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.

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.

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.

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.

Leonard A.L. Cahyoputra, Jakarta – Facing increasing competition from China and India, Indonesian industry leaders are urging the government to extend its natural gas subsidy policy, set to expire on Dec. 31, 2024.

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.

Andi Maulana, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry is set to inaugurate six new dams across five provinces in early 2025 as part of its efforts to enhance food and water self-sufficiency.

Prisma Ardianto, Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially raised the retirement age for workers to 59 years starting in 2025, as outlined in Article 15 of Government Regulation (PP) No. 45/2015 on the Implementation of Pension Programs.

Anis Firmansah, Kediri – Hanindhito Himawan Pramana was reelected as the regent of Kediri, East Java, on Thursday, just hours after his father, Pramono Anung, was confirmed as the winner of the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Hanindhito secured 56.53 percent of the vote in the local election, defeating his sole rival, Deny Widyanarko, to win a second term.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is nearing completion of a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant in the Rorotan area of North Jakarta, designed to address the city's mounting waste problem.

Theo Kelen, Jayapura – The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is urging the Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta) to immediately arrest OU, the alleged perpetrators of the shooting of senior advocate and human rights defender Yan Christian Warinussy in Manokwari regency, West Papua, on July 17 last year.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – An Indonesian government plan to clear forests spanning an area twice the size of South Korea for food and biofuel crops has sparked fears of massive greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – Two civilians were killed in Elelim District, Yalimo, Papua Mountains, Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Both were immigrants from South Sulawesi who were working in Bumi Cendrawasih.

Joniansyah, Jakarta – Authorities are on the lookout for W (40), a Quran reciting teacher suspected of sexually assaulting four children in the South Sudimara area of Ciledug, Tangerang City. The suspect has been missing since November 29, 2024, nearly a month before the case was officially reported to the police.

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Bandung – The West Java General Elections Commission (KPU) held an open plenary session on Thursday, January 9, 2025, to officially declare the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of West Java for the 2024-2030 term.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – The deputy minister of agriculture, Sudaryono, confirms that Indonesia will import 2 million dairy and beef cattle for the next five years to support the free nutritious meal program.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – A senior government official on Wednesday urged Chinese carmaker Chery to build its own manufacturing facility in Indonesia and increase the use of locally-produced components to strengthen its presence in the country.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that floods hit four villages in Dolok Masihul District, Serdang Bedagai Regency, North Sumatra, on Tuesday morning, January 7, 2025, at 03:30 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday detained Antonius Kosasih, the former CEO of state pension fund manager Taspen, over allegations of fraudulent investments that caused significant financial losses to the state.

Rendy Pahrun Wadipalapa – The background manoeuvring by various parties in Jakarta's 2024 gubernatorial elections foreshadows similarly complex play with 2029's presidential race in mind. For some players, today's loss might be tomorrow's gain.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia criticized the government's plan to convert 20 million hectares of forest into land for food, energy, and water. This step is considered a serious threat to Indonesia's commitment to preserving climate and biodiversity, and risks worsening environmental damage.

Antara, Jakarta – Member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Selly Andriany Gantina proposed that the government increase the number of hajj officers from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) elements.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas ensures that the revision of Law Number 7/2017 on Elections will be guided by the five constitutional engineering guidelines provided by the Constitutional Court.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Ninis Chairunnisa, Jakarta – Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives Marwan Dasopang said the queue list for the departure of Indonesian hajj pilgrims could reach 49 years. Currently, according to him, the average waiting list for Indonesian pilgrims is currently around 25-30 years. However, in some areas, the waiting list can be longer.

Experts and activists criticized President Prabowo Subianto's recent remarks, which defended Indonesia's palm oil industry and support for its expansion.

President Prabowo's statements came across as an attempt to defend the Indonesian palm oil industry from criticisms over its environmental impacts, particularly from foreign countries such as in the European Union (EU).

Jakarta – Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Rini Widyantini says the government has no plan to start relocating a large number of civil servants and government workers to the planned new capital Nusantara under construction in East Kalimantan.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The alleged involvement of a Navy officer in a recent shooting in Tangerang, Banten, that resulted in the death of a civilian has sparked fresh concerns about the misuse of firearms and a culture of impunity in the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Toronata Tambun – President Prabowo Subianto marked the end of 2024 with a controversial statement. On Dec. 31, 2024 this newspaper quoted him as saying: "I think, in the future, we also have to increase oil palm plantations. We don't have to be afraid of endangering, what is it called, deforestation, right?"

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto believes that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) will cooperate in the alleged bribery case involving its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto.

Bambang Ismoyo, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is formulating a new energy subsidy scheme to better target assistance toward those who need it most, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced on Tuesday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Wednesday that it would import around 400,000 cattle this year, according to Deputy Agricultural Minister Sudaryono.

The government is nudging businesses into bringing in those much-awaited cattle that could help supply the milk needs for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship school-feeding program.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto confirmed on Tuesday that the antigraft agency had searched Hasto Kristiyanto's residence in Bekasi.

"Yes, the investigation team searched Hasto Kristiyanto's residence. Further updates will be provided once the operation is complete," Tessa said, as quoted by tempo.co.

An aide to President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that Indonesia's full membership in BRICS would not affect the country's relationship with the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump.

Jakarta – The government's ambitious free nutritious meals program for students was rolled out with much fanfare on Monday, with several ministers inspecting related facilities even as President Prabowo Subianto was nowhere to be seen.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Presidential Communications Office Head, Hasan Nasbi, admitted that some regions are still utilizing President Prabowo Subianto's personal funds to support the recently launched free nutritious meal program.

Basudiwa Supraja, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is planning to make surprise inspections to make sure that his flagship free nutritious meal program is going well, according to a senior government official.

Jamaah, Ahmad Hisyam Nugroho, Jember – At least 763 cows in Jember Regency, East Java, have been infected with foot and mouth disease (FMD), resulting in 61 deaths over the past few months, according to the local Food Security and Livestock Department.

Cantika.com, Jakarta – The HMPV virus or Human Metapneumovirus, which recently broke out in China, has reportedly been found in Indonesia. All cases found involved children. In response to this, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin asked the public not to panic, because HMPV is not a new virus and is already known in the medical world.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military Headquarters (Mabes TNI) has deployed soldiers from 351 District Military Commands (Kodim), 14 main Navy bases (Lantamal) and 41 Airforce bases (Lanud) to support the government's free nutritious meals (MBG) program.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian company responsible for the largest amount of deforestation, PT Mayawana Persada, has largely ceased clearing peatlands in the western part of Borneo. However, it has shifted focus to planting acacia trees on previously cleared peatlands, defying a government directive to halt activities and rehabilitate degraded land.

Shela Octavia, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that security forces and law enforcement officials who are negligent resulting in the death of civilians must face criminal punishments, not just ethical sanctions.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 1 November 2024, the Supreme Court of Indonesia rejected the cassation appeal filed by Mr Hendrikus Franky Woro, an environmental advocate and member of the indigenous Awyu tribe, regarding the environmental feasibility permit granted to PT Indo Asiana Lestari (IAL).

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia is urging military justice reform and a serious evaluation of the use of firearms by members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police (Polri). The demand was conveyed following the shooting of a car rental boss involving members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) in early 2025.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia considers the shooting that killed a car rental boss in the rest area of Tangerang toll road last week by members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) to be a violation of human rights.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Trade Minister Budi Santoso recently revealed that he was open to revising the controversial ministerial policy that had eased import curbs, but any regulatory changes would depend on the evaluations.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently in talks to strike a possible military technology transfer deal with Japan.

It appears that a panel of judges played Santa Claus prior to Christmas by handing out gifts in the form of light sentences to defendants in a high-profile corruption case involving state-owned tin miner PT Timah.

Agencies, Jakarta – Brazil's government said in a statement on Monday that Indonesia is formally joining BRICS as a full member, further expanding the group of major emerging economies that also includes Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Fidelis Eka Satriastanti – During the G20 Summit in Rio De Janeiro in November, Indonesia's new president, Prabowo Subianto, issued a bold statement: Indonesia will retire all coal-fired power plants within the next 15 years and build over 75 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2040.

Jakarta – The official website belonging to the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) was hacked and the home page changed to a display of an online gambling site on Monday January 6.