Indonesia's confirmed COVID-19 cases have breached half a million as the Government of the world's fourth most populous nation scrambles to procure vaccines to help it win the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesia has collected Rp 297 billion (US$20.9 million) from 22 digital technology companies under the new digital tax, the Finance Ministry's Taxation Directorate General said Monday.

Mardika Parama, Jakarta – Indonesia is collaborating with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to host a virtual forum on Wednesday that focuses on economic recovery in the country and the government's efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, while also promoting investment in key sectors like healthcare.

Jakarta – The National Police have determined that 16 regions may see a potentially high number of health protocol violations during the regional elections next month.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi' Widodo has instructed his subordinates to cut the 2020 year-end holiday short to curb COVID-19 transmission, a minister has said.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy revealed the instruction at a press conference after attending a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Galih Gumelar, Jakarta – The administration of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to dissolve a total of 29 state agencies in the coming year as it continues its debureaucratization efforts launched in mid-2020.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – In an effort to curtail corrupt behavior and criminal activity in the country's easternmost provinces, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to provide online training on corruption prevention on Tuesday and Wednesday using its JAGA mobile application.

Jakarta – Twenty-seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, are believed to have been infected at campaigning events for the regional elections, which are set to take place in December.

As of Tuesday, Tarakan has recorded 648 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 404 recoveries and seven fatalities.

Jakarta – The coronavirus disease has continued to spread in the central and southern parts of Central Java, with spikes in cases attributable in part to a lack of awareness on COVID-19 and disease prevention.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – Upon returning home from Washington, DC, Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan waxed poetic about his recent meeting with United States President Donald Trump, where they discussed the two countries' bilateral cooperation, including the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The seven-day average of newly coronavirus cases in Indonesia saw a new high on Tuesday, only a day after the total number of cases hit half a million since the outbreak began.

The country has been averaging 4,550 cases in the past week, just five more cases from the previous record of weekly average set a day earlier.

Jakarta – A controversial bill proposed by an Islamic political party that will dictate how husbands, wives, and family members behave has stalled at the House of Representatives after the National Democratic party gave a key vote that complete a pushback from nationalist parties.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jakarta – Forum of Concerned Citizens for Indonesia's Parliament (Formappi) researcher Lucius Karus has highlighted Law Number 11/2008 on Information and Electronic Transactions (UU ITE).

Choky R. Ramadhan – Members of the Indonesian parliament have just proposed an alcohol prohibition bill, setting off a public debate.

This bill would criminalise the producers, distributors, sellers, buyers and consumers of alcoholic beverages. Violators would be sentenced to fines and prison time.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government is currently pursuing various efforts to revive tourism, including allocating Rp 14.4 trillion (US$972.6 million) for businesses and issuing cleanliness, health, safety and environmental sustainability (CHSE) certification for service providers in the industry.

Amy Chew, South China Morning Post – In the week and a half that hardline Islamic cleric Habib Rizieq has been back in Indonesia, he has called for the beheadings of those who insult the Prophet Mohammed, sought the release of a convicted terrorist leader and sanctioned prayers for President Joko Widodo's death.

Jakarta – New Covid-19 cases have been recorded following a series of mass gatherings centred around the return of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab from self-exile in Saudi Arabia on Nov 10.

Marta Pascual Juanola – At this time of the year, Jimbaran local Yeny Fita Wulandari would usually be run off her feet, juggling jobs in a busy spa and thriving tour business in Poppies Lane, one of Kuta's many buzzing laneways.

But this year, the mother-of-three can barely put food on the table.

Jakarta (Reuters) – Indonesia hit a grim milestone on Monday (Nov 23) in surpassing more than half a million cases of the coronavirus, as hospitals across the country's most populated province edged closer towards capacity.

Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab is refusing health screening by authorities, sources close to him say, as those who have been closely associated with his return from Saudi Arabia two weeks ago have tested positive for COVID-19 in the dozens.

Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has reminded the national COVID-19 task force and committee as well as provincial leaders across the nation to balance efforts aimed at containing the coronavirus with efforts to revive economic activity.

Antara, Jayapura – The Advocate for Papua Policy and Human Rights (PAK HAM) has condemned the fatal shooting incident in Ilaga Subdistrict, Puncak District, Papua Province, on Friday (Nov. 20) that killed Atanius Murib (16) and injured Manus Murib (16).

Nina A. Loasana, Jakarta – The Jakarta administration announced on Sunday that it would extend the transitional period of the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) for another two weeks until Dec. 6 amid a recent surge of new COVID-19 cases and following a number mass gatherings that led to accusations of widespread violations of health protocols.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – Indonesia's confirmed COVID-19 case number has exceeded 500,000 as the country continues to endure the strain of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly nine months since it reported the first infections in March.

Jakarta – Banyumas regency in Central Java will temporarily close some tourist attractions in the area to contain the spread of COVID-19, antaranews.com reported.

Banyumas Regent Achmad Husein said on Monday that the local administration would close both government-owned and privately owned tourist attractions gradually, following the surge of COVID-19 cases.

Adrian Wail Akhlas, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is expected to return to growth in 2021 after facing a recession this year, economists say, but unemployment and poverty may rise further as economic activity will remain sluggish.

Rizki Fachriansyah, Jakarta – What appears to be a casual photo of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan reading a book on Sunday morning has sparked debate among social media users, with some claiming that the photo is a subtle jab at President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration.

Jakarta – The Limapuluh Kota Police in West Sumatra have disbanded a public wedding reception held for the child of local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Joni Amir, alleging a violation of COVID-19 protocols.

Jakarta – The seven-day average of newly coronavirus cases hits a new high in Jakarta as officials said the city is facing new clusters of infections due to recent mass gatherings led by controversial Muslim group leader Rizieq Syihab.

Bogor, West Java. Indonesia will hold the G20 presidency in 2022, a year earlier than arranged, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has said.

Friski Riana, Jakarta – Indonesia's former two-term vice president Jusuf Kalla in an interview with Tempo Magazine, as many other experts have, opined about the return of Rizieq Shihab and the large crowd that gathered in welcoming home the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader amidst the strict COVID-19 health protocol.

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in Sunday's statement revealed a 70 percent drop in percentage of people's health protocol obedience during the past week which referred to data from University of Indonesia's faculty of public health as of November 21.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) says that war crimes need to be included as gross human rights violations. The group said this in the context of commemorating 20 years since the enactment of Law Number 26/2000 on a Human Rights Court.

Jakarta – Indonesia plans to resume accepting visa applications from residents of eight countries that require a calling visa for entry starting Monday following a temporary suspension imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, an immigration official has said.

Budi Sutrisno, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has brushed off criticisms calling its move to alter its organizational structure "fattening", with the antigraft body saying it has tried to balance the number new positions with those removed.

Nirmala Maulana, who works for a national online media Kompas.com, was assaulted by members of the military when covering the removal banners of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) Leader Rizieq Shihab in Jakarta on November 20.

Jakarta – As the central government plans to reopen schools for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, the National Child Protection Commission (KPAI) is urging it to focus on preparing infrastructure and protocols for students returning to classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jakarta – Indonesia is unlikely to procure Covid-19 vaccines produced by the American multinational pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer and a German biotechnology company Biopharmaceutical New Technologies, or BioNTech, as the vaccines require refrigeration temperature far beyond the archipelago's logistical capability, a top executive at a state-owned pharmaceutical company said on S

Bandung and Jakarta – COVID-19 hospitals in Bandung, West Java, are running out of beds with at least 88.6 percent of bed capacity already occupied.

Bandung City secretary Ema Surmana said that the occupancy had skyrocketed compared with two months ago when it was still at 32.5 percent.

Jakarta – The transportation industry is among the sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Stay-at-home and physical-distancing policies, coupled with the closure of tourist destinations and shopping centers, have caused earnings in the sector to plummet.

Jakarta (Reuters) – Indonesia has secured a Euro 550 million (S$876 million) loan from Germany's state bank KfW to fund its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Jakarta's embassy in Berlin said.

The proceeds would be used to upgrade hospitals and procure medical equipment, among other things, the embassy said in a Facebook post this week.

Azka Namirah, Jakarta – "It is so hard to earn a living as a fisherman today. Years ago, my wife and children never had to ask me to make more money because it was enough. This area used to be wide open. We could fish and get paid. But not anymore. Reclamation is everywhere, we are stranded."

Jakarta – Three mothers of sick children are fighting for legal changes to allow the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Together, they submitted a request to the Constitutional Court on Thursday for a judicial review of the 2009 Narcotics Law.

Arya Dipa, Bandung – One person is dead and two others injured after a landslide struck Sindangkerta village, Cianjur, West Java, on Friday.

Jakarta – Many children have experienced physical or psychological abuse at home during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Child Protection Agency (KPAI).

Jakarta – The government's plan to transfer licenses for the import of refined sugar directly to the industries that use it has been held up at the ministerial level, even though it could reduce rent-seeking.

Josh Milton – A gay couple in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, was forcibly dragged out of their homes to a police station and now run the risk of being lashed 100 times all because of their "illegal sexual orientation".

Jakarta – The Jakarta Military Command's decision to take down banners depicting firebrand cleric and Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab has raised questions over the Indonesian Military's (TNI) participation in civilian matters.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Indonesia is getting closer to the 500,000 mark amid widespread infections in key hotspots, most notably Jakarta which set a new high in daily cases on Saturday.

Farid Firdaus, Jakarta – Flagship carrier Garuda Indonesia has set to raise $600 million from mandatory convertible bonds by the end of this year to keep the airline's afloat through the Covid-19 pandemic.