The falling crude prices take the pressure off the government a little bit for now, but do nothing to address the deeper issue, which is that fuel subsidies remain a problem. 

The RCEP offers Indonesia many inroads to greater trade with broader markets as part of the global value chain, and in turn, contributing more to global peace and prosperity.

Saving Jakarta from sinking requires more than policy: Every person who lives and works in the capital needs to roll up their sleeves and start using water more wisely and sustainably.

The Health Ministry’s Indonesian Nutrition Status Study (SSGI) in 2021 found that with a 24.4 percent stunting prevalence, one in four Indonesian children under five was stunted.

Female lawmakers currently account for 20.8 percent of the 575 House seats, slightly up from 17 percent in 2014. But the 30-percent benchmark has remained elusive.

Genderlessness has always been a part of Indonesia’s diverse cultures.

Per-capita consumption of rice has been declining in recent years, from 99.1 kilograms in 2016 to 94.4 kg in 2021, as people gradually diversify their diets.

The case comes on the heels of Nadiem’s much-vaunted vision of Kampus Merdeka (free campus), which is supposed to liberate higher education from not only the barriers to academic freedom but also corrupt practices.

Jokowi struck a cautious note on Tuesday when he said that an increase in the price of Pertalite should not hit people’s purchasing power and should not lead to a spike in inflation.

The dissolution of the task force itself, however, has already shown something, if not many things, went wrong with the elite group. 

Many serious cases of human rights violations have lingered in the wild with no real prospect of resolution.

The country waits for the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to pick up the pace in developing players as they aim to represent Indonesia in the senior level.

With the COVID-19 pandemic far from being over, coupled with the threat of a looming recession in the midst of ongoing disruption to the global supply chain, for the majority of people things do look bleak. And with the war now raging in the eastern part of Europe, involving some of the world's major powers, there is definitely a sense of foreboding.

The moderate approach is a positive gesture from the government, showing that it is being very careful, or “vigilant” as President Jokowi puts it, despite the fact Indonesia’s economy remains strong with the support of a record trade surplus and export revenue this year.

Knowing that the junta has repeatedly pooh-poohed the agreement, ASEAN should take harsher measures against it.

Shortly after assuming the leadership of the Group of 20, Indonesia begun a flurry of diplomatic activities to kick-start the group’s presidency, which culminated in the visit of President Jokowi to Ukraine and Russia in late June this year. 

The latest draft maintains articles that criminalize insults to a sitting president, fornication and cohabitation, as well as other provisions that critics deem as threats to civil liberties. 

One domestic downside risk is that the steady rise of inflation will weaken consumer purchasing power and eat away at private consumption.

An open and direct military confrontation between the two giants is an unlikely scenario for many, but any miscalculation by either side could trigger a catastrophe in the Indo-Pacific region.

The alleged cover-up is just the tip of the iceberg of the endemic corruption within the police force.

As the country’s economy continues to thrive and consumer spending continues to grow, there is huge potential for cross-border commerce to develop in Indonesia. 

As a pragmatic leader, Hun Sen realized that taking sides with the murderous junta leader would only tarnish his position among ASEAN leaders.

The ASEAN Para Games has been a winning demonstration of the participating athletes' determination and hard work, whether they took home a medal or not.

We are lucky that though we depend mainly on fuel imports, the government can afford to cushion the impact of rising international oil prices to protect the purchasing power of the people. 

All fires start with a spark, and it might still not be too late for Biden to put out the one that the US has lit in our neighborhood by allowing Pelosi's Taiwan visit.

Some may suspect that Super Garuda Shield is just another trick to contain China, but Indonesia has invited China to participate in other forms of cooperation.

Given the increasing rivalry and tension between the two powers, Biden and Xi should continue to maintain their line of communication and talk as frequently as needed to prevent a war. 

The government and the public should not let the prevailing homophobia derail our efforts to contain the spread of monkeypox.

The early delivery of tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses from China helped Indonesians endure the health crisis, although many Indonesians were doubtful about their efficacy as compared to Western vaccines.

In fact, social media has contributed significantly to the spread of lies, fake news and hatred that lead to sociopolitical segregation, like what happened during recent elections in Indonesia and beyond.