Meenakshi Ganguly – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is an opportunity for Asia's two giant democracies to start working together to promote shared values on human rights.

Jakarta – City-owned developer Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro) has officially commenced the foundation work for Manggarai Station in South Jakarta as part of the Jakarta light rail transit (LRT) phase 1B project connecting Velodrome in East Jakarta to Manggarai.

Jakarta – There is good news for President Prabowo Subianto, as his approval rating stands at 80 percent after 100 days in office, according to a survey by the respected Litbang Kompas, the research arm of Kompas daily. Many, especially those in the government, deem this valuable capital as he seeks to navigate the country in the next five years.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – Indonesia has called on Malaysia to launch a thorough investigation into the recent fatal shooting of its citizens and probe possible "excessive use of force" by Malaysian authorities. The call came just ahead of President Prabowo Subianto's meeting with his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, on Monday.

Kuala Lumpur – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim describes Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto as a "loyal" friend who stood by during good and bad times.

Ahmad Rifqi Danwanus, Lumajang – Mount Semeru erupted on Tuesday morning, sending thick volcanic ash into the sky from the Jonggring Saloko Crater. CCTV footage from Oro-Oro Ombo Village in Pronojiwo District captured ash plumes rising approximately 1,000 meters above the crater.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) strongly criticizes President Prabowo Subianto's statements, which are considered to humiliate the role of journalists during the coverage of a plenary cabinet meeting on January 22, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently told President Prabowo Subianto that he wanted to see stronger oil and gas cooperation with the close neighbor.

Denny Armandhanu, Izzah Aqilah Norman, Jakarta – Papua province's Youtefa Bay, known for its azure waters and lush mangrove forests, has seen infrastructure development that has helped improve locals' lives and the economy.

Cafes and restaurants have mushroomed there since the Youtefa bridge's inauguration by then-Indonesian president Joko Widodo in 2019, for instance.

Jakarta – The deputy minister of public housing and settlements said the government has set aside Rp 19 trillion (US$1.17 billion) from this year's state budget to renovate elementary and secondary schools, including Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), across the nation.

Jakarta – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has promised to tighten monitoring of the production and distribution of local skincare products to enforce compliance with existing health and safety standards.

Eka Jaya Saputra, Bekasi – A concrete pillar supporting a telecommunication tower collapsed during a construction project in Bekasi Regency, West Java, on Monday, killing one worker and injuring at least six others.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia and India are looking forward to being less dependent on the dollar in their cross-border transactions.

Damien Kingsbury – There appeared to be a moment of clarity in 2023 when the government of Timor-Leste recognised that it was facing a looming financial disaster and started to make preparations – however belated – to address it.

Cas Kuat, Jakarta – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has officially ended its search operation for victims of a landslide in Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, which occurred on Jan. 20. The disaster claimed 25 lives, all of whom have been recovered, and one person is still missing.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) is focusing on handling foot and mouth disease (FMD) in nine provinces that are still included in the FMD eradication zone category, aka the red zone. The nine provinces consist of six provinces on Java Island plus Lampung, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara.

Antara, Jakarta – Professor of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), Professor Tjandra Yoga Aditama, said that Indonesia needs to follow up on India's success in facilitating affordable prices for medicines and medical devices for the public.

Jeff Hutton – Last November, at the G20 conference in Rio de Janeiro, Indonesia's new president, Prabowo Subianto, vowed to bring forward by a decade the date at which Southeast Asia's biggest economy would remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as it emits.

Kate Lamb – Days after he was sworn in as Indonesia's eighth president, retired general Prabowo Subianto, kicked off his tenure with a militaristic boot camp in the hills of Java.

In olive-green army fatigues and combat boots, his new cabinet – from bespectacled technocrats to former officers – marched and stood in formation.

Chesa Andini Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency (BGN) plans to introduce insects and worms into its free nutritious meal program (MBG) as an alternative protein source, reflecting local dietary practices and addressing budget constraints.

Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – A recent survey by Indikator Politik Indonesia shows seven key ministers from the Red and White Cabinet who performed best in the first 100 days of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Jakarta – Culture Minister Fadli Zon has appointed Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the younger brother of President Prabowo Subianto, as the chairman of the Museums and Cultural Heritage Trustees Board.

The minister stated that Hashim is an ideal candidate for the role due to his enthusiasm for supporting museum development and willingness to work without pay.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – Ruang Setara Project founder Aulia Hakim criticized the DPR's decision to approve the Legislative Body's (Baleg) proposal on the revision of the Law on Minerals and Coal or Minerba Bill. The revised policy includes the granting of mining business permits (IUP) or mining permits for universities.

Jakarta – Jakarta governor-elect Pramono Anung plans to implement a free breakfast program for students across the city, his transition team has said, adding that school canteen vendors, as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), will participate in the program.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Nusantara, East Kalimantan – The government will soon open the bidding process for the construction of legislature and court buildings in Nusantara, Indonesia's future national capital, an official announced on Saturday.

Agencies, New Delhi, India – President Prabowo Subianto looked on as guest of honour at India's annual military and cultural parade in New Delhi held to mark the country's 76th Republic Day on Sunday.

Novie Fauziah, Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Indonesia on Sunday accused Malaysia of excessive use of force following the fatal shooting of a migrant worker and the injury of four others by the Malaysian maritime patrol.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor-elect Pramono Anung stated that Jakarta is one of the cities with high levels of air pollution. He plans to implement a policy that forces people to switch to using public transportation.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – A middle-ranking Jakarta police officer is under internal investigation for allegedly extorting two suspects involved in the April 2024 deaths of two teenage girls, demanding Rp 20 billion ($1.2 million) in exchange for dropping the case.

Agencies, Jakarta/Mumbai, India – Indonesia and India signed a wide range of agreements on Saturday covering culture, health, maritime, security and digital sectors.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by President Prabowo Subianto and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of India's Republic Day celebrations on Sunday.

Muhammad Almer Sidqi – The Centre of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) has evaluated President Prabowo Subianto's performance in the first 100 days of his administration by surveying 95 journalists who have in-depth insights into government performance.

Rezya Agnesica Helena Sihaloho – Papua, often referred to as the "paradise on earth" within Indonesia, is a land of immense natural wealth and cultural diversity. Its breathtaking landscapes and abundant natural resources highlight its extraordinary potential.

Jakarta – The ceasefire in Gaza, as precarious as it may seem, presents a rare opportunity for Indonesia to play a bigger role in the search for a lasting peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, more than what we have achieved so far, which has largely been confined to calling for and endorsing resolutions in the United Nations.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia said one of the dominant human rights violations during the 100 days of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration was violence and extrajudicial killings by police officers.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The head of the Defense Ministry's Information Office, Brig. Gen. Frega Wenas Inkiriwangsaid he had not received any instructions to discuss the Sea Fence Task Force. "For now, I haven't monitored it at all," Frega said when met at his office in Jakarta on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

Jakarta – Public perceptions of the Constitutional Court have started to improve, a recent survey has suggested, after it previously declined due to its controversial ruling on the requirements for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Hendro Situmorang, South Tangerang – The value of cryptocurrency trading in Indonesia surged by an astonishing 335.9 percent year-on-year in 2024, reaching Rp 650.61 trillion ($40.2 billion), a senior official announced on Friday.

Agencies, Jakarta – Authorities on Friday paused search efforts because of bad weather as the death toll from a landslide in Pekalongan, Central Java rose to at least 25 people, said a spokesperson for the local rescuers.

Torrential rain in the city triggered the landslide on Tuesday. Hundreds of rescuers were deployed to the area.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Jakarta – For many Indonesians, last year's disbandment of the militant group behind the 2002 Bali bombings may have come as a relief, but one convict incarcerated for his role in the twin attack fears the move increases terror threats.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Illegal deforestation has reportedly surged to record levels in a wildlife reserve at the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra Island that's known as the "orangutan capital of the world."

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The competition watchdog has fined Google Rp 202.5 billion (US$12.4 million) for engaging in monopolistic and unfair business practices related to its payment system services on Google Play Store, its software distribution platform.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Center for Economics and Law Studies (Celios) has raised concerns about the potential for budget leakage up to trillions of rupiah in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program if its management lacks transparency. This risk stems from several factors, including inefficient program management and opportunities for corruption.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi has confirmed that the school zoning system will not be eliminated from the New Student Admissions (PPDB) process under President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that bribery and gratification practices remain prevalent in ministries/institutions and regional governments. Based on the results of the 2024 Integrity Assessment Survey (SPI), the KPK recorded a National Integrity Index score of 71.53 points.

Irsyan Hasyim, Erwin Prima, Jakarta – The Ministry of Environment said it could not intervene in the verdict of a judge of the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) which rejected a lawsuit by the Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH) regarding the environmental impact of the Ombilin Steam Power Plant or PLTU Ombilin.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's target of 8 percent economic growth this year seems like a futile endeavor. As there has been no structural overhaul of policies to stimulate the economy, and given the uncertain global situation, it will be difficult to achieve this target.

Victoria Wanata, Jakarta – Indonesia pitched domestic renewable and green energy investments to businesses and foreign representatives at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting running from Jan. 20 to 24 in Davos, Switzerland, saying the government had readied multiple incentives to make the potential deals worthwhile.

Syakirun Ni'am, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Mining Advocacy Network (Jatam) believes that the planned revisions to the Mineral and Coal Mining Law (UU Minerba) are a major gateway for the expansion of the mining industry, marked by the issue of guarantees there will be no changes to spatial planning and giving out mining concessions to tertiary institutions.

Jakarta – Where does America First leave the rest of the world, including Indonesia?

With Donald Trump's return to the White House earlier this week, that question is occupying the minds of policymakers around the world, especially in countries that have tied themselves very closely to the United States, whether politically, economically or both.

Jakarta on Friday said Frenchman Serge Atlaoui, held on death row in Indonesia for nearly two decades, is to be returned to his home country.

In recent weeks, Indonesia has freed some half a dozen high-profile detainees, including a Filipina mother who was also on death row over a drugs conviction and the remaining five members of the so-called "Bali Nine" narcotics ring.