Weekly highlights: Elephant death in Aceh to Mount Bromo forest fire

A Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) was found dead in an oil palm plantation area in Kampung Kaloy, Tamiang Hulu District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh.

The Ministry of Social Affairs is improving internal discipline across its ranks, including screening ministry employees suspected of involvement in online gambling practices. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf revealed that online gambling transactions have begun to affect his staff, based on an official report from the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK).

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has revealed that a series of archaeological findings at the Bongal Site in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, have significant potential to change the historical map and the early narrative of the arrival of Islamic civilisation in the archipelago. The findings are important in relation to the arrival of Islam earlier than previously thought, in the 7th and 8th centuries, meaning the very beginning of the prophetic era. These discoveries open wider space for proving several hypotheses related to grassroots Islamic archaeology.

Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir stated that the Scout Movement is now positioned as part of the core structure of national education to strengthen the character building of Indonesian youth. The statement was delivered by the minister at a press conference after the opening of the 12th National Jamboree series at the Cibubur Scout Camp and Tourism Ground in Jakarta on Friday, representing President Prabowo Subianto.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) released provisional data as of Saturday at 6:48 p.m. Western Indonesia Time showing that the total death toll from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara Province has reached 47 people. Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre Berton SP Panjaitan said the casualties were identified in Manggarai Regency with 24 people, East Manggarai with 17, Sikka with 3, Ngada with 1, and Ende with 1.

The Ministry of Forestry, through the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Agency (TNBTS), announced the total closure of all tourist access to the Mount Bromo area in East Java following a forest fire that has spread increasingly widely in the Bromo Caldera area.