The mushrooming in operations of the so-called berondolan CPO mills has often stirred social conflict, illegal opening of oil palm plantations and even crop thefts and looting.

The Indonesian government is in the process of passing a regulation to establish the Indonesia Tourism Fund (ITF). The fund will be used to support various major tourism events that can create multiplier effects, such as music concerts. One of the methods being considered to collect money for the fund is from airfare by charging a tourism fee, which will likely increase flight ticket prices. The plan sparked objections from business players in the Indonesian tourism sector, including the country’s airline industry, as well as advocates of consumer rights.

To promote a broader adoption of humanity-centered strategies, educational institutions, businesses and government bodies can invest in novel initiatives that emphasize empathy, ethics and stakeholder engagement. 

Southeast Asia can emerge as a global leader in addressing climate change by innovating solutions for climate funding that is both sustainable and equitable toward ensuring a just transition for the region as a whole, including its brown energy workforce.

If the lack of horizontal and vertical checks and balances persists, the consolidation of power under Prabowo could be even more massive with unaccountable governance.

The integrity of the election has been compromised by the very institution that is supposed to guard it. 

While the central bank's recent decision to raise the BI Rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent may not have been popular, it was the appropriate measure to respond to the current global turmoil and to anchor future inflation.

ASEAN countries might want to come up with more incentives to boost added value in their downstreaming industries amid the global shift to cleaner energy, which has increased demand for critical minerals and mining output. 

Regardless of nationality, faith and creed, we must unite to uphold international laws and protect civilian lives in war, wherever it occurs in the world.

The main strategic interest of the Global South, i.e. economic development and the right to development, should not be defined by great power politics, including the rivalry between the United States and China. 

The U-23 team's exploits have served as a beacon of hope, igniting a belief that Indonesia can once again compete among the elite of Asian soccer and strive for a place on the world stage.

The permanent closure of some international airports is clearly inconsistent with the government’s own prior policies.

Addressing learning poverty in a carefully considered, holistic manner is key to the country developing and empowering its future generations to build a better future for all.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) and the NasDem Party, two parties that nominated Anies Baswedan in the Feb. 14 presidential election, have decided to join the winning side of Prabowo Subianto. The entry of the two ex-rivals will allow Prabowo to enlarge his coalition and secure majority parliamentary support, but on the flip side it may cause complexities in allocating ministerial posts as rewards in his incoming cabinet.

Indonesia has built its unique home-grown democracy within a span of 23 calendar years, but less than 15 to 16 normal years. 

Aside from South Korea being part of the East Asian trifecta of ASEAN's cooperation partners, Indonesia has some unresolved issues related to defense deals that Prabowo would do well to smooth out before he is inaugurated in October.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that only 1.7 percent of climate financing reaches local communities and smallholder groups, who contribute the least to climate change and biodiversity loss.

Regardless of economic status, many families often opt for unhealthy food choices, unaware of their harmful effects, and poor food handling practices are common, leading to foodborne illnesses among schoolchildren. 

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently welcomed Apple CEO Tim Cook to the State Palace, as the United States tech giant and the Indonesian government look to expand collaboration with one another. The two discussed multiple matters, including Jokowi’s desire for Apple to build a manufacturing facility in the country and invest in the future capital city, Nusantara (IKN).

Migrant fishers are vulnerable to human trafficking and forced labor, which requires comprehensive protection at every stage of their employment. 

The unnecessarily protracted process of making a law on domestic workers protection stands in stark contrast to the speedy passage of the bills that are favorable to those in power. 

The safeguard policy revision is a chance for the ADB to demonstrate a genuine interest in listening and responding to issues raised by communities and groups. 

Governments, companies, and civil societies, must work together to build a fair and sustainable digital economy where everyone, including workers, enjoys the rights and well-being they deserve. 

The world is now seeing three major regulatory preferences that may or may not be easy to be fused into a global legal order, alongside Big Tech, whose powers are difficult to regulate under state sovereignty, in democracies or otherwise.

ASEAN urgently needs to adopt its Environmental Rights Framework to break the pattern of blatant impunity for perpetrators fueling an endless cycle of violence and threats against land and environmental defenders amid weak and ineffective law enforcement in the region.

A Southeast Asian parliament may sound like an improbably idealistic vision, but in this era of unprecendented advancements and challenges, thinking out of the box is the way for the region to finally take a global lead by representing its citizens, especially its youth, at the regional level.

Even with the absence of a mediating role, Indonesia should be seen championing an independent Palestinian state and full membership of the United Nations.