Jakarta – The election year is a time for those vying for power to offer pork barrel policies, which in the Indonesian context today can take shape in contributions to the Village Funds. The House of Representatives, under the full control of the ruling coalition, agreed to propose the increase through its initiative bill that will revise the 2014 Village Law.

Yohana Belinda, Jakarta – Recovery continues apace in Indonesia's tourism industry, with the number of foreign arrivals in the first five months of 2023 increasing 312 percent year-on-year.

Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said the progress so far suggested that the country was on track to meeting its goal.

Nur Janti and Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta – A recent remark by the mayor of Medan, North Sumatra, Bobby Nasution, on police shooting criminals dead has been criticized for potentially leading to human rights violations.

Fachri Hamzah, Jakarta – Heavy rain that has been pouring down Padang City all night since Thursday night has caused flooding. Padang Deputy Mayor Ekol Albar said that all areas in Padang City were flooded, the worst hit was the Sub District of Rawang in South Padang District.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – The Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) spent Rp20.5 trillion to acquire two Trans Sumatra Toll Road sections which were previously worked on by PT Hutama Karya (Persero). The two toll roads are Medan-Binjai and Bakauheni-Terbanggi Besar.

Moh. Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – The LRT Jabodebek Division of the Indonesian Railways Company, Mochamad Purnomosidi, explained the calculation of the return on investment of the LRT Jabodebek project.

Jakarta – The results of an Indostrategic survey released on Friday July 14 show that most people disagree with the national capital (IKN) being immediately moved from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.

Dicky Kurniawan, Jakarta – State electricity company, PT PLN, said it has installed 616 electric vehicle charging stations (SPKLU) and 1,401 EV battery charging stations (SPBKLU) with the aim to accelerate net zero emission (NZE) target in 2060.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papua Police has published a vulnerability index for the General Election, indicating that 12 out of 29 regencies and cities in Papua are at risk of conflict during the upcoming elections on February 14, 2024.

Jayapura, Jubi – Press organizations in Papua, including the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) of Jayapura City, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) of Papua, and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) of Papua, lambasted what was reported to be intimidation against Abdel Gamel Naser, a journalist from Cenderawasih Pos.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government obliges exporters of natural resources to keep at least 30 percent of their foreign exchange revenues at local financial institutions for at least three months.

The ruling is stipulated in government regulation no. 36 on export revenues from the business, management, and processing of natural resources.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – The Indonesian Police have spent Rp 49 billion ($3.3 million) on 1,857 riot guns that can be filled with pepper spray or tear gas to enhance security preparedness ahead of the general elections, a spokesman said on Friday.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Public policy expert from UPN Veteran Jakarta, Achmad Nur Hidayat, assessed that the approval of the Health Bill into a Law is not beneficial for the national healthcare system. Instead, the policy will make the system at risk of being hijacked by big health capital owners.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may be, as Ben Bland puts it, a man of contradictions. But when it comes to critical minerals, he is a man of his word. At least until now.

Maria Fransisca Lahur, Jakarta – To safeguard the 2024 General Elections, Indonesia's Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) have prepared a task force to ensure cyber-security during the national event.

Antara, Jakarta – The Jakarta Maritime Affairs Agency assessed that the piles of garbage covering Muara Angke Mangrove Forest in Penjaringan, North Jakarta originated from neighboring regions. "[The waste is] washed away by the current," the agency head Suharini Eliawati said on Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Rio Abadi & Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – In a rare occurrence within Indonesia's justice system, the defense team of a suspect involved in a major graft scandal voluntarily returned a substantial amount of American banknotes, totaling $1.8 million, to the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta on Thursday morning.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – State-run airport operator Angkasa Pura I announced on Thursday that the combined number of air passengers at the 15 airports under its management has reached 33.1 million in the first half of this year.

This accounts for 87 percent of the passenger figures recorded in the first half of 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry has warned that a slowing global economy could hurt Indonesia's budget, as weaker commodity exports take a toll on customs and excise as well as on non-tax revenue.

The government still expects to beat its overall budget revenue target for this year, however.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, JAKARTA – In back-to-back trilateral meetings on Wednesday with Russia and China and with Australia and India, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi asserted that Indonesia was the region's partner for peace and prosperity.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has played down the growing number of billboards featuring him and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a potential rival to Ganjar Pranowo, the 2024 presidential candidate of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), of which the President is also a member.

Jakarta – As ASEAN top diplomats meet in Jakarta, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met his counterparts on the first day of a week-long series of meetings that the bloc is staging.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Parliament approved the new health law on Tuesday 11 July, despite massive street demonstrations by several health workers in front of the parliament building.

Antara, Jakarta – Regency Government of Bekasi, West Java is planning to prepare public transportation to reach Jatimulya LRT Station after the LRT Jabodebek trial run yesterday.

Yulida Medistiara, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD is asking the public to actively participate in next year's presidential and legislative elections. Mahfud hopes that no one will golput or abstain from voting.

Jakarta – State Administrative Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas on Thursday launched 14 public service malls across 10 provinces.

The malls are located in various regencies and cities including Aceh Besar, Humbang Hasundutan, Musi Rawas, Tangerang, West Bandung, Cirebon, Pangandaran, Tegal, Kubu Raya, Pangkajene Islands, Soppeng, Wajo, Poso, and Konawe.

Tatang Guritno and Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The endless delays at the House of Representatives (DPR) in starting discussions on the Draft Law on the Seizure of Criminal Assets is believed to because of fears that the bill could come back at them and ensnare dirty politicians.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says he is preparing to appoint four interim governors from a pool of high-ranking officials for Central Java, West Java, Bali and North Sumatra, which will be vacant from the end of September this year until the regional elections on Nov. 27, 2024.

Amelia Rahma Sari, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that Indonesia's level of utilization of new and renewable energy (NRE), which has only reached 0.5 percent of the country's potentials, is embarrassing. She made the statement at the 2023 EBTKE Conex event at ICE BSD, Wednesday, July 12.

Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta Environment Office has distributed free electronic waste management services to Jakarta residents. The Head of the Jakarta Environment Office Asep Kuswanto said that electronic waste is a specific waste that needs to be managed correctly. Asep also said that the regulation and its derivatives for electronic waste are currently only governed in Jakarta.

Sunu Dyantoro, Jakarta – Hyundai Motor Group expressed their interest to be involved in the development of Indonesia's new capital city in Kalimantan, better known as the Nusantara Capital City or IKN. The new governmental center will stand on what is now called North Penajam Paser Regency, adjacent to Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Dian Erika Nugraheny, Bandung – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo says that there are underground and above ground efforts to free Susi Air pilot Mark Mehrtens who is being held hostage by a Papuan armed criminal group (KKB) – the government's term for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Jakarta – The Indonesian resort haven of Bali will impose a Rp 150,000 (US$10) tax on tourists entering the 'Island of Gods' from next year to preserve its culture, officials said Wednesday.

Antara, Jakarta – Immigration Director-General of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Silmy Karim, rebutted reports of the alleged data breach of 34 million Indonesian passports. He confirmed that based on the investigation, the data leaked and sold online were not currently used by the Immigration Directorate General.

Tika Ayu, Jakarta – The ratification of the health bill into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Plenary Meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, was followed by rejection and threats of a strike voiced by health workers.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono confirmed that the provincial government did not issue any permits for the gathering of the ASEAN lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that reportedly will be held in the city on July 17-21, 2023.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin recently said that the new health law did not mean easy entry for foreign doctors as they still had to meet certain requirements such as competency assessments before practicing in Indonesia.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The government is planning to coax an additional 60,000 tonnes of lithium per year from Australia as it strives to build a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) industry. If agreed, the additional quota would double an earlier deal between Jakarta and Canberra.

Jakarta – Corruption is never a one-person job. It takes at least two people for bribery to occur. Certainly, many more are required to embezzle state funds on a large scale.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instructed his ministers not to lose focus on establishing the country's downstream industry in light of a recent recommendation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the country to review its downstream policy and consider a phased elimination of the ban on nickel ore exports.

Jakarta – There are many reasons to disagree with the omnibus bill on health currently being debated in the House of Representatives. Many fear that the bill, which merges 10 laws that govern the health industry, will dismantle associations of medical professionals and bring uncertainty to both the industry as a whole and to the standards and practices of said professionals.

The Australia West Papua Association condemns the arrest of 10 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) members yesterday, 11 July.

The activists were arrested simply because they were handing out leaflets informing people of a rally to be held today, the 12 July to show support for West Papua becoming a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Supreme Court Secretary Hasbi Hasan was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday, two days after a judge turned down his pre-trial motion.

KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri said Hasbi is detained for the next 20 days at the commission's detention facility in Jakarta.

Wahyu Setiawan, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition says that the revisions to the Information and Electronic Transaction (ITE) Law are undemocratic.

Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Advocacy Division Deputy Chairperson Arif Maulana said the discussions on the revisions are being held behind closed doors without meaningful public participation.

Jakarta – Rights groups have cancelled a Southeast Asian LGBT event in Indonesia after receiving security threats, the organisers said, the latest sign of increasing pressure on the community from religious conservatives in the country.

Chris Fitzgerald – Last month, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced a reparation program for victims of past human-rights abuses. Speaking in Aceh province, Widodo stated that this resolution "is needed to heal the nation's pain caused by past gross human-rights violations, which have left a heavy burden for the victims."

Tri Meilani, Tegar Nurfitra, Jakarta – Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono has expressed support for the Home Affairs Ministry's efforts to strengthen village administration by jointly implementing the ministry's village administration strengthening training program (P3PD).

Jakarta – An ASEAN Queer Advocacy Week (AAW) meeting of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) activists organised by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus that was to be held in Jakarta has been cancelled.

"Correct [it's been cancelled]", ASEAN SOGIE Caucus Advocacy Officer Lini Zurlia told CNN Indonesia on Wednesday July 12.

A meeting of Southeast Asian LGBT communities that was supposed to take place in Jakarta from July 17 to 21 has reportedly been canceled by the organizers amid pushback from the public and religious organizations.

Susan Price – Indonesian security forces violently cracked down on a peaceful West Papuan National Congress (KNPB) demonstration on July 12, called to show support for West Papua's application to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).