Jayapura, Jubi – Solidaritas Merauke has urged police to stop what it describes as the criminalisation of Ariston Moiwend Buako, a Malind Indigenous person in Merauke, South Papua, who has been defending his customary land from a National Strategic Project (PSN).

Security forces reportedly open fire at a group ofsix indigenous Papuan civilians near Samboga Village, Yahukimo Regency, on 18 September 2026, while returning from a local gold-panning site. Personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) allegedly released shots without prior warning.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Maritime transport safety remains an issue for the archipelagic Indonesia as President Prabowo Subianto nears his second year.

Indah Ayu Pujiastuti, Jakarta – Indonesia's mandatory halal certification policy, set to take effect on Oct. 18, 2026, has drawn support from businesses, but industry groups are urging the government to simplify procedures and keep compliance costs from driving up production expenses and consumer prices.

On behalf of the ULMWP and the West Papuan people, I wholeheartedly condemn the brutal massacre of six West Papuan civilians by the Indonesian military in Yahukimo.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Investment in Indonesia has become more efficient at generating economic output over the past two years, but its ability to create jobs has weakened, according to Bank Central Asia (BCA) Chief Economist David Sumual.

Papuan human rights activists and civil society organisations have called for the protection of Mr Karel Fatem (see photo on top, source: LBH Kaki Abu), a Papuan prisoner allegedly affiliated with the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), following a death sentence imposed during cassation proceedings before Indonesia's Supreme Court in early August 2026.

Jayapura, Jubi – Papua needs practical action rather than political disputes and heated debate, according to Papuan political figure Laurenzus Kadepa.

Kadepa said too much energy was being spent building political narratives and personal popularity while longstanding problems facing communities remained unresolved.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Nearly two years into President Prabowo Subianto's administration, Indonesia's economy is growing at a faster pace, but economists say the expansion has yet to translate sufficiently into higher-quality jobs and stronger household purchasing power.

Jakarta – Poltracking Indonesia released its latest survey on political party electability on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with the Gerindra Party recording the highest electability at 23.2 percent.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Archaeologist Harry Truman Simanjuntak criticized the substance of the new national history book titled "Sejarah Indonesia: Dinamika Kebangsaan dalam Arus Global," published by the Ministry of Culture. One of his concerns focuses on the first volume, which spans six chapters and 1,163 pages.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – As fires continue to engulf large swaths of forest in Indonesian Borneo, orangutans have increasingly fewer places to flee, with fires either surrounding them or eliminating the forest on which they depend.

The rift between President Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo opens up possible scenarios for the 2029 General Election. Their alliance is bad for healthy politics. But a contest between the two would also be unhealthy for democracy. An alternative figure with a proven and commendable track record is needed to counterbalance or even defeat them.

Indigenous communities in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, continue to oppose the implementation of Indonesia's National Strategic Project (PSN) for food security amid reports of encroachment on customary land, intimidation of Indigenous land defenders and environmental destruction.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – The government is struggling to meet President Prabowo Subianto's target of building 3 million homes a year, with data showing that key supporting programs are falling behind their milestones.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Health recorded 174,694 cases of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in areas affected by forest and land fires between August 18 and September 21, of which 40,363 cases involved children under five.

Zacharias Wuragil, Jakarta – Air quality measurements by Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) show the worsening conditions faced by residents in several parts of Kalimantan, where persistent haze has blanketed communities amid widespread forest and land fires.

Antara, Jakarta – A strong El Nino is driving widespread drought across Indonesia, with Bantul Regency in Yogyakarta recording the country's longest dry spell at 131 consecutive days without rain, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said Tuesday.

Juneman Abraham (360info), Jakarta – Indonesia is witnessing a rise in public anger that goes beyond momentary frustration over inequality or political controversy. Social psychologists describe this shift as "ressentiment", a chronic, internalized condition marked by powerlessness, humiliation and long-term distrust toward institutions.

Dr Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat – Last Saturday, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was in the middle of a speech when he stopped talking, wiped his eyes with a small towel, and apologised to the crowd.

Djibril Muhammad, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court began examining a petition challenging the eligibility of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka in the 2024 presidential election, with the applicants questioning whether he met the required educational qualifications.

The preliminary hearing for case was held at the court in Jakarta on Monday evening.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has revoked the forestry permits of five companies managing more than 92,000 hectares of concessions across Kalimantan after fires were recorded within their concession areas, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced Monday.

Jakarta – The arrival of decommissioned Marina Militare (Italian Navy) light aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Friday marked a new era for the Indonesian Navy as it exerts more assertive and outgoing naval power.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – Foreign investors have sold a net Rp 3.12 trillion ($174.7 million) worth of Indonesian stocks this week, a week after Suahasil Nazara was appointed finance minister.

The foreign net sell comprised Rp 3.08 trillion in the regular market and Rp 43.3 billion in the negotiated and cash markets, as of Tuesday.

Yustinus Paat, FILE – Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Budi Prasetyo, right, speaks at a news conference next to KPK Deputy for Law Enforcement Asep Guntur Rahayu at the commission's headquarters in Jakarta, Tuesday, Nov – 25, 2025. (Antara Photo/Sulthony Hasanuddin)

On 18 September 2026, Indonesian police reportedly apprehended two minors, Hariel Sengket, 17, and Peniel Magayang, 17, at the Telkomsel complex in Dekai town, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. The arrests reportedly followed a stabbing incident involving a non-Papuan resident on the evening of 17 September 2026.

The documentary Pesta Babi is causing quite a stir in Indonesia, and even far beyond the country's borders. Yet co-director Dandhy Laksono remains as determined as ever. 'The Papuan people deserve our full attention.'

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is offering investors the use of its islands to develop data centers, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said on Tuesday.

He pointed to the country's extensive territory and energy resources as potential advantages for data center development, while also promising support for investors seeking electricity supplies.

Febryan Kevin Candra Kurniawan, Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has explained the battle of narratives unfolding between the Indonesian government and the separatist West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM).

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – The Indonesian parliament ratified the Agrarian Reform Regulation Law on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during a plenary session led by Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Prolonged dry season is beginning to take a toll on Jakarta residents, with depleted wells and disrupted piped-water services leaving households in several neighborhoods short of water.

Jayapura, Jubi – Dozens of residents of Yobe urban village in Abepura district, Jayapura city, Papua, gathered at the local government office on Monday (21/9/2026) to protest the alleged diversion of rice assistance intended for low-income families.

Security force members reportedly detained 24 activists of the West Papua Independent Student Forum (FIM-WP) during a silent protest in Timika, Mimika Regency, Papua Tengah Province, on 17 August 2026 marking Indonesia's Independence Day. The demonstrators were intercepted near the SP2 Roundabout while attempting to participate in a peaceful protest march.

Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura Administrative Court (PTUN Jayapura) has rejected a legal challenge brought by Malind Indigenous representatives against a decision by the Merauke regent approving the environmental feasibility of a 135-kilometre road project in South Papua.

Hariz Baharudin, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has reasserted Indonesia's support for Palestine, months after his country joined the US-led Board of Peace – a move that drew scrutiny at home – and amid a series of Palestine- and Israel-related developments in the country.

Agencies, Jakarta – Dozens of planes and thousands of personnel fighting huge forest fires in Indonesia are struggling to contain them, authorities said Monday, while neighboring Malaysia stepped up efforts to combat toxic haze, AFP reported.

Sentani, Jubi – Conditions at many schools in Jayapura Regency, Papua, are concerning. Some schools no longer have adequate desks, tables or chairs, while many also lack proper libraries and laboratories. The quality of education in Jayapura Regency is increasingly at risk as poor facilities hamper teaching and learning.

Kate Lamb – For months, parts of Indonesia's Borneo and Sumatra islands have been ablaze. The fires are sometimes lit illegally as a cheap way to clear land for plantations of oil palm, of which Indonesia is the world's largest producer.

So prevalent is the technique that it even has a special term: slash and burn.

On 18 August 2026, plain cloth police officers reportedly apprehended Mr Enes Magayang, 25, at Dekai Old Market, Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highlands Papua Province. The officers arrived in a black Toyota Avanza, forced Mr Magayang into the vehicle and subsequently took him to the Yahukimo District Police Station, where he was detained until 20 August 2026.

On 18 August 2026, personnel of the Marine Corps reportedly arrested Mr Kelgi Bayage and Mr Dais Sikap in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. According to information provided by relatives, Mr Bayage and Mr Sikap, a student at Cenderawasih University (Uncen), were appreheded on Paradiso Road in Dekai, the capital of Yahukimo Regency.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has fully repaid the remaining government bonds issued as part of its response to the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said Sunday, closing a nearly three-decade chapter in the government's crisis-era debt obligations.

Yohanda Belinda, Jakarta – Whenever a viral food trend takes over social media, from Dubai chewy cookies and Melbourne's Mont Blanc coffee now storming the local internet to cheesecake and the never-ending matcha craze, one thing stands out: none of these rely purely on ingredients native to Indonesia.

On 18 August 2026, Indonesian Marine Corps personnel and the Police reportedly arrested Mr Dan Menegiy, 50, the village head of Walehikma, and his 17-year-old son, Ordi Menegiy, outside Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) branch in Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. Both were taken into custody at the Yahukimo District Police Station.

Jakarta – Joint search and rescue team extended their search on Saturday for dozens of people still missing after the Virgo Transport 8 passenger ferry sank in the Java Sea last week, a rescue official said.

It is time for the government to fundamentally evaluate the independent-track student admissions system. Repeated corruption cases show that universities' broad authority to determine student admission fees creates room for transactions and abuse of power.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – A civil society coalition in West Kalimantan has filed a class-action lawsuit against the government over ongoing forest and land fires. The representative lawsuit was registered at the Pontianak District Court under case number 292/Pdt.G/2026/PN Ptk.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto claims to be a soldier who supports democracy but said it could be bought by those with immense economic power.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reaffirmed his pledge to build a prosperous Indonesia where people do not go hungry and children do not suffer from malnutrition.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – A number of non-parliament political parties in Indonesia opposed the proposal launched by the coalition parties to raise the parliamentary threshold to 5 percent.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto plans to expand Indonesia's centralized export system to cover strategic commodities, aiming to improve governance, prevent export underreporting, and increase state revenues.