Seysha Desnikia, Jakarta – Islamic Community Forum (FUI) Secretary general Muhammad Al-Khaththath has expressed his disappointment with several political parties contesting the 2018 regional elections (Pilkada).

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Ika Ningtyas, Jakarta – Scores of residents in the Pesanggaran sub-district of Banyuwangi, East Java, held a protest action demanding the release of their colleague, Heri Budiawan, who is being tried for spreading communist ideas.

Ika Ningtyas, Banyuwangi – The state prosecutor in a hearing at the Banyuwangi District Court in East Java on January 4 has demanded that activist Heri Budiawan alias Budi Pego be jailed for seven years minus time already spent in detention.

Indonesia will be hosting the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang this year amid concerns over a lack of preparations and worries about how traffic congestion in Jakarta and the annual haze from forest fires in Palembang will affect the games.

Yuli Yanna Fauzie, Jakarta -- According to the Ministry of Labour (Kemenaker) a total of 9,822 workers were dismissed (PHK) between January and November 2017 involving 2,345 cases throughout Indonesia.

Ahmad Syarifudin, Yogya – Hundreds of students held a protest action at the Pal Putih Monument in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Sunday December 10 to commemorate International Human Rights Day.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo says that the drafting of budgets at both the ministries, state institutions and regional bodies focus more on supporting activities rather than core activities.

Ristu Hanafi, Sleman – Protesters and students from the Alliance against the Kulon Progo Airport have again demonstrated in front of the PT Angkasa Pura (AP I) offices in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta this afternoon.

Samsudhuha Wildansyah, Jakarta – Indonesian military (TNI) chief General Gatot Nurmantyo and Education and Culture Minister (Mendikbud) Muhadjir Effendy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Expanding and Improving the Quality of Education and Culture Services.