Health authorities say plummeting polio immunization rates caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the recently discovered polio cases in Indonesia.

The country’s railway operator and the transportation safety agency have issued new safety procedures following Friday’s head-on crash between two trains in West Java, as investigators continue their probe into the fatal incident.

Starting Jan. 1, the free vaccination is only eligible for elderly people, adults with comorbidities, health workers, pregnant women and people with immuno-compromised conditions.

The new city will be the largest legacy of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, who aims to bow out of his second and final term in October 2024 from a brand-spanking new presidential palace. Amid steel tracery that emulates the wings of the mythical bird Garuda, the nation’s symbol, the palace will stand firm on a hill deep in the rainforests of East Kalimantan.

Four railway employees were killed in the head-on collision between a KA Turangga intercity train and a Bandung Raya commuter train. 

A recent survey by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on 800 respondents in 10 major cities in the country reveals that 58 percent of customers support the policy of excise tax for sweetened beverages.

The nation’s presidential candidates and their running mates spent time over the Christmas holiday visiting churches to promote religious tolerance and in an effort to make themselves more appealing to Christian voters.

The Jakarta Cathedral promoted the theme Kemuliaan bagi Allah dan damai sejahtera di Bumi (Glory to God and peace on Earth), in line with the Christmas message jointly conveyed by the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (KWI) and the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) last month.

On the heels of World Disability Day this month, communities and organizations advocating for people with disabilities are calling for better access to justice to end violence against women with disabilities.

Authorities expect the number of travelers and public transportation passengers to continue to increase by the peak of the year-end holiday, which will fall between Friday and Saturday.

More than 475 billion rupiah ($30.7 million) in fines have been issued so far, an official from the ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment Firman Hidayat told reporters, who did not provide further details or identify the companies fined.

The workers were seen wearing uniformed orange-black shirts while waving the Labor Party flags. Later, they went to the US embassy to demand for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

The government has urged people to follow the health protocols, including wearing masks, as the country prepares to celebrate the year-end holidays, following the detection of the latest COVID variant of interest JN.1, with the majority of cases reported in Jakarta.

Densus 88 was involved in a shoot-out that killed two terrorist suspects in Lampung earlier this year. Throughout 2023, the counterterrorism squad has apprehended 142 terrorist suspects.

The BMKG also warned of high seas in parts of the country over the holidays, cautioning fishermen, shipping companies, ferry services and other people or entities engaged in maritime activities to remain vigilant.

Among the 22 topics included in the recently introduced health education lessons are nutrition, hygiene and mental and reproductive health.

Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago and Southeast Asia’s most populous country, is notorious for corruption at most levels of society.

Police have named eight bribery suspects, including former PS Mojokerto Putra owner Vigit Waluyo, who are implicated in a match fixing scheme involving an unnamed Liga 2 club.

The Navy's hospital ship is currently docked in Jakarta and awaiting clearance from Egyptian authorities before it will be deployed on its humanitarian mission to Gaza, the naval chief has said.

Greenpeace Indonesia's analysis of official deforestation data revealed that Indonesia saw 4.8 million hectares of forest and peatland lost between 2013 and 2019, surpassing the country's target of limiting deforestation to 4.2 million ha between 2013 and 2030 to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is gearing up to reimpose COVID-19 health protocols due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Malaysia.

A survey from the Transportation Ministry recently revealed that 107 million people, 40 percent of the country's population, are expected to hit the road for the Christmas and New Year holiday season.

The Health Ministry urges the public to ensure full COVID-19 vaccinations as the country witnesses an increase in cases ahead of the holiday season.

The education minister has pointed to Indonesia's improved PISA rank as indicative of the efficacy of the government's emergency curriculum, but an expert has countered that the focus should remain on PISA scores, as targeted in the government's 2024 plan.

Despite rising support across Asia for the legalization of gay marriage, a new survey from the Pew Research Center has found that a large majority of Indonesians still oppose the idea.

The government will finalise the list of countries included in the provision within one month, according to a statement. 

All patients, children between 3 and 12 years old in Jakarta, have recovered following treatments in hospitals and as outpatients, according to the Health Ministry.

"AI-based programming activities need to be predicated on the ethics governing its use and development," according to the draft produced by the Communications and Information Ministry.

As a precautionary measure, the Health Ministry has called for more vigilance over the emergence of new subvariants and for people to complete their COVID-19 vaccinations.

“We hope [the circular] can be [issued] this December. Could be next week, but likely this December,” said Deputy Communications and Information Minister Nezar Patria as quoted by Tempo.