M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – Senior Politician of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Hendrawan Supratikno, said that House speaker Puan Maharani discussed the recently passed Job Creation Law when she met with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi at the State Palace on Friday, March 24.

James M. Dorsey – A refusal by the governor of Hindu-majority Bali to host an Israeli soccer team at this May's FIFA Under-20 World Cup puts the Indonesian government, football association, and foremost Muslim civil society movement on the spot.

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Political manoeuvres among Indonesian political parties are intensifying as they hunt for suitable presidential and vice-presidential candidates to run in the 2024 election.

Ahmad B, Kenzu, Palembang, S Sumatra – National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Admiral Yudo Margono flagged off the departure of 850 soldiers of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force to Papua and West Papua from Palembang, South Sumatra, on Friday.

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – Watchdogs have expressed concern that the Omnibus Bill on Health could undermine the autonomy and independence of the state-owned Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan), as the government aims to bring the national health insurance provider within the purview of the Health Ministry.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Government officials have clarified and defended a presidential ban on iftar, breaking-of-the-fast, gatherings for civil servants during the holy month of Ramadan that has sparked public outcry and fueled anti-government sentiment among Islamic groups.

Jakarta – Authorities of Bali are cracking down on delinquent behaviors of foreign nationals, launching a special police operation last week. While we support the measures, we are calling the local administration to go beyond ad hoc means.

Herman, Jakarta – Meat imports have failed to drive down soaring beef prices amid the Ramadan season, according to the Indonesian Traditional Markets Trader Association or Ikappi.

Ikappi chair Abdullah Mansuri said meat prices were still skyrocketing, even reaching between Rp 145,000 ($9.56) and Rp 150,000 per kilogram albeit the imports.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The government has drafted a bill that will revolutionize the country's healthcare system so that it can reach all citizens across the country as mandated by the Constitution, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said on Saturday.

BeritaSatu, Jakarta – Indonesia's crackdown on used clothing imports continues, as the Jakarta Metropolitan Police recently seized a whopping 535 bales of illegal secondhand apparel.

Hariz Baharudin and Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Indonesia has disallowed gatherings by civil servants for the breaking of fast during the fasting month of Ramadan, a move that has triggered backlash from several Islamist political parties.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Indonesia's tackling of climate change sees the country committed to cutting carbon to net-zero by 2060, an ambitious yet promising goal that will see state-owned electricity company PT PLN on a journey to becoming a clean energy company.

Jayapura, Jubi – A joint forces of Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police has shot dead an alleged member of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Mundidok Village, North Gome District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua Province on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

Jakarta – Indonesian Muslims began on Thursday the holy month of Ramadan, during which followers of the faith are obliged to refrain from gratifying their base desires from dusk until dawn. It is largely described as a "training period" for believers to practice humility and learn more about their spiritual side.

Ricky Juliansyah, Depok – The Depok government is determined to provide guidance to seven non-smoking areas (KTR) in the city. The head of the city's public health service unit, Zakiah, said the implementation of smoke-free areas is the government's effort to protect the public from cigarette smoke and tobacco advertisements.

BTV, Yogyakarta – Police confirmed on Friday that there was no sectarian issue related to the viral video showing an outdoor Virgin Mary statue covered with tarpaulin in Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council or MUI chairman Cholil Nafis suggested President Joko Jokowi Widodo should remove the ban on the breaking-of-the-fast gathering or bukber during Ramadan 1444 Hijri.

Antara, Bogor – The Bogor City Government issued a circular prohibiting night entertainment spots from operating during Ramadan 1444 Hijri to maintain security and convenience for Muslims to perform their prayers.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Labor Party and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) President Said Iqbal confirmed that workers are determined to hold a number of activities prior to a nationwide strike to protest against the Job Creation Law. One of the activities is the long march from Bandung to Jakarta.

Rick Wilkinson – Jadestone Energy, Singapore, has resumed oil production at its troubled Montara field in the Timor Sea offshore northern Australia following a 7-month shut-in due to oil leaks and related problems on the Montara Venture floating production storage and offtake vessel (FPSO).

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has again raised the issue of the involvement of Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto in past gross human rights violations.

Prabowo is said to have a dark track record related to the forced disappearance of 23 pro-democracy activists in 1997-98.

Desty Luthfiani, Jakarta – Sales of used clothing, more commonly known as thrifting in Pasar Senen resume as normal. According to vendors, they are currently trying to sell out their remaining stocks. The vendors added that they are still trying to make future plans because the government had sealed agents that sell used clothing.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung recently clarified that the ban on iftar gatherings only applied to government officials, meaning that the public is free to host or attend Ramadan dinners.

Tunggul Wirajuda, Jakarta – Research on waste burning shows the extent of the practice and its fallout on public health to be more extensive than imagined.

Jayapura, Jubi – Solidarity of Tambrauw Regency Students in Jayapura rejects illegal mining in Kwor Village, Barar Village, and Orwen Village in Kwor District, Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua Province. The students held a press conference in Tambrauw Dormitory on Monday, March 20, 2023.

Merauke, Jubi – South Papua Youth Movement for Indigenous Land Care (GPPSPTA), a group of young people in South Papua Province's Merauke Regency, voiced the dangers and threats of deforestation to the community and local government.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri is reportedly weighing a possibility of pairing together Central Jakarta Governor Ganjar Pranowo and Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto for the 2024 presidential election, following her three-hour private meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo last week.

Members of Federasi Serikat Buruh Demokratik Kerakyatan (F-SEDAR) in Indonesia have been struggling against the company Alpen Food Industry (AICE) for over 5 years. This has been sparked by Alpen Food's continued disregard for even the most basic workers' rights.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry is mulling adding around Rp 8 trillion, or about $531 million, to this year's budget plan for Indonesia's new capital megaproject Nusantara.

A senior Vatican official in Timor-Leste has lauded the government's commitment to providing annual financial assistance to the Catholic Church, calling it a long-term investment in people rather than a donation.

Jakarta – The University of Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM UI) has uploaded an animation meme depicting House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani with the body of a rat emerging from the DPR building as a form of criticism over the House's move to ratify the government's regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on the Jobs Law.

Achmad Nasrudin Yahya, Jakarta – Workers say the House of Representatives (DPR) has become a rubber stamp for the government after enacting Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2/20022 on the Jobs Law into law on Tuesday.

BTV, Malang – A three-story house in the East Java town of Malang reportedly belonging to controversial businessman Wahyu Kenzo was barricaded with a police line tape on Thursday to support the ongoing money laundering investigation against him.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – After a tug-of-war in coal supply price negotiations for a coal-to-dimethyl ether (DME) conversion project with Indonesian state-owned enterprises (SOEs) Bukit Asam (PTBA) and Pertamina, United States chemical company Air Products & Chemical finally decided to leave all coal downstream projects, including the coal-to-ethanol gasification project wi

Niniek Karmini, Jakarta – Millions of Muslims in Indonesia are gearing up to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start on Thursday, with traditions and ceremonies across the world's most populous Muslim-majority country amid soaring food prices.

Aditya Laksmana Yudha, Jakarta – A recent electability survey by pollster Indo Barometer named State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir as the strongest vice president candidate for the upcoming 2024 election.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council confirmed on Wednesday that it cannot grant the halal certificate for pork-flavored instant noodles even if they are entirely made from plants.

The statement came following a discussion on the internet about a Japanese instant noodle product labeled as vegan food with pork bone broth flavor.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has plans to expand its downstream industry policy, in which it focuses on processing its raw materials for higher added value, into the marine sector.

Bali – No Internet. No shopping. And no flights. On Wednesday, the Indonesian resort island of Bali will plunge itself into silent introspection as residents – locals and visitors alike – observe Nyepi, the Balinese New Year.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Samboja, East Kalimantan – Just outside Indonesia's planned new capital on Kalimantan island, an orangutan catches a banana with one hand, thrown by a conservationist on a boat, while her other hand clings to a tree branch.

Denpasar, Bali – A small boat designed to collect ocean waste took to the water for the first time off Bali island on Tuesday, launching a mission to tackle pollution in a region notorious for its marine plastics problem.

Apriadi Gunawan and Nurni Sulaiman, Medan – A Sumatran tiger died on Sunday after being cared for at the Barumun Tiger Sanctuary in North Padang Lawas regency, North Sumatra, for several wounds and malnutrition.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore/Jakarta – Football-mad Indonesia is preparing to stage its first major tournament, the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in May, but a row has erupted over the participation of Israel with Bali refusing to host the team.

Tamara Davison – Bali's typical soundtrack of construction sites and car horns has been replaced for 24 hours with birdsong and the lapping of waves as the island celebrates its annual day of silence.

Antara, Jakarta – The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has said that more than 140,000 schools implemented the Kurikulum Merdeka (Independent Curriculum) in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Jenny Munro – Navigating false information is now an everyday experience in Indonesia and globally, but recent incidents in West Papua show how the rhetoric of the 'hoax' or 'fake news' may be used by those in power to justify violence, perpetuate discrimination, and deny people's capacity to analyse their own social contexts.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has charged non-active Supreme Court Justice Gazalba Saleh with gratification and money laundering after being named a suspect in the bribery case on Nov. 28 last year.

Jakarta – Leaders of the nation's official religious groups desire a peaceful 2024 general elections and reject the politicization of religion, according to a declaration read out at an event held by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the leading party in the government coalition.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Indonesia has issued a strong condemnation of a recent comment by Israel's right-wing finance minister Betzalel Smotrich "who denies the existence of Palestine and denounces the existence and territorial sovereignty of Jordan", the Foreign Ministry tweeted on Wednesday in the first of two posts.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The government and major Muslim organizations reached a general agreement that the fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Thursday, but the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, said there could be different opinions about when it ends.