A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Indonesia has called for the nature deal to protect ecosystems, agreed at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Canada, to also come with developed countries contributing their fair share to protecting nature.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The Medan Corruption Court in North Sumatra has acquitted businessman Mujianto of charges of corruption and money laundering, a verdict that prosecutors said they would appeal.

"[We will] appeal, Your Honor," state prosecutor Nurdiono told the court after the verdict was read out on Friday afternoon.

Jakarta – Seven Indonesian families whose relatives died or were injured in one of the worst stadium disasters in football history are suing officials they consider responsible, their lawyer said Friday.

The stampede in the Java city of Malang in October left 135 people dead, including more than 40 children.

The 20th anniversary of the Bali terrorist bombings in October was a painful reminder of Indonesia's fight against extremism, a struggle that continues still. But there's another important anniversary to remember today, about the sacrifice of an Indonesian who died upholding the ideals of pluralism that hold Indonesia together.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Medan, Indonesia – For years, Indonesia has strived to present itself as a welcoming investment destination to rival neighbours Vietnam and Malaysia.

Anne Barker, Jakarta – Multiple women's rights groups say Indonesia's controversial new criminal code will make it even easier and more common for sexual assault victims to be forced into marrying their own rapists.

The country's existing penal code – introduced more than a century ago during the Dutch colonial era – punishes adultery committed by married couples.

Fikri Harish, Jakarta – In a bid to lure more 'high-value' foreigners to Indonesia, the government officially launched the second home visa on Wednesday.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – All eyes will be on match organizers and security personnel who will be testing out new security measures on Friday as the Indonesian men's soccer team will play the country's first ever match involving pitch-side spectators, since the deadly Kanjuruhan Stadium crush in East Java in October.

Budiman Minasny, Sydney, Australia – The anti-racism protest that started in the US has spread to Europe and the world. Protesters are not only denouncing racism but also condemning slavery in the colonial era by bringing down colonialist statues and slave traders.

Jakarta – This Christmas season has brought especially good news to the country's Christians, both Protestant and Catholic, because for the first time since COVID-19 cases were discovered in Indonesia in 2020 they will enjoy full freedom to attend Christmas services in person.

Viet Nam News, Jakarta – Viet Nam and Indonesia agreed to raise two-way trade to US$15 billion during talks held between Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo in Jakarta on Thursday.

The talks took place after a welcome ceremony held by the Indonesian leader for President Phuc, who is on a State visit to Indonesia.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Indonesia expresses concern and disappointment with the decision of the Taliban that suspended the access to university education for women in Afghanistan.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – The recent statement said by the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan that seemed to regret the sting operation carried out by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) generated the attention of several parties.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) says that there was an increase in environmental damage and the theft of community land in a number of parts of Indonesia throughout 2022.

YLBHI Chairperson Muhammad Isnur added that the YLBHI had directly assisted in some 10 cases related to residents being evicted from their land.

Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – A number of political parties that failed to pass the electoral verification process to take part in the 2024 elections have joined together under the "Movement Against Political Genocide" to call for a halt to the current stage in the election process.

Jakarta – Indonesia has extended by 20 years a production sharing contract (PSC) with BP and its partners for Berau, Muturi, and Wiriagar working areas in West Papua, government officials and the company said on Friday.

BTV, Bandung – The National Police's counterterrorism squad Detachment 88 has arrested seven people for alleged role in a suicide bombing at a police station in Bandung two weeks ago, a spokesman said on Wednesday.

The arrests were the latest in police's crackdown on terrorism in recent weeks that saw at least 26 suspects in custody for various allegations.

Jakarta – "Sorry" is the hardest word for the Netherlands to say. It is so hard that it has taken the country more than two centuries to apologize for its role in the slave trade.

Fad, Galang Island, Riau Island – The Galang Island special infection hospital task force in Riau Islands officially ceased its operation on Wednesday, but dozens of health workers complain that they have yet to be paid their meal allowances.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia needs to watch out for spiraling identity politics as the 2024 general election nears, the National Resilience Institute or Lemhannas warned.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Surabaya – Surabaya city administration and the Transportation Ministry launched on Tuesday 17 electric buses to ply one of the city's bus routes.

The buses are grants from the ministry. The vehicles were first used as transportation during the Group of 20 Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, last month.

Adi Marsiela, Bandung – Police have named seven suspects in connection with the fatal suicide bomb attack earlier this month in Bandung, West Java.

Tempo.Co, Imaji Lasahido (Intern), Jakarta – A foreign tourist uploaded a video on TikTok saying that the traditional village of Sade in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, is a scamming village. This was revealed in the video after the tourist bought souvenirs at a price that was considered expensive.

Apriadi Gunawan, Toba, North Sumatra – The government will disburse an additional budget of Rp 15 trillion (US$963 million) to develop five priority-tourism destinations in the next two years.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is preparing to increase its biodiesel blending to 35 percent next year and this plan will cause the crude palm oil price to average $970 per metric ton in mid-2023, according to the Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS).

Jakarta – Bank Indonesia, the country's central bank, has eased off the accelerator with a decision to raise its benchmark interest rate by only 25 basis points to 5.50 percent on Thursday, citing the slowing inflation and inflation expectation as its primary reason.

Antara, Jakarta – An epidemiologist from Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Bayu Satria Wiratama agreed with President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's plan to lift the public mobility restrictions known as PPKM at the end of 2022. He opined that it is because there is no urgency to continue the policy.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo issued a statement regarding the country's rice production which comes as a direct response to a report by World Bank ranking Indonesia's rice as the most expensive in Southeast Asia, which garnered international attention.

Aliyyu Medyati, Jakarta – City-owned bus operator Transjakarta on Tuesday pledged its support for the anti-sexual harassment campaign during a talk show held by Yayasan Suara Perempuan.

Transjakarta secretary Anang Rizkani Noor said the company has tasked 1,800 additional service personnel to prevent sexual crimes from happening on Transjakarta buses.

Sebastian Strangio – Indonesia's newly appointed military chief has played down the seriousness of the situation in Papua, after several years of worsening conflict in the restive eastern region.

Nabire, Jubi – The Papua Peace Network (JDP) encourages the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to form an independent investigation team to reveal alleged human rights violations in the shooting incident of four civilians in Tolikara on Monday, December 19, 2022. This was stated by JDP spokesperson Yan Christian Warinussy to Jubi via WhatsApp on Tuesday.

Jayapura, Jubi – A total of four residents of Tolikara Regency were shot at the Tolikara Police Headquarters in Mountainous Papua Province on Monday, December 19, 2022. One of them died.

Jeffrey Hutton, Ubud, Bali – When Lucy retired to Ubud from her job in administration at a health insurance company in Australia in 2011, she counted on soaking up Balinese culture, good food and the balmy climate for decades.

After dawn in a small eastern Indonesia town, a young man holds an ornate umbrella over non-binary priest Puang Matowa Nani, as they walk barefoot to a nearby pond to perform the annual ritual of Mappalili.

Anita Permata, Raka Adji, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has called on the House of Representatives (DPR) to ratify the Domestic Workers' Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) to give comprehensive protection to domestic workers.

Sulistiyo Ardiyono and Arianto Patunru, ANU – Indonesia has placed a high bet on the manufacturing sector's revival by enacting the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, but the country might miss out on the economic opportunities in emerging modern services industries.

Paul Marshall – Although it is the world's fourth largest country by population, and the third largest democracy, Indonesia usually attracts comparatively little attention overseas.

Wahyu Chandra, Kahu-Kahu, Indonesia – Fishers in this village on the northwestern tip of Selayar Island, in eastern Indonesia's South Sulawesi province, are a fortnight into a community experiment.

Fajar Pebrianto, Jakarta – The construction of the East Java Semantok Dam, located specifically in Nganjuk Regency, is officially one of the national strategic projects under the Joko "Jokowi" Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin administration that saw a cost overrun from the initial Rp805 billion to Rp2.5 trillion as it was introduced today.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – A recent survey has sounded alarms about inequality on the country's road to recovery, as vulnerable families, including households with disabled members or those that are led by women, are facing tougher challenges to bounce back from the pandemic compared with more well-off families.

Jakarta – In a surprising move, the Indonesian government has announced a ban on all bauxite exports starting in June 2023 to encourage domestic processing industries.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's new capital Nusantara should strengthen its air defense by adopting advanced military technologies, as the first battle the metropolis would face would likely be an air-centric one, according to the National Resilience Institute or Lemhannas.

Herman, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Wednesday indicated that his government will lift all social restrictions related to Covid-19 that have been in place for nearly three years, suggesting that the country is now well-equipped to deal with the ongoing pandemic.

An interview with Benny Wenda – Since Indonesia annexed West Papua, its people have faced brutal military repression while the US helps whitewash the occupation. But the country's freedom movement is pressing ahead with a unique liberation project based on ecological principles.

Viet Nam News, Jakarta – Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's state visit to Indonesia will mark a new milestone in the unique and long relationship between the two countries, Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior researcher at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in Indonesia, has said.

Fikri Harish, Jakarta – Having the experience of contesting the 2019 presidential election under his belt, social-media savvy Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno is considered a strong candidate for the vice-presidential ticket.

Kornelius Purba, Jakarta – My mind has flashbacks of former foreign minister Ali Alatas telling me about the real power of the Foreign Ministry many years ago when I read the speech of Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi during the first Indonesia-Pacific Forum for Development (IPFD) in Bali early this month.

A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Indonesia has abstained a recent resolution that expelled Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), saying that the resolution was proposed without exhausting all efforts to improve the situation in Iran, including dialogue.

Antara, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in a virtual press conference on Tuesday revealed that the government managed to collect Rp231.75 billion from the cryptocurrency tax from June up to December under the Electronic Systems Trade Operators (PPMSE).

Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – An alliance of non-government organisations calling themselves the Civil Society for Safeguarding Clean Elections reported 10 General Election Commission (KPU) officials at all levels to the Election Organisers Ethics Council (DKPP) on Wednesday December 21.