The Indonesian Navy’s First Fleet Command (Koarmada I) deployed nine warships and an aircraft for a fire-support exercise in the South Natuna Sea that started on Wednesday.

According to UNICEF, the pandemic has seen over 60 million students in the country temporarily suspend their studies.

“Again, I ask the regional administrations to monitor the promotion and implementation of COVID-19 health protocols and to punish those who continue to neglect the protocols, without exception,” said national COVID-19 task force spokesman Wiku Adisasmito.

The House of Representatives was split on the decision to continue deliberating the bill, but concerns about intrusion into people's private matters were enough to drive the agenda into the ground – for now.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo reportedly received Rp 3.4 billion (US$241,552) and $100,000 in bribes pertaining to a lobster larvae export permit.

The COVID-19 task force's data head has reiterated the need for people everywhere to practice the health protocols at all times, especially religious events, even as Jakarta records at least 85 new cases traced to mass gatherings marking the Nov. 10 return of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab.

Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said the ministry was drafting a regulation governing this year's Christmas celebrations, covering rules and recommendations for Christmas services, celebrations and the expected holiday exodus.

The West Java administration’s COVID-19 and economic recovery task force has prepared refrigerators and cold storage rooms to house vaccine doses in 27 regencies and cities in the province in preparation for mass vaccination efforts.

The United Nations Body plans to work closely with the government alongside other UN agencies, development institutions, as well as civil society groups over the next five years under the umbrella of the 2021-2025 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.

Five civilians, including minors, were reportedly shot by unidentified assailants in two separate incidents in Papua’s Puncak regency last Friday.

The government's decision to allow children to return to classrooms for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, or from January to July next year, has raised questions about schools' readiness to prevent further spread of the coronavirus.

The previous record was on Nov. 13 when the authorities confirmed 5,444 new cases across the archipelago, two weeks after a long weekend in late October.

School administrations are also required to seek information on the transportation methods used by teachers and students, and/or whether they have visited high-risk areas and whether they have self-isolated. 

The BKSDA said the 35-year-old male orangutan had not disturbed anyone and had only taken fruits from local orchards.

According to Komnas Perempuan data, 659 cases of online sexual harassment or abuse were reported from January to October of this year.

The recent death of Andrianto Purnawan, the head of the Indonesian Medical Association’s (IDI) public participation acceleration team for COVID-19 mitigation, adds to the rising number of medical personnel who have succumbed to the coronavirus.

Last year, Indonesia recorded 9,384 disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, land liquefaction and landslides, which left 684 people dead. This year, as of Sept. 3, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) had recorded 1,944 disasters killing 272 people.

Edhy has been detained alongside a number of ministry officials, the KPK has confirmed.

Law enforcement officials should understand that M expressed herself as a female, thus should be treated as such, Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) researcher Maidina Rahmawati said.

As of Tuesday, Tarakan has recorded 648 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 404 recoveries and seven fatalities.

The coronavirus disease has continued to spread in the central and southern parts of Central Java, with spikes in cases attributable in part to a lack of awareness on COVID-19 and disease prevention.

Flower boards expressing appreciation for the military, police and law enforcement agencies lined the perimeter of the Kodam Jaya headquarters in East Jakarta on Monday, but left critics unimpressed by the military's intervention in removing banners professing support for the FPI's Rizieq Shihab.

“We modified Lutung Kasarung’s story by telling his adventures on freeing the ‘Kopid Kingdom’ from the COVID-19 plague. Hopefully children will be more interested in learning about COVID-19 as well as processing the message through the video,” Nabila said in a statement.

In preparing measures to secure the simultaneous elections during the COVID-19 emergency, the National Police have determined that 63 regions were either "vulnerable" or "extremely vulnerable" to health protocol violations.

“The President has requested a reduction [in collective leave days] in regard to the year-end holiday, including the substitute leave days for Idul Fitri,” Muhadjir said on Monday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The government aims to continue with its efforts to reduce bureaucratic bloat in 2021, with 29 state agencies slated for the chopping block.

In an effort to curtail corrupt behavior and criminal activity in the country’s easternmost provinces, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is set to provide online training on corruption prevention on Tuesday and Wednesday using its JAGA mobile application.

Indonesia’s confirmed COVID-19 case number has exceeded 500,000 as the country continues to endure the strain of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly nine months since it reported the first infections in March.

Banyumas regency in Central Java will temporarily close some tourist attractions in the area to contain the spread of COVID-19, antaranews.com reported. 

Fifty-four percent of respondents to a survey among foreign travelers said they were unsure about flying to Indonesia and would want to check on the implementation of health protocols in the country.