Indonesia Society News: Social Issues & Education

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Jakarta Post
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As forests fragment, arboreal bridges offer orangutans a lifeline

Habitat fragmentation limits orangutan movement between populations, potentially reducing genetic exchange and raising the risk of inbreeding, with implications for the species’ long-term survival.

3 days ago
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UIII marks first commencement ceremony for doctoral graduates

The graduating class came from UIII’s four schools of Islamic studies, social sciences, economics and education sciences, including 99 international graduates from 22 countries. ...

4 days ago
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Forestry reform critical as wildfires threatens health, ecosystems

The plan to revise the 1999 Forestry Law may fail to address decades-long poor governance in the sector that has resulted in wildfires in large parts of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua throughout this year’s dry season, civil groups say. ...

5 days ago

The Latest

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House urges next government to find ‘better’ religious affairs minister

The House of Representatives’ special committee to inquire into the government’s management and organization of this year’s haj has concluded its month-long investigation and come up with several recommendations, including that the next government find a better religious affairs minister.

1 year ago
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Dirgantara developing amphibious N219 for certification by 2026

One of PTDI's newest aircraft is undergoing development into an amphibious version, with the plane maker aiming for certification by 2026.

1 year ago
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ITB faces backlash for requiring scholarship recipients to work part-time

The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java has come under fire over a recent policy that requires students receiving tuition fee reductions to work part time on campus, with education experts criticizing the requirement as inconsistent with prevailing regulations and showcasing power relations between the university and its students.

1 year ago
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Sea sand export plan threatens islands, coastal communities

The export of sea sand may threaten islands across the archipelago, as well as the livelihoods of people living on them, as sand dredging has caused dozens of islands to disappear in the past, environmentalists have warned.

1 year ago
Society

Journey Unhurried - Share Your Visual Stories With Us

In a world that often races by, slow travel allows us to pause, savor, and form genuine connections with the places we visit.

1 year ago
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Police nab teacher for hacking govt database

A noncontract teacher of an elementary school in Banyuwangi has been detained for allegedly hacking the civil service database and selling the stolen data for US$8,000.

1 year ago
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Police urged to be transparent in discovery of seven bodies in Bekasi River

A number of police watchdogs have urged the law enforcement authorities to be transparent in probing the discovery of the bodies of seven male teenagers in the Bekasi River, West Java, who are thought to have been chased by the police for initiating a brawl via social media. 

1 year ago
Society

Farmers call on government to carry out agrarian reform

The government must carry out agrarian reform by redistributing plots of land to farmers to improve their welfare, farmers said during a rally commemorating National Farmers'  Day on Tuesday.

1 year ago
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Environmental concerns raised over dairy cow import plan for free meal program

The plan to import 1.5 million dairy cows to support president-elect Prabowo Subianto's trademark free meal program may exacerbate the climate crisis through greenhouse gas emissions created by the cattle as well as deforestation from land clearing for the dairy farms, observers have warned.

1 year ago
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Anti-bullying training needed amid alarming cases, observers say

Education observers say poor character education at schools is responsible for rampant bullying in the country and have urged institutions to implement intensive anti-bullying training and interfaith dialogue to foster a sense of respect among people of different backgrounds.

1 year ago
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Netherlands inks new deal to return Indonesian artifacts

The Netherlands has signed a new deal with Indonesia to return nearly 300 cultural objects this month, including several statues, with the newly repatriated artifacts slated for an exhibition to mark the National Museum's reopening in October, according to a museum official.

1 year ago
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Reports of abuse at Brandoville Studios shed light on ‘cruel’, ‘sad’ creative industry

For years, a July complaint alleges, the company's employees were obliged to work extended hours while enduring abusive treatment, such as being slapped and choked. They were also reportedly denied rightful overtime pay.

1 year ago
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School bullying in spotlight once again at prestigious private school

BINUS private school has been embroiled in controversy once again after another alleged bullying incident at one of its high schools drew widespread attention, including from lawmakers at the House of Representatives.

1 year ago
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Genome sequencing for medicine makes progress, but concerns loom

The Health Ministry has collected and made publicly available genomic data from 9,000 Indonesians, a development expected to help doctors make more accurate diagnoses and provide better treatment.

1 year ago
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‘Fish milk’ may pose danger to children’s health

Nutritional experts have raised concerns over a proposal to use "fish milk" for the free nutritious free meals program of incoming President Prabowo Subianto amid insufficient domestic production of cow milk.

1 year ago
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Policy protecting environmental defenders from lawsuits welcomed with caution

Under the new regulation, the Environment and Forestry Ministry can provide legal aid and protection for environmental defenders who are under threat of any retaliatory actions for their activism.

1 year ago
Society

BPJS Kesehatan to use facial recognition in prevention of frauds

The state-owned Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) is planning to use a facial recognition technology to identify millions of its policyholders and to prevent fraud in the National Health Insurance (JKN) system.

1 year ago
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Activists revive calls to revoke discriminatory policies after pope's visit

Following Pope Francis's messages urging interfaith dialogue, upholding tolerance and protecting diversity during his Indonesia visit, rights advocates have called on the government to take up the mantle by revoking discriminatory policies, such as the controversial 2006 decree deemed to restrict the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of minority religions in the country.

1 year ago
Society

Police arrests seven over Pope Francis 'terror threats'

The suspects were arrested in cities around the capital Jakarta, and the provinces of West Sumatra and Bangka Belitung Islands.

1 year ago
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New education budget scheme raises fear of funding cut

The Finance Minister has proposed a new state budget mechanism for meeting the mandatory 20 percent allocation for education, which has raised fears among experts that schools, teachers and students will all be left shortchanged.

1 year ago
Society

Kadin holds talk show on mangrove conservation and restoration

Having vast areas of mangrove and peatland, Indonesia is being recognized a hotspot for global biodiversity and has significant potential to lead climate change action.

1 year ago
Society

Pope Francis leaves Indonesia to resume Asia-Pacific tour in PNG

Pope Francis wraps up the first leg of his 12-day Asia-Pacific in Jakarta on Friday, departing for the next phase of his tour in Papua New Guinea, before proceeding to Timor-Leste and Singapore.

1 year ago
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Pope calls for interfaith dialogue to solve world crises

In a four-point joint statement named the Istiqlal Declaration, Pope Francis and leaders of Indonesian religious groups called for interfaith cooperation to solve the world's humanitarian and environmental crises.

1 year ago
Society

Over 80,000 attend Pope's mass in Jakarta

The event was the high point of the 87-year-old pope's four days in Jakarta on the first stop of a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, with visits to Timor Leste, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

1 year ago
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Pope praises Istiqlal, 'tunnel of friendship' as symbols of interfaith harmony

Pope Francis praised Indonesia on Thursday for fostering a sense of friendship among different religious groups as he visited Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque, located just across the street from the Jakarta Cathedral, in one of the final set pieces of the pontiff’s three-day visit to the country.

1 year ago
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Pressure grows to unravel death of Diponegoro University medical resident

Medical students of the Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java, have urged authorities to resolve bullying allegations against Aulia Risma Lestari, a medical resident at the university who committed suicide last month.

1 year ago
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Senior economist, govt critic Faisal Basri dies at 65

Faisal, who was well known for his vocal opposition of the government's recent economic policies from nickel downstreaming to deindustrialization, died at 3:50 a.m. on Thursday at Mayapada Hospital and was laid to rest at the Menteng Pulo Cemetery in South Jakarta.

1 year ago
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At Istiqlal Mosque, Pope appeals for interfaith harmony, unity in tackling climate change

Pope Francis continued his Indonesian itinerary by visiting the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday morning as an effort to foster interfaith harmony and push for joint efforts to tackle climate change.

1 year ago
Society

Pope praises Indonesians for choosing children over cats

Pope Francis praised Indonesians on Wednesday for their large families and suggested that people in other countries are choosing to have pets rather than bring up children.

1 year ago
Society

Pope to stress harmony in Istiqlal mosque, GBK stadium Mass

The events are the final major set pieces of the pontiff's three-day visit to Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world, that is kicking off a gruelling tour around the Asia-Pacific.

1 year ago
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