional leaders to compete in offering investors ease of investments, especially those that are aiming to invest in a region's development.

Hardline group the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has made their displeasure of Governor Anies Baswedan known after accusing the latter's administration of allowing "immorality" into the capital.

Jakarta – The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has named members of prominent business lobby groups along with government officials, academics and journalists in a task force to lead public consultation on the omnibus bill on job creation and taxation.

Made Anthony Iswara, Bali – Indonesia added fuel to its ongoing feud with the European Union last week by filing a lawsuit to the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the bloc's palm oil policy, which Indonesia has deemed discriminatory to its palm oil sector.

Jakarta – The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court have postponed the first court hearing which was to hear the reading of the charges against Surya Anta and five other Papua activists.

M Rosseno Aji, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Saut Situmorang announced the reason why 12 of his former employees resigned from one of Indonesia's potent anti-graft watchdog.

Linda Trianita, Jakarta – The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) on Friday announced the discovery of a number of money laundering schemes by regional heads through casinos.

Eko Wahyudi L Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – President Jokowi's special staff of communications and spokesman, Fadjroel Rachman, congratulated Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati for her entry in Forbes magazine's 100 most influential people of 2019 and also the only Indonesian female to be nominated.

Andita Rahma (Antara), Jakarta – Indonesian National Police's public relations chief, Grand Commissioner Asep Adi Saputra says there are at least 25 police members from the Bandung's Kota Besar police precinct involved in the Tamansari eviction that will be questioned by the internal affairs division (Propam).

Friski Riana, Jakarta – In opening the National Development Planning Conference RPJMN 2020-2024 today, President Jokowi expressed discontent regarding the absence of a new oil refinery for the past 34 years.

"How can we not have built oil refineries in 34 years?" asked the president on Monday, December 16.

Jakarta – Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is seeking to raise up to $900 million from issuing dollar-denominated Islamic bonds, private placement or peer-to-peer lending next year.

Garuda needs more cash soon to pay back debts due in the next 12 months, the company said in a statement to Investor Daily newspaper on Monday.

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – At least 25 percent and up to 49 percent of Indonesian children under the age of five are never issued a birth certificate, putting them in danger of being exploited – even losing their citizenship, according to a study by the United Nations Children Fund, or Unicef, released last week.

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – Two Indonesian Navy warships, KRI Usman Harun and KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda, were part of a mini defense exhibition in Dili, the capital of East Timor, on Thursday.

The exhibition was attended by officials from East Timor's Defense Ministry and soldiers from its military.

Jakarta – Indonesian police said on Saturday they have arrested seven suspected Islamic militants in the country's easternmost Papua province as authorities beef up security ahead of Christmas and New Year's celebrations.

Dili – Timorese seasonal workers have been experiencing 'big problems' in Australia, said Tim Nelthorpe, lead organiser for the Australian United Workers Union (UWU).

Rebecca Spellman – Deadly swine fever is closing in on Australia's pork industry as experts say it has reached Indonesia. The disease, although harmless to humans, could wipe of Australia's $5.2billion pork industry.

Indonesian authorities say the swine fever has been discovered in North Sumatra and has prompted experts to investigate any livestock deaths in the country.

Jakarta (Antara) – Freedom of religion and belief is the fundamental right of every human being, Indonesian representative for the ASEAN Intergovernment Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Yuyun Wahyuningrum said.

Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – "You may write me down in history, with your bitter twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I'll rise."

Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" poem about fighting against oppression can be interpreted as analogous to the struggles women's right activists and survivors have faced in Indonesia throughout 2019.

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – A member of the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob), First Pvt. Saiful, died on Friday in a suspected terrorist attack after Friday mass prayer at a mosque in Salubanga village in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi.

Jakarta – Dozens of Indonesians have taken part in a shouting competition in the capital Jakarta, taking five minutes on stage to belt out advice on issues such as health, education and child protection to a crowd below.

Jakarta – Next year, the Jokowi administration will have to face the threat of a global recession. It is by no means certain that New Order style policies, which emphasized political stability and deregulation of economic sectors, will be able to save Indonesia if the economy weakens, yet alone if there is a crisis.

Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – For the first time in its history, Indonesia has made it into the United Nation's high human development category thanks to its improved ranking in the 2018 Human Development Index (HDI).

Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir said he was surprised to learn that many SOE directors held more than one position at a time.

Jakarta – Starting next week, the Jakarta Police are set to equip their patrol officers with body cameras.

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu – Two died and 50 houses were left covered in mud after a flash flood hit several villages in Kulawi subdistrict in Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday evening.

The disaster occurred at 7 p.m. when most residents were at home and while others were holding a Christmas prayer at a church in the area.

Seven Pacific island nations have called for a UN investigation into allegations of human rights abuses in Indonesia's West Papua and Papua provinces, where a separatist movement has simmered for decades.

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has asked citizens to strengthen tolerance and harmony ahead of the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

Suherdjoko, Semarang – Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said on Friday that Indonesia would not welcome a caliphate system because it would contradict the democratic system that had been set up by the country's founding fathers.

Kenya – Global Pan Africanism Network leader met West Papuan Independence Leader, Mr. Benny Wenda, on 8th December in Nairobi, Kenya.

It was a defining moment for Africa-West Papua relations as West Papuan leader attended the 9th African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States summit.

Daniel Moss – When even Indonesia starts talking about relaxing deficit rules, you know government spending is back in vogue as a remedy for faltering economic growth.

Jakarta – State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will build a new train line to connect Kebon Kawung Station in the city of Bandung, West Java, to Tegalluar Station in Bandung regency, which will be the final station of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway that is currently under development.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will name one of the rooms in its Anti-Corruption Learning Center after two protesters who died during the nationwide student rallies over a several controversial bills, including a revision to the KPK Law, in late September.

Arya Dipa, Bandung, West Java – Authorities in Bandung, West Java, forcefully evicted residents of Taman Sari subdistrict on Thursday, leading to a clash between security personnel and those who refused to yield to the city administration's plan to construct rumah deret (row houses) in the area.

Dessy Sagita and Peter Brieger, Jakarta – Indonesia's little-known glaciers are melting so fast they could disappear in a decade, a new study says, underscoring the imminent threat posed by climate change to ice sheets in tropical countries.

Jakarta – Pencak silat, a traditional Indonesian martial art married with dance that has found a wider audience in film in the past few years, was recognized on Thursday as a piece of intangible world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Marchio Irfan Gorbiano, Jakarta – The government has said that it will soon submit two omnibus bills to lawmakers so that the two parties can begin deliberations over them.

If passed, the bills on job creation and on taxation will amend more than a thousand articles in prevailing laws that some say have deterred investment into the country.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The government plans to drop a complicated licensing process and an expensive capital requirement for small businesses, making it easier for them to open up shops.

Francisca Christy Rosana (Antara) Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said he believed Indonesia would be the world's largest stainless steel exporter by the year 2021 following the country's constant growth of stainless steel exports.

Fikri Arigi, Jakarta – Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Head of research Rivanlee Anandar criticized Coordinating Minister Mahfud Md's claim on zero human rights violations during President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's first term in office.

Japanese beef bowl chain Yoshinoya and Indonesian seafood chain D'Cost have both found themselves in the middle of what might be (yet) another religious discrimination scandal in Indonesia. Once again, it has to do with birthday cakes.

Basten Gokkon, Kuta, Indonesia – Indonesia plans to restore more than 300,000 hectares (741,300 acres) of idle shrimp-farming ponds to boost its fisheries and reduce deforestation of the country's mangrove ecosystems, according to a top official.

Beritasatu, Jakarta – Retired army general Wiranto has been called back to the government by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday to serve a new role as the head of the nine-member Presidential Advisory Board, or Wantimpres.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – It was large swaths of degraded and idle land, and not forested land, that accounted for much of the burned area during this year's fire season in Indonesia, according to new findings.

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo has brushed off accusations by critics that he is looking to create a political dynasty after a decision by his son and son-in-law to run for mayoral posts in next year's regional elections.

Michael Taylor, Kuala Lumpur – Villagers on a tiny island off the coast of East Timor who have long struggled with water shortages have secured regular fresh supplies, using just air and the power of the sun.