Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, recorded that 20,629 residents were affected and 3,464 residents were evacuated due to floods and landslides in several districts in Sukabumi since Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Mutia Yuantisya, Linda Trianita, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned the Head of the Sub Directorate of Processing at the Directorate of Processing and Marketing of Plantation Products at the Ministry of Agriculture Suprihartono. Investigators also questioned PT Haje Multi Plasindo Director Erfie Jahja.

Jakarta – A 14-year-old allegedly killed his father and grandmother and injured his mother at their home in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta. This is a heartbreaking tragedy. MAS is both a perpetrator and a victim of complicated circumstances for which we, as adults, should all bear responsibility.

Yustinus Paat, Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – Several political figures, including leaders from Golkar and the National Awakening Party (PKB), support President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to eliminate direct regional elections (pilkada) for local leaders such as governors, regents, and mayors, suggesting these positions should instead be filled by local legislatures (DPRD).

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Cigarette prices will rise in 2025, even though the government is not increasing tobacco excise duties, under new rules set by Finance Minister Regulation (PMK) No. 97/2024 on tobacco excise.

Andrea Arshirena Hosana, Jakarta – Gubernatorial candidate Ridwan Kamil officially conceded defeat on Friday, accepting the victory of rival Pramono Anung in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry is currently finalizing the regulations for the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) that will be implemented starting next year. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani has ensured that this tax will not be imposed on essential goods.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto once again reassigned 300 high-ranking officers within the TNI on December 6, 2024. Two months prior, TNI Commander also issued a decree concerning the reassignment of 64 high-ranking TNI officers.

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Bandung – Head of the West Java Manpower and Transmigration Agency Teppy Wawan Dharmawan stated, the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) of West Java for 2025 was decided to increase by 6.5 percent from the 2024 UMP or raised by Rp133,737.18.

Dede Leni Mardiant, Jakarta – Gunfire engagement between a group calling themselves the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) and the Indonesian National Army (TNI) occurred again in Lanny Jaya, Papua Mountains, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Annelise Giseburt – Biomass energy subsidies in South Korea and Japan are threatening Southeast Asia's tropical forests, warns a new report by environmental NGOs. Of particular concern is the nascent but rapidly growing woody biomass industry in Indonesia, where rainforests are already being cleared to make wood pellets to be burned for electricity.

Hariz Baharudin, Jakarta – Barely 50 days into his presidency, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration is already grappling with gaffes involving high-profile appointees, which some say cast an early shadow on his governance.

Observers, however, remain divided on whether these incidents have far-reaching implications.

Ucu Martanto – Fewer Indonesians exercised their voting rights in the last round of regional elections, raising further questions about the state of democracy in the country.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto made a joke while delivering a speech at the inauguration of the Silaturahmi Tunnel between the Istiqlal Mosque and the Jakarta Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption) in the courtyard of the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta on Thursday, December 12.

Jakarta – The Japan Association for Construction Human Resources (JAC) has expressed hope for assistance from neighboring countries, including Indonesia, to help address Japan's labor crunch.

Jakarta – The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Police have revealed that at least 15 women, including underage girls, have fallen victim to alleged sexual harassment over the past few months by a 22-year-old man identified by his initials IWAS.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has criticized senior minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra for "empty rhetoric" in a speech he gave to commemorate International Human Rights Day, amid sluggish progress in resolving past atrocities and persistent reports of police brutality and discrimination against religious minorities.

Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) says that the number of violations against freedom of religion in Indonesia has declined over the last four years.

Imparsial Director Ardi Manto believes that the decline in the number of violations is a positive record for the police under the leadership of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Andriadi Perdana Putra, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan – At least three people died after an illegal gold mine collapsed in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Gudang Hulu village, the district of Selimbau, on Tuesday afternoon.

Jakarta – Natural disasters over the past two weeks have damaged 58 elementary schools in 11 districts across Cianjur regency, West Java, an education official said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga expects more than 3 million total vehicles to leave the capital over the year-end travel season for Christmas and New Year, up 17.9 percent from the usual volume and 2.4 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The European Green Deal may help commodity-exporting countries such as Indonesia to reap economic benefits from increased trade with European nations, but doing so may potentially move environmentally harmful practices from Europe to countries with less stringent environmental policies, researchers have warned.

Antara, Jakarta – Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), expressed her support for the free nutritious meal program (MBG) proposed by her rival, President Prabowo Subianto. However, she called for a reassessment of the allocated budget, set at Rp 10,000 ($0.63) per serving.

Antara, Bali – The Ngurah Rai Airport Immigration Office in Bali's Badung Regency has established a cyber unit to enhance surveillance of foreign nationals (WNA) potentially violating immigration regulations.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The circulation of illegal cigarettes in Indonesia is becoming increasingly widespread. In addition to being cheaper, illegal cigarettes are readily available at small stalls along the streets.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has provided further context regarding the recent comments made by President Prabowo Subianto about Indonesia's relatively high Incremental Capital Output Ratio (ICOR).

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – A new fuel subsidy scheme will come into effect early next year, according to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

The government has been exploring new fuel subsidy schemes for a more precise distribution. Indonesia will soon decide and announce the scheme that is also expected to help the country save money.

Jakarta – Pramono Anung's outright win in the Jakarta gubernatorial election looks set to go uncontested after closest rival Ridwan Kamil didn't file a dispute with the Constitutional Court until the deadline at 11.59 p.m. on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Prabowo continued Jokowi's methods of bringing about victory for favored candidates. This damages state institutions.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Commissioner of Komnas HAM Anis Hidayah stated that the investigation process of the murder case of activist Munir Said Thalib was hindered because witnesses to be examined frequently absent. The investigation of the Munir case is conducted by an ad hoc team formed by Komnas HAM. This team has been established since 2022.

Surabaya – Senior navy officers from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Surabaya on Wednesday for a three-day Asia Pacific Naval Warfare Symposium, co-hosted by the Indonesian Navy and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – Workers in the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), represented by the Indonesian Workers Working Council (MPBI), are demanding a significant increase in the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) for 2024, specifically Rp4 million.

Imam Hamdi Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia considers the speech of the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political, and Security Affairs and Minister of Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, on Human Rights Day on December 10, 2024, merely empty rhetoric.

Vitorio Mantalean, Bagus Santosa, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid says that the International Human Rights Day speech delivered by the Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Institutions, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, was "empty rhetoric" which does not reflect the real situation on the ground.

Imam Hamdi, Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission representative of Papua noted that violence and injustice are still felt by the people of Papua in 2024.

Andrie Yunus and Dimas Bagus Arya – Indonesians have recently been shocked by a number of shootings involving police personnel. A police officer has been named a suspect for shooting and killing a 17-year-old high school student in Semarang, Central Java, in the early hours on Nov. 24.

Jane Ho and Naazneen Karmali – Despite concerns over the weak purchasing power of its middle class, resource-rich Indonesia is targeting 8% economic growth, up from the estimated 5.1% expected this year, under its new president Prabowo Subianto, who took office in October.

Muhibar Sobary Ardan and Dandy Koswaraputra, Nusantara, Indonesia and Jakarta – For nearly two decades, Kamarudin tended to his 2.8-hectare (7-acre) plantation in East Kalimantan province, nurturing rows of rubber trees, oil palms, and fruit crops.

Iqbal Muhtarom, Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) released surveillance data on femicide cases from October 2023 to October 2024. As a result, in the past year, there have been 290 cases of femicide in Indonesia. Femicide is the murder of women based on their gender or gender identity.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The state budget recorded a deficit of Rp 401.8 trillion ($25.2 billion) as of November, but Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday that the figure remains within safe limits.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) launched the White Paper on Mapping Human Resources Needs (Areas of Expertise) and Centers of Excellence for Indonesia's Golden Years 2045.

Antara, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Teguh Setyabudi has announced that Jakarta's provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2025 will rise to Rp 5.4 million ($339.6) per month, reflecting a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year's Rp 5.07 million.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra acknowledged that Indonesia's anticorruption efforts have not been sufficient, despite earlier regulatory updates aimed at combating corruption.

Novie Fauziah, Jakarta – Transgender celebrity Lucinta Luna stated that she will embrace her male identity when performing the Umrah pilgrimage in Mecca, acknowledging her biological sex as male despite her legal recognition as a woman.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – Indonesia is aiming for Rp 1,906 trillion ($119.72 billion) in investment for 2025, marking a 15.45 percent increase from the 2024 target.

Jakarta – The gubernatorial election in Jakarta has always been one of the most-watched polls in the country. The city is after all, at least for the time being, still the fully functioning capital of Indonesia.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that large spending on education would be the hallmark of his administration, even eclipsing the amount for defense, saying that good quality education would help the country deal with the poverty problem.

Jakarta – Amid criticism of a toothless Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and poor graft-fighting efforts in the country, the government has said it is considering making the agency the sole institution in the country with the authority to investigate and prosecute graft cases.

Gamaliel Kaliele, Sorong – Papua Independent Indigenous Communities (MAI) General Chairperson Johanes Tsenawatme has condemned the attitude of the government which continues to ignore threats against human rights activists in the land of Papua.

Jakarta – Indonesian fruit seller Budi was seeking better prospects when he signed up for an IT job in Cambodia. But he found himself detained in a heavily guarded compound where he was forced to carry out online scams.