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.

Jakarta – Head of the General Affairs Division of the Jakarta Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Suryana, said that he was discussing efforts to reduce extreme poverty in the capital city, as the rate was reported at 95,668 people or 0.89 percent in March 2022.

The extreme poverty rate in Jakarta has increased from 0.6 percent recorded in March 2021.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jakarta – Transparency International Indonesia (TII) has recorded Indonesia's 2022 Corruption Perception Index (IPK) as falling to 34 or a decline of four points since the previous year.

Mirza Bagaskara, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) criticized the police for naming 17 workers as suspects in the deadly clash at a nickel smelter facility of PT Gunbuster Nickel Industri or PT GNI in Morowali, Central Sulawesi. KontraS member Rozy Brilian argued that the suspect naming was filled with irregularities.

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.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that floods and landslides that struck Manado, North Sulawesi, on January 27, caused damage to hundreds of residents' houses.

BNPB Acting Head of the Data, Information, and Communication Center for Disaster Abdul Muhari stated that hundreds of houses were damaged by the floods at different levels.

Riri Rahayu, M. Fais Zaki L Imaji Lasahido, Jakarta – Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Arifin Tasrif stated that the quality of oil wells in Indonesia is declining because of age. Arifin explained that these declines will certainly affect oil production in the future.

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.

Beritasatu, Jakarta – The government's recent proposal of doubling the 2023 hajj costs has sparked concerns among pilgrims, some even willing to give up on their dreams if the price hike plan proceeds.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto said the implementation of the 35 percent blended biodiesel (B35) policy would save up to US$10.75 billion in the country's foreign exchange and provide added value to the palm oil industry of Rp16.76 trillion.

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.

M Julnis Firmansyah, Ima Dini Shafira and Imaji Lasahido (Intern), Jakarta – A team of volunteers for Anies Baswedan who are also a member of the Indonesian Collaborative Secretariat (SKI), requested that the Joint Secretariat (sekber) between Nasdem-PKS-Democrats to be established immediately. This was followed by PKS officially voicing support for Anies.

Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII urged the government to immediately dismiss the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Laksana Tri Handoko given the never-ending problems within the agency. This request was noted in the minutes of meeting of Commission VII and BRIN Head on Monday, January 30, 2023.

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.

It's a given (ha) by now, but we're happy to report that Indonesians are once again the most generous people in the world, according to a survey.

Indonesians topped UK-based Charities Aid Foundation's (CAF) annual World Giving Index for the fifth successive year in 2022.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government recently announced that foreigners can now apply for a visitor visa for tourism and pre-investment at molina.imigrasi.go.id. The visa application accepts digital payment, making it easier for foreigners to apply.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has raised the country's annual coal production target to 695 million tonnes this year to cater to robust demand for the commodity.

The country plans to export more than 74 percent of the coal it mines this year, some 518 million tonnes, which the ministry said would mean record shipments.

Jakarta – Indonesian police said on Monday a local trader of industrial-grade chemicals sold them as pharmaceutical-grade, leading to their use in medicated syrups that authorities suspect may have caused deaths of more than 200 children across the country.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Prosecutors on Monday lashed out at murder defendant Putri Candrawathi who they said had invented a story that she had been raped by Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, who was murdered on July 8 of last year allegedly on the order of her husband.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Out of the 215 hectares of agricultural land plots opened for the government's food estate program in North Sumatra's Humbang Hasundutan Regency, the Agriculture Ministry (Kementan) claims 146 hectares have successfully been planted with crops by local farmers.

Hakim Ghani, Garut – A coalition of civil society organisations is protesting a number of proposed Anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) draft regional regulations (Raperda) that they say is a form of identity politics ahead of the 2024 elections.

Yustinus Paat & BTV, Jakarta – News reports have said over the past week that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may reshuffle a number of cabinet members and he didn't deny this when asked the question by journalists on Sunday.

Novita Andrian, Jakarta – The Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) will act upon "political buzzers" who use identity politics or SARA (religious, racial, and societal groups) in their internet campaigns. The agency's chairperson Rahmat Bagja asserted that such contents will be taken down and subjected to criminal charges under the ITE Law.

Ima Dini Shafira, Jakarta – House of Representative (DPR) member Nasir Djamil commented on the controversy which involves the Constitutional Court (MK) changing the substance in the dismissal verdict of former supreme court judge Aswanto.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – The Golkar Party is looking to receive a boost of power ahead of the 2024 elections with the arrival of West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil as a new member.

Chris Barrett and Karuni Rompies, Singapore/Jakarta – When Joko Widodo quipped in November that a "white haired" leader would best serve Indonesia when his time was up, it was seen as a not so subtle pointer towards his preferred successor.

The Indonesian president, known as Jokowi, didn't say who exactly he was referring to but it hardly took a genius to decipher it.

With an election looming and controversial law reform on its way, Indonesia's government is set to ratchet up its well-oiled propaganda machine.

Antara, Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry has prevented 87 Indonesian workers from being illegally sent to Middle East countries during a recent unannounced inspection at Juanda International Airport near the East Java capital of Surabaya.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) welcomed President Joko Widodo's (Jokowi's) youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, who showed interest in politics, to follow his father and his brother, Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka's path.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – There is no doubt that former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan is one of the strongest candidates for the 2024 presidential election but the three-party coalition behind his nomination can easily break down over the question of who will become his running mate.

Antara L Imaji Lasahido, Jakarta – After taking office in mid-October 2022, Acting Jakarta Governor Heru Budi Hartono stated that the Capital Provincial Government had planted 2,700 trees in various locations.

The thousands of trees have rejuvenated areas around the province's Land Assets and public open spaces in Jakarta.

Maria Fransisca Lahur, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that there will be lesser rainfall intensity this year compared to the previous three years, which experienced intense rainfall as an effect of La Nina.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – A Brazilian teenager has been arrested in Bali for attempting to bring 3.6 kg of cocaine into the island. Manuela Vitoria De Araujo Farias, 19, could now face the death penalty.

Farias was arrested upon her arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Jan. 1 at around 3 a.m.

Jakarta – Over the last few years the Jakarta administration has regularly considered implementing electronic road pricing (ERP) as part of efforts to address traffic congestion, but never realized it for various reasons, including public opposition.

Medan – Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto has revealed a plan to reinforce military forces in every part of Indonesia's territory by establishing Regional Military Commands (Kodam) in every province, every regency having a District Military Command (Kodim) unit and each sub-district having one Sub-District Military Command (Koramil).

Singapore – Indonesian Minister of Investment Bahlil Lahadalia suggested that Indonesia is looking into forming an OPEC-style cartel for nickel and other inputs used in battery production.

Jakarta – Mining giant Freeport Indonesia recently said that its smelter for copper – a critical component for electric vehicle or EV production – at the Java Integrated Industrial and Port Estate in Gresik would finish construction by the end of this year.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Indonesian National Development Planning Minister or Bappenas Head Suharso Monoarfa stated that the country's economic recovery continues and is getting stronger amid global uncertainty.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – There are more than 100 opportunities available for investors, home and abroad, who wish to help Indonesia build its new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan, according to the Public Works Ministry.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Gerindra Party leader Prabowo Subianto has thrown his support behind President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's son-in-law Bobby Nasution, the mayor of Medan, to run for governor of North Sumatra in 2024.

Fadli, Batam – Riau Islands Governor Ansar Ahmad says sovereignty issues are important factors to make the Natuna island chain into its own autonomous province.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The National Research and Innovation Agency, or BRIN, is committed to providing support for businesses and producing new entrepreneurs across the country through various works and facilities, a spokesman said on Thursday.

Stevani Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesian prosecutors on Friday demanded prison sentences between one and three years for six former middle and high-ranking officers accused of obstruction of justice in police's initial probe into the murder of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat.

Jakarta – Surya Paloh, the chairman of the NasDem Party, met with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday as political parties in the ruling coalition expected the President to announce another Cabinet shake-up soon.

Jakarta – Indonesia's democracy is, again, under siege, and this time the attacks come from a group of public officials elected to rule more than 81,600 villages across the archipelago.

A. Syalaby Ichsan, Jakarta – The sudden emergence of regional governments planning to enact anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) regulations (Perda) has drawn scorn from LGBT rights activist Hartoyo.