Dicky Kurniawan, Jakarta – Bambang Soesatyo, chairman of the Indonesian Motor Association (IMI), said that the government's plan to incentivize electric vehicles, or EV, could boost sales. The government's plan is to subsidize the purchase of electric cars and motorbikes.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in his opening speech at the Mandiri Investment Forum on Wednesday asserted that exports of bauxite ore, copper, and tin ingot will be stopped in 2023, which is intentionally aimed to boost domestic downstream industries.

Whisnu Bagus Prasetyo, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday night made an impromptu visit to Balinese locals in Keingetan hamlet in Singakerta, Gianyar.

Lily McCure, Jakarta – Two cities starkly different in their appearance, Melbourne and Jakarta share a large commonality, coffee.

In Jakarta, from the humble cup of 'kopi tubruk' or granulated coffee found in street vendors, to barista-made coffee, there is no shortage of options.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Head of the New Capital or IKN Authority Bambang Susantono stated that more than 100 investors expressed interest in investing in the new capital city in East Kalimantan.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday inaugurated the Tamblang Dam located in Buleleng, Bali. The dam which cost up to Rp820 billion was first constructed in 2018.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in a statement on Thursday pledged to evaluate Indonesia's corruption eradication system after the country's corruption perception index in 2022 dropped four points from 38 to 34, based on the study by Transparency International Indonesia.

Wisma Atlet in Kemayoran, North Jakarta has served many useful purposes. It first housed athletes for the 2018 Asian Games before it became the capital's main COVID-19 emergency hospital. And now one councilor says she doesn't want to see it occupied by kuntilanak.

Ibnu Budiman – Despite a 2013 pledge by major palm oil firms to maintain environmentally friendly operations, a recent report by environmental group Earthqualizer revealed that more than 440,000 hectares of forest and peat land (roughly three times the size of London) have been cleared for oil plantation in Indonesia between 2016 and 2021; and 210,000 hectares in Malaysia and Papua

Jakarta – It is hard to believe that in this day and age, the state is opposed to and obstructing any plans by two individuals of different faiths of getting married.

The Constitutional Court's ruling this week, rejecting a petition by an individual from Papua, laid the final nail in the coffin for any hope that the state would allow and facilitate interfaith marriages.

Jakarta – A Sumatran tiger attacked and injured two farmers in Aceh Wednesday, the second such attack in days, as officials vowed to capture the big cat or cats responsible.

The latest attack took place in a protected forest reserve in Aceh at about 2 am (2100 GMT Tuesday).

Jakarta – Following a meeting with Golkar Party chairman Airlangga Hartarto on Wednesday, founder of the NasDem Party Surya Paloh expected that he could also sit down with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri very soon.

Nur Janti, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court on Tuesday upheld ambiguous provisions in the Marriage Law that often hinder interfaith marriages and make it hard for couples of different religions to formalize their union.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) is suspicious of the move by the Environment and Forestry Ministry (KLHK) to accelerate the determination of 100 percent of Indonesia's forest areas in 2023, or in other words ahead of the 2024 legislative and presidential elections.

Zara Powell, Jakarta – Influential waria (transgender) figure and founder of the Al-Fatah Waria pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Yogyakarta, Shinta Ratri died on Wednesday.

Billy Adison Aditijanto, Jakarta – The government is looking for ways to bring the international film industry home, following a series of movies having their Indonesia scene shot elsewhere rather than filming it directly in the country.

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo is confident Tesla will finalise a deal to invest in a production facility in Indonesia, having offered the US electric car maker incentives ranging from tax breaks to a concession to mine nickel.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) predicts that the issuance of mining and palm oil plantation permits will increase during the political year in the lead up to the 2024 elections. This prediction is a reflection on what happened in 2018, ahead of the 2019 elections.

Jakarta – The National Network for Domestic Worker Advocacy (Jala PRT) is threatening to hold a hunger strike in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Jakarta if the government and the DPR do not start deliberating the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) by February 14.

Jakarta, Jubi – Victor Mambor, a journalist born in Muara Enim, Sumatra, the chief editor of Papuan newspaper Jubi who often covers discrimination against indigenous Papuans, received the Oktovianus Pogau Award from the Pantau Foundation for courage in journalism.

Shinta Ratri will forever be missed as somebody who fought for religious inclusivity on behalf of those who may have felt deserted and alone.

The trans icon, best known for founding a pesantren (Islamic school) for trans women, passed away this morning at the age of 60, as confirmed by LGBTQIA+ rights group GAYa Nusantara founder Dede Oetomo.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore/Jakarta – Indonesian presidential contender Anies Baswedan is headed to Australia to burnish his international standing before voters elect a successor to Joko Widodo.

Ratih Kabinawa Pamungkas A. Dewanto – Last Wednesday, after almost 20 years languishing in the legislature, the Domestic Worker Protection Bill was publicly endorsed by Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in an effort to accelerate its enactment. In a statement to media, Jokowi also announced the creation of a taskforce to oversee the adoption of the bill.

In case you haven't heard, Indonesia slipped a few places in Transparency International's latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI), and that doesn't seem to be a wake up call for introspection for some people in the government.

Theresia Sufa, Bogor, West Java – Two captive-bred Javan hawk-eagles, a female and a male, were released into the wild on Monday at the foot of Mount Gede Pangrango in West Java.

Taman Safari Indonesia (TSI) director Jansen Manansang said the release was part of a captive breeding program by the Javan Hawk-eagle Conservation Center (PSSEJ) and TSI.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo dropped a hint on Tuesday that a cabinet reshuffle could be announced on Feb. 1 or on Thursday when asked when the fresh political move would be made.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Sunday kicked off Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN chairmanship in Jakarta, the second-largest international forum he chaired after the Group of 20 presidency.

And for those who expect that the regional grouping can have relevance to ordinary people's lives, they certainly hope Indonesia can repeat the success from the G20.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – When President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo demanded that the House of Representatives complete deliberations on the domestic worker protection bill earlier this month, there were few takers. Political parties, which are gearing up for next year's general election, are not interested. There was little enthusiasm from the public either.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and the Transportation Ministry to focus specifically on attracting tourists from China, India and Russia.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto have come a long way since their erstwhile bitter rivalry in the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Almost nine years on from their first election debate, the two politicians have cemented a symbiotic relationship that many believe will benefit them both in 2024.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government on Wednesday said the 2023 healthcare budget would put a greater emphasis on non-Covid issues such as stunting, a chronic malnutrition problem that impedes the country's quest of fostering quality human capital.

Silvia Ng, Jakarta – Indonesia's 2022 corruption perception index (IPK) has plummeted by four points to a score of 34. Coordinating Minister for Security, Politics and Legal Affairs Mahfud MD claims he was stricken by news of the low score.

Syakirun Niam, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) believes that the decline in Indonesia's 2022 corruption perception index (IPK) score to 34 points out of 100 cannot be separated from the permissive attitude to corruption taken by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's cabinet.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Jakarta – PSI deputy chairperson Grace Natalie on Wednesday responded to the myriad of resignations at the political party she helps lead. According to her, the wave of young party members to other political parties is inevitable in its nature.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is rolling out Human Papillomavirus or HPV vaccines to be administered to all children aged 11 to 12. The Health Ministry stated that children who are not in school are also included in the government's target.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Communications and Informatics (Kominfo) Ministry's director general for applications and informatics Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan stated that the country's digital literacy remained at a moderate stage. Its year-over-year growth was not significant.

Antara, Jakarta – LRT Jakarta president director Hendri Saputra on Tuesday said the company has seen revenues increase by 57 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year from passenger fares and non-fare boxes.

"Our revenue in 2022 amounted to Rp211 billion, which is a 57 percent increase year-on-year," said Hendri on January 31, Antaranews reported.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati is rumored to get the nomination for Bank Indonesia governorship succeeding Perry Warjiyo, who is set to retire in April.

While providing no denial of the rumors, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Tuesday he has yet to propose the new central bank governor to the House of Representatives.

Jakarta – UK Minister for Exports Andrew Bowie is visiting Jakarta on February 1-2 to reiterate the importance of close commercial ties between the UK and Indonesia and discuss collaboration in key infrastructure projects including the railway system in Greater Jakarta.

Fadhil Haidar Sulaeman, Jakarta – Investment banks are projecting a flurry of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Indonesia this year – some driven by sustainable growth prospects, others by distress.

Merauke, Jubi – Since the tidal flood hit residential and agricultural land in the Waan District, Merauke Regency, South Papua Province in mid-January 2023, vomiting and diarrhea in children have been reported.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian government considers halting the export of unprocessed copper ores to encourage domestic processing of raw materials in the country's industrialization push, following a similar policy on nickel and bauxite, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Tuesday.

Legally speaking, the state will continue to only recognize marriages between a man and a woman of the same religion, after the Constitutional Court (MK) today rejected a judicial review for interfaith marriage.

"The appellant's plea has entirely no legal ground," MK chief Anwar Usman said in a hearing in Jakarta today.

You may recall a salacious story that went viral at the turn of the year, in which a woman from Serang, Banten alleged that her ex-husband had an affair with her mother. That case will now play out in court, as Indonesia outlaws infidelity.

Ratu Durotun Nafisah – Indonesia's new Criminal Code (KUHP) has been widely condemned in Indonesia and abroad for putting civil liberties at risk and further damaging Indonesia's already declining democracy.

Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta S, Jakarta – Indonesia ranked third in the world in the number of cases of leprosy in 2021, according to the Health Ministry.

Ni Komang Erviani, Nusa Dua, Bali – Bali celebrated Arak Bali Day for the first time on Sunday with an event in Nusa Dua promoting the traditional liquor distilled from the sap or fruit of palm trees.

wAnindito Ariwandono, Bandung – "Tarps are really needed here. Not only to be used as roofs [...]" said a man in a video over the loud calls of frogs in the dark. The man was taking a video of the situation in one of the refugee camps near the epicenter of the November 2022 earthquake in Cianjur, West Java. "This is the 3rd camp out of [...]" The voice slowly faded out.

Jakarta – Creating legislation that regulates the employment of domestic workers sounds like a novelty, but we have to set a time frame of perhaps 10 years at most before bringing these workers, who do menial but important work in our homes, under the country's labor laws, like any other worker.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – As Indonesia and South Korea celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations, the two countries are eyeing stronger economic cooperation and investment amid the geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific.

Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi said that over five decades, the two countries had forged even closer ties with each other.