In the Asia-Pacific region, accessing independent and fearless news about regimes that are doing their best to stifle and destroy any form of free press is at risk of becoming more and more challenging.

Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen trade ties with the United States have hit an unexpected roadblock, centered on the country’s QR code-based payment system—Quick Response Indonesia Standard (QRIS). The U.S. government has classified QRIS as a trade barrier, arguing that it has curtailed the dominance of Visa and Mastercard in Indonesia’s payment ecosystem, where both companies had expanded prior to QRIS’s launch in 2019.

Development programs, including those branded as “green” or “low-carbon”, have often dispossessed indigenous communities of their ancestral lands. 

Alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and regulatory frameworks, which the country currently lacks.

Instead of wallowing in despair over the fraying security alliance, Europe has fostered an unexpected sense of purpose and unity.

When designed and implemented appropriately, state support to pesantren can be leveraged to promote community well-being and resilience. 

Governments may claim to promote harmony, but their actions often involve policing differences and privileging dominant faiths, leaving minority communities marginalized and vulnerable.

Indonesia needs to implement deregulation not because of pressure from the United States, but to ensure that Indonesia can become a competitive and attractive investment destination.

A nation cannot rise if its workers and employers regard each other with suspicion instead of solidarity.

The arrest of a Jakarta district judge has sparked public outcry and spotlighted the long-standing decay of institutional trust in the judiciary. On April 11, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) apprehended South Jakarta District Court head Muhammad Arif Nuryanta on allegations that he had accepted Rp 60 billion (US$3.5 million) in bribes in exchange for a favorable ruling for three defendants in the 2022 graft case related to crude palm oil (CPO) export permits.

The neglect of teachers' welfare by the state creates an environment in which unethical practices become not just an option, but, in some cases, a survival mechanism.

Pope Francis' personal net worth at the time of his death was estimated at no more than $100, a powerful testimony to a life of service over accumulation. 

Many individuals find that to secure a higher salary, one that not only covers daily expenses but also allows for savings and improved living standards, they must sacrifice personal time and well-being.

The influence of former president Joko ‘’Jokowi’’ Widodo on the government of his successor President Prabowo Subianto looks to remain intact, despite the former’s promise to stop creating an image of shadow leadership in the country.

Indonesia could nudge China to stop dragging its feet in concluding negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, something that ASEAN has been pushing for from Beijing for over two decades.

Halting overfishing of sharks and rays is difficult because the issue is surrounded by complex social dynamics.

Drawing on the insights he gained during his upbringing and experience in Argentina, Francis advocated for upholding human dignity and togetherness as a means of resolving the moral ills of economic injustice and convened a Jubilee Commission to tackle the deepening global crisis of debt and development.

Pope Francis has left an impact on ecotheology through his writings and interreligious agreements, which underline the role of religion in lifting human dignity and promoting togetherness as a means to solving the man-made ecological crisis.

In trying to reset the global monetary system by using tariffs, the Trump team has inadvertently pushed de-dollarization and the system back toward a gold stardard.

The employment structure in Indonesia is imbalanced, with 33.67 percent of workers in part-time jobs and 59.33 percent in the informal sector, often without job security, social protections or access to skill development.

Even before the free nutritious meal program was launched, food safety was a persistent issue in Indonesia.

South Korea’s LG Energy Solution (LGES) has officially withdrawn from a multibillion-dollar battery supply chain investment plan in Indonesia, casting uncertainty over the country’s ambitions to become a global electric vehicle (EV) hub. The decision came amid a sluggish domestic EV market in Indonesia, which has led the company to reassess its investment priorities and scale back on expansion plans, prompting Indonesian authorities to seek alternative partners to keep the strategic initiative on track.

The West Java cases also put a spotlight on what experts call structural and psychological gaps in the safety and protection of women.

Digital technologies, from artificial intelligence and robotics to wearable sensors and virtual reality, are revolutionizing workplaces. They hold huge potential to reduce occupational safety and health (OSH) risks and improve working conditions.

The quality of judgement exercised by leaders in a time of crisis will determine whether a nation will survive or succumb to chaos.

The innovative payment method has been pivotal in shaping the country's financial landscape, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding national interests.

Regulating the live broadcast of ongoing trial sessions is not equivalent to restricting journalistic work.