Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Despite many hoping that the country could have another crack at hosting an international soccer tournament following FIFA's cancelation of the Under-20 World Cup, Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Erick Thohir said Indonesia had so far not proposed to host the U-17 World Cup.

News Desk, Jakarta – Human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia (AII) on Monday called for the release of 76 activists who were arrested in Jayapura, Papua, for distributing flyers, saying the crackdown had been a setback to free speech in the region.

Robertus Robet – The rot in Indonesian democracy has not been caused by the "excesses" of democracy, or poor understanding of democratic principles among the public, as politicians like to claim. Rather, democratic regression in Indonesia is largely the result of active efforts by anti-reformist elites to destroy the country's new democratic institutions.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Every time a new Javan rhino calf is spotted, Indonesia's environmental authorities issue an update of the precise population number for the near-extinct species.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – After the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency (BPKP) rejected plans to import used train cars from Japan, the government is preparing other options to replace the 16 Jabodetabek KRL series which must be retired in the next two years.

Merauke, Jubi – The Wiachar Student Association (IMAWI) of Mappi Regency in South Papua Province rejected the government's plan to build a container port on the customary land area of the Wiachar tribe in Sumuruman Village, Minyamur District, Mappi.

TransJakarta commuters are wondering why they should pay more for the same service following an unpopular proposal to hike the city bus fare during rush hour.

Boyolali, Central Java – President Joko Widodo had an intimate moment with Governor Ganjar Pranowo of Central Java during his official trip to the province on Monday.

Antara, Jakarta – The management of Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta found at least 50 stickers of fake QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) placed on a number of points in the mosque. This is conveyed by the deputy chair of the mosque's management, Abu Hurairah.

"There are about 50 [fake QRIS]," said Abu Huraira on Tuesday, April 11.

Jakarta – The Jakarta High Court on Tuesday overturned a controversial ruling by a district court ordering a delay in the 2024 general elections at the request of a relatively unknown political party.

Antara, Jakarta – Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan intends to partner with an expert team from Shenzhen, China, to partake in development of Indonesia's new capital city (IKN) Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan explained that his visit to Beijing, China, was aimed at seeking cooperation in the development of food estate megaprojects.

Rindi Ariska, Jakarta – Human rights advocacy group Setara Institute released the report of the 2022 Tolerance City Index revealing the most and the least tolerant city in Indonesia.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) urged the government to stop the discussion on the Health Bill and seriously consider the massive rejection of the bill voiced by doctors, health workers, and medical students.

Natalie B. Compton and Gabe Hiatt – Shannon Smith had been to Bali before, but it was her first trip back since the pandemic. This time, the Cairns, Australia, resident had come to Indonesia's "Island of the Gods" for a work conference in Nusa Dua, a resort hub at Bali's southern tip.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – When the Indonesian government announced its food estate program in 2020, it envisioned the establishment of large-scale agricultural plantations across the country.

Jakarta – Several former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders along with anti-graft activists held a protest action on Monday April 10 calling for the removal of Firli Bahuri from his position as KPK chairperson.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia is looking for other potential fraudsters after a man had been caught on camera misusing the Indonesian QR code payment system or the QRIS to scam charitable mosque-goers.

BTV, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police have arrested a man who allegedly applied stickers of quick response codes on donation boxes at a Jakarta mosque and was caught in a video that has gone viral.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – Indonesia will propose a free trade agreement for some minerals shipped to the United States so that companies in the electric vehicle battery supply chain operating in the country can benefit from U.S. tax credits, a senior minister said on Monday.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is urging the police to release 76 Papuan activists that were arrested for distributing leaflets calling for the release of Victor Yeimo, who is currently on trial for treason.

Amnesty International Executive Director Usman Hamid said all of the activists should be released without exception.

Jakarta – It is of great concern that the state of civic space in Indonesia continues to deteriorate under the President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo administration. Indonesia may never aspire to become a liberal democracy, but the growing onslaught on our civil liberties is just inexcusable.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Pro-government political parties are making a move to build a grand alliance for the 2024 presidential election, which, if materialized, will turn the race into a three-way tie as has been widely predicted.

BTV, Jakarta – A Jakarta judge on Monday found a 15-year-old girl guilty of becoming complicit in the brutal attack of a teenage boy by Mario Dandy Satriyo and sentenced her to three and a half years in juvenile prison.

The attack on Feb. 19 left the victim David Ozora in a coma for weeks after he was punched and kicked in the head by Mario.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The government is urging holidaymakers to start traveling to their hometowns earlier in hopes of avoiding widespread traffic congestion during the upcoming Idul Fitri holiday, which is expected to be the biggest mudik (exodus) season since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raul Dancel, Singapore – Some ice cream after a meal of instant noodles is always welcome, but mashed up and served together?

That is exactly what an Indonesian food manufacturing giant has done, topping a cone of ice cream with a sprinkling of its best-selling Indomie instant noodle.

Phillip Mehrtens – The authorities in Indonesia's Papua region say the search for a New Zealand pilot taken hostage by the West Papua Liberation Movement has been extended.

Philip Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Airlines, was taken hostage in the remote Nduga district on 7 February.

It came a decade-and-a-half too late, by Bogor Mayor Bima Arya's own admission, but the Taman Yasmin Indonesia Christian Church (GKI Yasmin) congregation now finally, officially have a house of worship to call their own.

We may have our differences when it comes to the pronunciation of QRIS, but hopefully we can all agree that using the electronic transaction tool to steal from a mosque is an abomination.

Chris Fitzgerald – Last month, the Indonesian government made a firm commitment to the United Nations to improve the human-rights situation in the country.

This comes as the UN Human Rights Council adopted Indonesia's Fourth Cycle Universal Periodic Review Report at its meeting in Geneva on March 27.

Jayapura, Jubi – A total of 13 West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Sentani activists were arrested by police at the Sentani Old Market in Jayapura Regency on Saturday, April 8, 2023, while distributing leaflets calling for the people to join a protest demanding the release of KPNB activist charged for alleged treason, Viktor Yeimo.

Jayapura, Jubi – Secretary of the Papua Provincial Health Office Aaron Rumainum said the number of specialists in Papua Province was sufficient but their distribution to nine regencies and cities across Papua was not equal.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Chief Investment Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday that Indonesia had been negotiating with China to lower the loan interest rate to cover the cost overrun of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – Former Democratic Party Chairman Anas Urbaningrum is set to get out of prison on Tuesday after serving his time for graft conviction and a colleague said he will deliver a speech directed to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, better known as SBY.

Antara, Jakarta – The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has captured six fishing vessels – flying the Philippines and Vietnam flags – that have allegedly committed illegal fishing over the North Natuna Sea and Sulawesi waters.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The government is targeting an annual production of shrimp of up to 2 million tons starting in 2024.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The property, real estate, and building construction sectors contributed 14.63 percent to the national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022, according to a study by the research institute LPEM of the University of Indonesia's Economic and Business Faculty.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The electability of Indonesia's major political party PDIP experienced a nosedive right after FIFA revoked Indonesia's status to host the U-20 World Cup, according to the latest Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) poll held from March 31 to April 4.

Antara, Jakarta – Amidst celebrating the 77th-anniversary commemoration of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Puan Maharani on Sunday said she will back the move to modernize the country's primary weapons system (Alutsista).

Basten Gokkon, Balikpapan/Jakarta – A clearing for the ramp to a new toll road in the Indonesian Bornean city of Balikpapan gapes open on the side of a paved highway as big trucks rumble past.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), the main advocacy group for Indigenous communities in Indonesia, has won a 2023 Skoll Award for Social Innovation.

Since its establishment in 1999, AMAN has been advocating for Indigenous rights to prevent communities from having their lands stolen.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – More than three-quarters of Indonesians are satisfied with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's job performance rating, the highest number of approval since 2015, according to a new survey published on Sunday.

Liam Gammon – If you enjoy watching opposing teams fight each other to a scoreless draw, soccer's the sport for you. Failing that, Indonesian politics can often give the same effect.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta. Dream Theater has invited avid rock fan President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to attend their upcoming concert in Jakarta.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Meranti Islands Regent Muhammad Ali is accused of illegally collecting Rp 26 billion ($1.7 million) in cash from his own subordinates and a travel company for his personal interests, including his gubernatorial aspiration for the 2024 election.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Chairman Prabowo Subianto demonstrated yet again that he is the central figure in the current movement to build the so-called grand coalition for the 2024 presidential election, as he received a visit from National Mandate Party (PAN) Chairman Zulkilfi Hasan on Saturday.

Richaldo Hariandja, Balikpapan, Indonesia – As the small red car came to a halt, the window slid down and a hand emerged, tossing some yellow crackers on the ground. Seconds later, a group of southern pig-tailed macaques, a monkey species native to the island of Borneo, swarmed the area and devoured the food in an instant.

Chloe Whelan – Shocking footage has emerged of "trash tsunamis" flowing down waterways in Indonesia as plastic waste piles up in the tourist hotspot.

Nur Rofiah – In Islam, clergymen interpret how marriage is done, sometimes allowing child brides. Clergywomen want substantive justice to stop the practice.

In a country of religious people, religious interpretation is a double-edged sword. It can be a spiritual force to eradicate injustice but is often misused to legitimize it.

Jakarta – Few would doubt, even among Christians, that Easter is less merry compared with Christmas. For businesspeople, too, the Easter holiday offers fewer opportunities to sell their products than during Christmas, the festivities for which begin at the start of December or even earlier.