Democratic and Islamic values are intrinsically aligned in Muslim-majority Indonesia, experts and activists have said, amid growing concerns about a rise in religious conservatism that seeks to undermine the country’s democratic institutions.

Two science academies, the AIPI and the ALMI, say applied research without strong basic research, which Indonesia does not have at the moment, will not make a good foundation for innovation.

The government has consulted the country’s most prominent Muslim figures regarding the imminent enactment of the Job Creation Law despite a strong wave of opposition against the controversial law in recent weeks.

Most residents want the large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), imposed to curb COVID-19 transmission, to end so the economy can be resumed, a survey by pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia shows.

The travel arrangement, called the Reciprocal Green Lane (RGL), will come into effect on Oct. 26.

The former Garuda Indonesia pilot had served his time in prison, walked free two years ago and joined politics before he was diagnosed with the deadly disease and admitted to a hospital more than two weeks ago.

With friendly embraces, handshakes and face-to-face conversations carrying risks these days, the pandemic has completely changed interactions – including how we say goodbye.

The recent death of Pollycarpus Priyanto, who was convicted of murdering human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, should not deter law enforcement from further investigating those behind Munir’s murder, criminal law experts have said.

The aid includes 38,000 medical face masks, 35,940 cloth masks, 1,825 bottles of hand sanitizer, 2,460 bottles of vitamins and 2,150 bottles of liquid handwashing soap. 

Moeldoko said that those opposed to the jobs law simply lacked understanding of its core tenets, claiming that the legislation product was intended as a catalyst for a streamlined bureaucracy to entice future investments and improve national economic growth.

The former Garuda airline pilot was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2006 for his role in the death of the prominent human rights campaigner during a flight from Jakarta to Singapore on Sept. 6, 2004.

A 5-day-old baby has died of COVID-19 in Jeneponto, South Sulawesi. The baby’s mother initially had a reactive rapid test result, which led to both of them taking swab tests, which came back positive.

“The murder of Pastor Yeremia is not a standalone case; there was a series of events leading to it,” Komnas HAM commissioner Choirul Anam said.

“It is not easy to perform daily prayers without unzipping the suits. The MUI has released guidance on how to perform certain moves [in hazmat suits] during prayers in the right way,” said Ma’ruf.

Amnesty International Indonesia has condemned the Indonesian Military (TNI) for the recent imprisonment and dismissal of a soldier for having same-sex intercourse with another officer, calling the sentence unjust and dangerous to the community.

A Quran teacher who allegedly molested a teenage student in Palembang, South Sumatra, has been released from police detention after the victim’s family decided not to press charges.

The Indonesian Army has procured several types of used tracked armored vehicles because state-owned land systems maker PT Pindad has yet to master the technology of manufacturing tracked armored vehicles.

“[Expensive cars] are inefficient and ineffective because they don’t directly improve the quality of the country’s graft eradication campaign,” said former KPK commissioner Bambang Widjojanto.

“Viruses can multiply quickly in an environment like an airplane cabin,” epidemiologist Tifauzia Tyassuma said, as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday. 

The victim was raped in 2016, but the police have not yet made any progress in investigating the case.

A recent survey has found that Indonesians are the most optimistic of their regional peers about the speed of economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 10-year-old schoolboy was murdered while trying to prevent his mother being raped in Birem Bayeun district, East Aceh, last week.

State-owned pharmaceutical holding company PT Bio Farma has been selected to work with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) as a potential manufacturer for a COVID-19 vaccine.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Viktor B. Laiskodat has announced that starting Friday the provincial administration will no longer charge residents and visitors for rapid tests and swab tests in COVID-19 testing.

Officials are seeking to prevent human-wildlife conflict in the area.

Eye donation is still lacking in Indonesia, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said on Thursday, while pointing out that it could be the answer to help those suffering from visual impairment.

National Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said police detectives had discovered conversations in a WhatsApp group the four were part of, as evidence that the activists had conspired to incite riots.

The national COVID-19 task force says in general COVID-19 handling in 10 prioritized provinces is showing good results, but it highlighted that Central Java, Papua and Bali needed special attention.

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was only recorded in the regency that comprises Siau, Tagulandang and Biaro islands, in June, after a resident who had just returned from the provincial capital of Manado tested positive for the deadly virus.

Until an effective vaccine is found, there is no better prevention than complying with health protocol – for your own safety and that of the peoople around you.