Asia Indonesia A proposed revision of TNI Law would expand army presence in civilian sectors: officers could hold government positions and extend retirement age; critics warn it could undermine army professionalism and revive Suharto-era military influence in politics
Asia Indonesia The free nutritious meal program, a goal of President Prabowo Subianto, again faces reports of food poisoning, undercooked meals and spoiled food in its rollout; authorities are investigating incidents to improve the program's safety and implementation
Asia Indonesia The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency reported that around 5.300 Riau Islanders were trafficked to Cambodia, forced to work in online scams and gambling operations; many were lured by fake job offers and now face abuse and exploitation
Asia Indonesia Authorities in Batam are urging the shutdown of a crocodile farm after 105 reptiles escaped into a nearby river for poor enclosures and heavy rains, raising public safety concerns; officials now demand stronger regulations and proper containment measures
Asia Indonesia To mitigate the massive Idul Fitri exodus, which last year saw 242 million Indonesians on the move, the Transportation Minister proposed a work-from-anywhere policy to alleviate traffic congestion and the strain on public transportation during peak days
Asia Indonesia Plans have been proposed to set a minimum age for social media use; experts urge careful study and public input to balance safety and access: concerns include enforcement challenges and impacts on digital rights, education, and information access
Asia Indonesia The relocation of civil servants to new capital Nusantara has been delayed due to incomplete housing and missing digital infrastructure; plans to move 12.000 workers by 2024 are postponed with no new timeline, but a full transition is set for 2029
Asia Indonesia A tanker spilled 20 tonnes of sodium hydroxide on an 8-km road in West Java between Cikalongwetan and Padalarang, injuring over 100 motorists and damaging 150 vehicles; the supplier, CV Yasindo Multi Pratama, apologized and pledged responsibility
Asia Indonesia Plans to build the country’s first nuclear power plant in Bangka Belitung, set to begin operations by 2031, have been officially announced by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
Asia Indonesia West Papuans living on Indonesia’s New Guinea island, seeking a referendum for self-determination, were urged to raise the Morning Star flag on 1 December, whether at home, work, the beach or anywhere else and send picture to [email protected]
Asia Indonesia Activists protested outside Indonesia’s House of Representatives after the Legislation Body rejected a bill to ban dog and cat meat trade, citing cultural practices among some ethnic groups as a reason; activists vowed to continue advocating for the ban
Asia Indonesia Ministry of Religious Affairs plans to establish a new Directorate General for pesantren, the Islamic boarding schools, to improve regulatory support and resource allocation and expand developmental programs to better serve Indonesia’s Muslim community
Asia Indonesia A female Sumatran elephant, a subspecies of the Asian elephant considered to be at serious risk of extinction, was born in the Buluh China Nature Park in north-west Sumatra; the WWF estimates that there are now only between 2.400 and 2.800 individuals