The elimination of tariffs on 98 percent of goods under ATIGA, coupled with greater free trade agreement utilization, further improved competitiveness for regional producers and exporters. 

The FIR agreement between Indonesia and Singapore reflects a bureaucratic compromise and diplomatic bargaining chip, particularly since its discussions were tied to unrelated issues such as extradition and defense cooperation treaties.

Digital journalism practices today more than just annoy readers, they corrode democracy by replacing nuanced, fact-based reporting with emotionally charged content that leaves citizens less informed and more polarized.

While China has a strategic planning process, the US has neither a plan nor a strategy.

While the official spin on debt and deficit ratios sound reassuring, the reality is that state revenues are shrinking, debt service is rising and institutions are bending under political pressure.

The initiatives in Singapore and Malaysia to protect gig workers can act as a model for emerging economies to regulate platform labor.

Once seen as protectors of the people, the police now increasingly appear aligned with elite interests.

Singapore can retain its top spot in world safety rankings even if it reduces its use of capital punishment. 

Public surveys confirm that the majority of respondents believed bribery existed within the police force, with many reporting direct experience or knowledge of the practice.

If there is clear proof of the incompetence surrounding President Prabowo Subianto, it lies in the poor structure and wording of his speech at the United Nations General Assembly just last week.

The spread of the Jolly Roger of the Straw Hats Pirates is an example of how Gen Z is reshaping the cultural vocabulary of dissent.

While China has been the chief driver of energy emissions so far this century, other nations including India, Indonesia and Vietnam will play a key role in determining future pollution trends.

Today, energy policy is investment policy, and Indonesia risks being left behind.

Today’s global landscape is more complex than ever, characterized by turbulent challenges and unpredictable storms that no nation can face alone. However, the persistence of unilateralism, where countries act based on narrow self-interest without regard for international law, poses a serious threat to global peace and stability. Such actions undermine the principles of multilateralism, weaken international institutions and erode trust among nations.

Almost a year since he took office in October 2024, Prabowo has visited Beijing twice but has yet to make state visits to either Seoul or Tokyo, which has raised diplomatic eyebrows over his bilateral stance regarding those two Asian powerhouses and key trading partners.

While skeptics might look askance at Prabowo's peacekeeping commitment, conveyed in his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly, this presents a chance for Indonesia to not only contribute to global stability but also to reshape the culture of both the TNI and the National Police as guardians of democracy.

Decent work is more than making a living: it is a barometer of how well we are doing in society as a whole, including health, education, equality and responsible consumption and production. 

Reintegration of high-profile extremists requires tailored programs addressing historical authority, relational networks and psychological needs. 

Beyond the figures and policies, humankind must come together in a collective vision that dares to look hard at the existential dilemma at the core of the climate crisis, and thereby love ourselves and our planet better.

Keeping the UN in New York now risks turning its headquarters into a relic of past American aspirations, but where some voices remain privileged, others silenced and most go unheard.

Provinces such as Yogyakarta, East Java, and Bali report among the lowest farmer daily incomes, despite their reputations as cultural and agricultural centers. 

In the UN General Assembly, Palestine may win overwhelming support. In the Security Council, one raised hand is enough to block it. 

Strong words from top leaders but few enforceable steps has characterized the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for the last five decades. Why does it still matter?

The landmark WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force on Sept. 15 after a quarter century of negotiations, is only the beginning in tackling harmful subsidies toward ensuring sustainability of fish stocks, coastal communities and the planet's oceans.

Concentrating public assets in a single body like Danantara without adequate oversight invites corruption, conflicts of interest and a decrease in transparency.

While Tuesday's signing of the IEU-CEPA is certainly a milestone, unlocking the agreement's tremendous opportunities requires a stronger business environment through broad reforms at home.

Indonesia has shown the capacity to play a bridging role when polarization of interests is manifested between the developed and developing worlds, and between the Global North and the Global South.