Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The government allotted Rp13 billion for the construction of a memorial living park in Pidie Regency, Aceh, as part of the reparation for the victims of gross human rights violations in the region, said the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Diana Kusumastuti.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has expressed concerns that the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Indonesia may signal a revival of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) program, which has been criticized for its potential negative environmental impacts.

Jakarta – Police are intensifying security patrols in Yalimo regency, Papua Highlands, following the shooting of two civilians last week, as they seek to stabilize the situation and capture the shooter.

Jakarta – Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid has appointed model and celebrity Raline Shah as an official at the ministry, serving as a personal staffer advising the minister on global partnership and digital education.

Jakarta – One of the highlights of Foreign Minister Sugiono's first foreign policy speech late last week was the prominent display of images of Indonesia's first president Sukarno as a backdrop for the event.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – After enduring a prolonged dry season due to El Nino, a large part of Indonesia endured hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides for most of last year, a trend likely to continue in the next few months, the country's disaster agency has warned.

Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto proposed expanding oil palm plantations to increase palm oil exports. However, this idea has drawn criticism because it is considered to trigger deforestation.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Shinta Kamdani discussed the impact of increasing the retirement age for workers in 2025. The retirement age for workers this year has increased to 59 years from the previous 58 years.

Muhammad Iqbal Ikromi, Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Yogyakarta – Several members of the Yogyakarta Metropolitan Police are alleged to have tortured a Semarang resident, who later died from his wounds in September last year.

Didik Fibrianto, Batu – The East Java government has launched a large-scale vaccination campaign following the infection of 11,317 cows by foot and mouth disease (FMD), making the province the epicenter of the outbreak.

Jakarta – Mount Ibu in North Maluku erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers, an official said.

The volcano, located on Halmahera Island, erupted at 7:45 p.m. eastern Indonesia time, sending a tall flaming column soaring into the sky.

Padang, W Sumatra – Manpower Minister Yassierli emphasized that the first half of 2025 is crucial for determining Indonesia's success in realizing its Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, which aims to transform the nation into an advanced country.

Andika Pratama, Palembang – Prosecutors have arrested Deliar Marzoeki, head of the South Sumatra Manpower and Transmigration Department, and his second wife, Hesti, 30, in connection with corruption allegations.

Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim, Bogor, Indonesia – Japan and Indonesia pledged on Saturday to deepen economic and defense ties during a visit by the Japanese prime minister, seen as promoting regional cooperation as China flexes its muscle and Donald Trump prepares to take over as the next U.S. president.

Jakarta – In 1996 Tommy Suharto, the youngest, son of Indonesia's dictator, set out to build the Timor, a national car. The plan was to import models manufactured by Kia Motors, a South Korean carmaker, and rebrand them. Kia would teach Indonesians carmaking; strict local-content requirements would ensure the economy benefited.

Catherine Thorbecke, Tokyo – Indonesia isn't taking a step back from its hardball approach to Apple. The showdown has turned into quite a spectacle, but it's unlikely the wins will be sustainable.

Jakarta – The South Jakarta District Court received on Friday a pretrial motion from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for naming him a suspect in a bribery case.

Geneva, Switzerland – World Trade Organization experts on Friday largely upheld European Union restrictions on use of palm oil in biofuels following a complaint by Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's leading producer of palm oil, in 2019 requested an expert panel review of the EU restrictions.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Saturday. The state visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore various cooperation opportunities between the two nations.

Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta Provincial Health Office recorded 214 cases of acute respiratory infection, or ISPA, caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in data collection until January 2025.

Bogor, West Java – Japan will give Indonesia two high-speed patrol boats, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Saturday, as Tokyo seeks to boost regional maritime security cooperation in the face of competing territorial claims with China.

Ishiba made the pledge during a visit to Jakarta, where he held talks with President Prabowo Subianto on a range of bilateral issues.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Sweden is interested in investing in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) development in East Kalimantan, the head of the IKN Authority, Basuki Hadimuljono, confirmed after meeting the Swedish Parliament delegation on Thursday, January 9, 2025.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – After the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, Indonesia should repatriate nearly 400 citizens linked to the Islamic State group, otherwise they could be exploited in global conflicts or fall back into militancy, analysts are warning.

Rendy Tisna, Banjarmasin, Indonesia – In October 2023 in the Indigenous Dayak village of Bangkal, Indonesian police fired on farmers demonstrating against PT Hamparan Masawit Bangun Persada (HMBP), a palm oil plantation company owned by Indonesia's BEST Group.

Spoorthy Raman – Among New Guinea's rainforest inhabitants is a group of birds called pitohuis, chatty songbirds that stand out for their loud, attractive songs. But there's more to these birds than their songs: their poison.

We continue to reflect on Jimmy Carter's foreign policy with history professor Brad Simpson.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Southeast Asia's largest economy Indonesia has included a "fairer international trade" as part of its foreign policy agenda, its top diplomat revealed Friday.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia plans to introduce an excise tax on sugary packaged beverages starting July 2025, aiming to curb excessive sugar consumption and address rising health concerns, the Finance Ministry announced.

Antara, Jakarta – Starting January 1, 2025, Indonesian workers enrolled in the pension program managed by state insurer BPJS Ketenagakerjaan will have to wait until they reach the age of 59 before receiving their pension benefits. This change follows Government Regulation (PP) No. 45 of 2015, which gradually increases the retirement age for participants in the program.

Yustinus Paat, Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri, the leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), dismissed rumors of a political feud with President Prabowo Subianto, despite their rivalry in the 2024 presidential election.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is reminding Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and President Prabowo Subianto about the Forestry Ministry's plan to open 20 million hectares of land under the pretext of supporting food and energy security.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Defense welcomed a military visit from China on Friday, January 10, 2025, aimed to boost relations between both countries. The head of the Defense Information Bureau, Brigadier General TNI Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, said the meeting embodies Indonesia's free and active foreign policy.

Riri Rahayu, Agung Sedayu, Jakarta – Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Nusron Wahid said there are 854,662 hectares of abandoned land reserves to support President Prabowo Subianto's priority programs.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Samarinda – The East Kalimantan government has turned a former mining area in the provincial capital Samarinda into agricultural land for rice cultivation. Acting Governor Akmal Malik said this initiative supports food self-sufficiency and the free nutritious meals program introduced by President Prabowo Subianto.

Antara, Jakarta – Farmers participating in the government's inter-island migration program can earn around Rp 20 million per family per month, Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara said on Thursday.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has picked Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to lead the task force dedicated to expediting Indonesia's downstream industry development and national energy security.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday congratulated the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on its 52nd anniversary, nearly a month after he was ousted by the party over irrecoverable differences.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, expressed her gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto on Friday after the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) annulled a decree that linked Sukarno to the 1965 rebellion led by the now-defunct Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

Jakarta – Jakarta is welcoming its new leaders after the local office of the General Elections Commission (KPU) confirmed on Thursday the victory of Pramono Anung and Rano Karno of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the November 2024 gubernatorial race.

D. Nicky Fahrizal and Winda Safitri, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court's decision last week to abolish the presidential threshold is both a landmark and phenomenal, with profound implications for the future trajectory of Indonesian democracy.

Karunia Putri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas has revealed that the current Rp71 trillion budget allocated for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is only sufficient to sustain operations until June 2025. Furthermore, the available funds are inadequate to cover all school-aged children across Indonesia.

Agencies, Jakarta – Indonesia will expand its existing defence partnerships and step up its handling of strategic issues impacting its sovereignty, including maritime security and the safety of sea passage and fisheries, Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Friday.

Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Ministry is targeting to send one thousand da'i (Islamic preachers) to underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas during Ramadan 2025 to bolster religious literacy in regions with limited access to spiritual guidance.

Macquarie Group has warned that potential cuts in nickel production from Indonesian mines could result in the loss of more than a third of global supply from the market.

The Indonesian Government is mulling over major cuts to nickel mine quotas, with output potentially dropping from 272mt in 2024 to just 150mt this year, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto intends to bring an end to the long-drawn-out Russia-Ukraine war, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono.

Yustinus Paat, Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) officially named Pramono Anung and Rano Karno as the elected governor and deputy governor for the 2025-2030 term during an open plenary session held at the Pullman Hotel, Central Park, on Thursday.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The government has welcomed Apple Inc.'s US$1 billion commitment to build a manufacturing facility in Batam Island, but the ban on local sales of the iPhone 16 remains in place as it still fails to meet the country's local content rules.

Hin Pisei, Phnom Penh – Senior diplomats from Cambodia and Indonesia have expressed optimism about the bilateral trade cooperation between the two countries, which has surpassed 1 billion dollars, as well as Cambodia's efforts to boost rice exports to Indonesia.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled an interrogation for Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, former Chief Commissioner of state-owned Pertamina, on Thursday as part of its investigation into corruption related to the procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the company between 2011 and 2021.

Jakarta – With the official acceptance of Indonesia as a full member of BRICS on Monday, President Prabowo Subianto is one step closer to realizing his ambition to make Indonesia an influential player at the global level.