Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) recorded 1,182 cases of violence in Papua committed either by the TNI (Indonesian military), Polri (Indonesian police) or the OPM/KKB (Free Papua Movement/Armed Criminal Groups) in 2020-2021. The majority of cases or 41.31 percent of the violence related to the work of the Indonesian police.

Muhammad Hendartyo, Jakarta – State-energy firm Pertamina on Monday announced that its Sumatra upstream subholding successfully discovered a new oil reserve within the Jambi field located at the Muaro Jambi Regency.

Bisnis.Com, Jakarta – National Development Planning Minister or Bappenas Head Suharso Monoarfa said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday last week, Jan. 14, decided to name Nusantara for the new capital city in East Kalimantan.

Maya Ayu Puspitasari, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction said it would approve the sexual violence crime bill or RUU TPKS on conditions that the bill is ratified along with the criminal code (KUHP) bill.

Lani Diana Wijaya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Employers Association of Jakarta (Apindo Jakarta) has officially filed a lawsuit against Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan over the revision of the 2022 provincial minimum wage (UMP).

Jakarta – President Joko Widodo has agreed to extend luxury tax exemption on low-cost cars until the end of this quarter, a senior minister said over the weekend.

Band new cars priced at Rp 200 million or less are exempt from the 3 percent luxury tax for the next three months, chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said.

Jakarta – Slowly but surely, the country has seen its COVID-19 caseload rise over the past few weeks as a result of the Omicron variant. As booster vaccine doses are administered to high-risk groups, more stringent measures are needed to mitigate the impacts of a potentially large-scale outbreak.

M Razi Rahman, Sri Haryati, Jakarta – The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has pledged to impose legal sanction against those using "cantrang" fishing gear in the Indonesian waters to ensure the implementation of sustainable fishing.

Editorial Board, ANU – Ahead of the Rome G20 Summit in October 2021, the G20 looked like it was in danger of losing the plot. What a relief, then, to see Indonesia bring the G20 back to its bread-and-butter global policy challenges as it takes over as its chair for 2022.

Konradus Epa and Katharina R. Lestari, Jakarta – Sexual violence committed against children in Indonesia almost tripled in 2021, but true figures remain elusive because of a tendency not to report such crimes and cover them up, according to an agency dedicated to protecting victims.

Kiki Siregar, Jakarta – For most people, graveyards are places to avoid as they are often associated with spirits or spooky things best left to the otherworld.

But there are others like Ruri Hargiyono, who finds solace in them and enjoys spending her free time visiting cemeteries.

Haryo Aswicahyono and Hal HillContributor – It takes a serious crisis to reveal a country's fundamental strengths and vulnerabilities.

Antara, Jakarta – An epidemiologist from Sriwijaya University urged authorities in Indonesia to ensure that all children aged 6 to 11 must get vaccinated before allowing them to join a physical return to school at full capacity.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Bolstered by the commodities boom, Indonesia's economy appears set for a rapid growth rebound in 2022 as a significant decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths prompts easing of social restrictions and the reopening of borders.

Vitorio Mantalean, Jakarta – National Network for Domestic Worker Advocacy (Jala PRT) National Coordinator Lita Anggraini says that the number of domestic works (PRT) in Indonesia is quite large, yet the legal protections afforded to them are still lacking.

Jakarta – A circular requiring students from the Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) to follow a public lecture by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Monday January 17 has gone viral on social media. Unpar rector Mangadar Situmorang has finally responded to the controversy.

Jakarta – Indonesia reported 1,054 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest daily increase in three months, as the government braces for a new wave of coronavirus infections driven by the spread of the Omicron variant.

The world's fourth most populous country grappled with a devastating second wave of infections in July, driven by the spread of the Delta variant.

Ben Doherty – The oil came without warning. One morning in September 2009 it was there, coating Daniel Sanda's modest seaweed farm on the Indonesian island of Rote: a dark sheen across the water, waxy yellow-grey blocks floating in the sea.

Within days, the crop his family depended on for its livelihood turned white and died. It has still not fully recovered.

Nivell Rayda, Bogor, Indonesia – In between roaming about a dog shelter – her new home since she was rescued from a truck bound for a slaughterhouse – Sasha occasionally checked out her newborn puppies sleeping soundly in a pet bed.

Lying on a white and turquoise blanket, the five puppies were only a few weeks old, still unable to open their eyes, let alone walk.

Arrijal Rachman, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) director of investigations Febrie Adriansyah said that the state losses caused by the satellite procurement case involving the East Longitude 123 orbital slot could likely exceed IDR 500 billion.

Jakarta – What a sad twist of political career for Rahmat Effendi, who as Bekasi mayor earned an iconic status as a true defender of freedom of religion. It was reduced to almost nothing after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested him for allegedly accepting bribes during a sting operation on Jan. 5.

A Muh Ibnu Aqil, Jakarta – Hundreds of buildings, including houses, places of worships and community health centers (Puskesmas), were damaged in a 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the western parts of Java Island on Friday.

Mirza Bagaskara, Jakarta – A number of experts believe President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has only focused on economic growth in his second term in office. Indikator Politik Indonesia director Burhanuddin Muhtadi on Thursday said there are a number of issues that are put aside because of this economy-centric mindset.

Yohana Belinda, Malang – Designer bag rental services are emerging as an affordable way to keep up with mercurial fashion trends.

Jakarta – Indonesia's state utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said on Friday that together with the energy ministry it was strengthening a coal delivery monitoring system to ensure enforcement of domestic sales rules and energy security.

Kiki Siregar, Jakarta – Thousands of fish have died in the past few weeks in Indonesia's Lake Maninjau, West Sumatra, highlighting both the environmental as well as human factors in contributing to the decade-old problem.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – A member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the POKS Party Kurniasih Mufidayati, said that the party will insist on standing against the sexual violence Draft Bill (RUU TPKS), arguing that Indonesia is not just facing an alarming situation regarding sexual violence, but also sexual freedom and deviation.

Antara, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Trade Union (KSPI) president Said Iqbal on Friday declared thousands of laborers, farmers, fishermen, migrant workers, and domestic workers will rally demanding House of Representatives (DPR) to repeal the Omnibus Job Creation Law (UU Cipta Kerja).

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Administration on Thursday, January 13, started to intensify the booster vaccination in an effort to anticipate the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant. As one of Indonesia's popular destinations, the city expects to be able to prevent the case surge, unlike when the Delta variant hit the region in mid-2021.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government has decided to reopen borders for all international visitors by lifting the remaining entry ban for 14 countries imposed in the wake of the Omicron outbreak, a spokesman said on Friday.

Anne Grace Savitha, Petaling Jaya – An Indonesian couple from Central Java have shocked social media after keeping the corpse of their daughter in their house in hopes that she would rise from the dead.

Tribun Jakarta reported that the parents kept the corpse in the house for over two months and believed she would come back alive after following some rituals.

Hellena Souisa – After stalling for almost a decade, Indonesia's House of Representatives is expected to debate a bill on sexual violence next Tuesday.

Last week, President Joko Widodo called for the bill to be ratified immediately so that there would be maximum protection for victims of sexual violence.

In today's News So Crazy You Won't Believe It Happened, police in Yogyakarta have apprehended a man who allegedly stole traffic lights in the city with the intention of selling them online.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Omicron tally has now jumped to 572 following the government's recent announcement that it had detected 66 new infections of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant.

Kate Lamb and Stanley Widianto, Jakarta – Indonesia's government is facing criticism from some top scientists and lawmakers that a sweeping restructuring bringing together the country's leading science and technology institutes could undermine research efforts.

Jakarta – Indonesia is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and as such, is not obliged to take on the boatloads of asylum seekers that have been arriving in large numbers to avoid persecution in their countries.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) says that a persuasive approach which the state will apply though the security forces in the land of Papua is a tired old tune which is being played again with the start of the new year.

Ian Storey – Indonesia plans to convene a meeting with some of its ASEAN colleagues to discuss the South China Sea. The idea is not new, but this time it might just work.

Moh Khory Alfarizi, Jakarta – Two of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's sons, Gibran Rakabuming and Kaesang Pangarep had officially been reported to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over graft allegations on January 10, 2022. The person who reported them, Ubeidilah Badrun, claimed that he received threats from his social media account after filing the report.

Komnas Perempuan (National Commission on Violence Against Women) has revealed a damning statistic on sexual violence in the country, in a bid to pressure legislators to pass a bill that would afford greater protection towards women in Indonesia.

Eko Listiyorini – Indonesia, the top thermal coal exporter, will keep a broad ban on January shipments in place even as exemptions have allowed some fuel-laden vessels to depart.

Konradus Epa, Jakarta – An Indonesian court has sentenced a Muslim cleric to five months in prison for committing blasphemy against Christians.

The sentence, however, was swiftly condemned by a Catholic lawyer, who said the punishment was too light and an "injustice."

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The Executive Office of the President (KSP), in a meeting with Religious Affairs Ministry representative on Wednesday, January 13, 2022, has urged the Ministry to issue a regulation on preventing sexual violence across religious-based academic institutions.

Moh Khory Alfarizi, Antara, Jakarta – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Nurul Ghufron confirmed the arrest against the Regent of Penajam Paser Utara, Abdul Gafur Mas'ud during a sting operation on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 12.

Lani Diana Wijaya, Jakarta – Jakarta Deputy Governor Ahmad Riza Patria said seven schools in South Jakarta were closed following the findings of COVID-19 cases.

"We have temporarily closed at least seven schools [as of] yesterday," said Riza at City Hall, Central Jakarta, Thursday, January 13.

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – The government plans to provide a booster vaccine for people aged 18 years and over, in addition to the elderly and vulnerable groups, in early February.

"Probably February," The Health Ministry's Covid-19 Vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said via text message, Wednesday night, January 12.

Antara, Jakarta – The Communication and Information (Kominfo) Ministry is investigating the alleged leak of personal data belonging to job applicants at Pertamina's subsidiary, PT Pertamina Training and Consulting (PTC).

Indri Maulidar, Jakarta – The Prosperous Justice Party or PKS faction still insisted on rejecting the ratification of the sexual violence crime bill (RUU TPKS) over the lack of policy points that were considered vital in the draft bill.

Antara, Jakarta – Severe floodings of up to three meters in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province, submerged at least 2,008 houses on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

The Banjar Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported on Wednesday night that other than Pengaron, Simpang Empat sub-district was still flooded with a water level reaching 70 centimeters.

An Indonesian woman has been flogged 100 times in Aceh province for adultery while the male involved, who denied the accusations, received just 15 lashes.