Jakarta – Celebrated author Pramoedya Ananta Toer was not the kind of writer to compose highfalutin prose and verses from an ivory tower from the comfort of an air-conditioned building, far away from society's problems and the struggle of everyday people.

Balipuspa News, Denpasar – Bali's economy continued to expand in the fourth quarter of 2024, recording a year-on-year growth of 5.19 percent, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency's (BPS) Bali office.

Roy Adriansyah, Jakarta – Two former South Jakarta Police officers, Adjunct Chief Commissioner Bintoro and Adjunct Chief Commissioner Bintoro Gogo Galesung, have been penalized for accepting bribes in a murder case, with Bintoro fired from his position and Galesung demoted for eight years.

Surya Lesmana, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has issued an edict declaring that it is haram (forbidden) for wealthy individuals to use subsidized 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canisters.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The government confirmed on Friday that civil servants will receive their extra salary and Ramadan bonus as scheduled this year, despite the ongoing efficiency measures imposed by President Prabowo Subianto.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Ministry of Environment has tapped North Jakarta as a national example for urban waste management in Indonesia. Noer Adi Wardojo, the Minister's Expert Staff for the Sustainability of Biological Diversity and Socio-Cultural Resources at the Ministry of Environment, emphasized that every region needs a clear roadmap for waste management.

Antara, Jakarta – Former Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri presented a painting of the Virgin Mary to Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City on Friday afternoon.

Hilmar Farid – History, literature, and imagination come together in the life and works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer. He not only wrote literature, but also explored history and used words to revive the past that was deliberately deleted.

Mulyono Sri Hutomo – The Campus Employees Union (SPK) took part in commemorating 100 years of Pramoedya Ananta Toer at an event titled "A Century of Pramoedya Ananta Toer" at the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts and culture centre in Jakarta on Saturday February 8.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Poland is finally exporting its apples to Indonesia, thus paving the way for Warsaw to cut its trade deficit with Jakarta.

Antara, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has requested to be exempt from a 50 percent budget cut from its initial Rp2,826 trillion funds, citing risks on the agency's main operational instruments and putting them in danger of becoming inoperable.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Central Java Provincial Government officially prohibits Civil Servants (ASN) from using 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This ban is stated in Circular Letter Number 500.2.1/196 signed by the Central Java Provincial Government Secretary on February 4, 2025.

Jakarta – Up until today, President Prabowo Subianto still has not clearly defined the direction of his economic strategy.

Bisnis.com, Jakarta – The annual Tempo Film Festival returns this year to express appreciation for Indonesia's film industry. This year's awards took place at Graha Bhakti Budaya at Ismail Marzuki Park in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi has confirmed that the budget for the development of the Indonesian Capital City, known as IKN is still blocked by the Finance Ministry. However, he emphasized that this does not mean there are no funds allocated for the project.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Ministry of Health is seeking new donor countries as a consequence of U.S. move to shut down USAID, its minister said on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

"I will try and seek other sources of donors," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia's Minister of Health, when met at the Directorate General of Health Resources office.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – E. Aminudin Aziz, chief of the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas), said the library was forced to adjust its operational hours due to budget cuts.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rolliansyah Soemirat, also known as Roy, addressed the first 100 days of president prabowo subianto's administration, particularly focusing on foreign policy under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono.

Jakarta – Hundreds of homes in South Tambun and Cibitung districts in Bekasi regency, West Java, were damaged by a whirlwind in the early hours of Thursday.

The disaster occurred around 3:45 a.m., causing panic among residents. A total of 379 homes were damaged as the tornado swept through the area.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The construction of Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, cost the government Rp 40.29 trillion ($2.5 billion) in 2024, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo revealed on Thursday.

According to Dody, progress on key infrastructure, public facilities, and utilities has reached approximately 87 percent.

Zach Hope and Amilia Rosa – It's no surprise to see the old Sari Club site in Bali pocked with refuse and thick at the edges with rainy season weeds. Or the green, street-facing corrugated iron fence buckled and dented.

Indonesia, West Papua – Prominent Papuan human rights activist Yones Douw died on Sunday, 2 February 2025 at his home in Karang Timur, Kali Harapan Village, Nabire District, Papua Tengah Province.

Hans Nicholas Jong, JAKARTA – Indonesia's deforestation is once again rising after several years of decline, with 2024 marking the highest rate since 2021. The data also show that the vast majority of forest loss is legal, a stark difference from previous periods dominated by illegal deforestation.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is considering allowing civil servants to work remotely twice a week to boost productivity and reduce operational costs, an official said on Friday.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – The lobby of Indonesia's Economic Affairs ministry was a bit darker this week when some lights were turned off as the minister looked for savings after President Prabowo Subianto ordered $19 billion of budget cuts to help fund election promises.

Jakarta – The efforts to curb unchecked development and overtourism in Bali deserve our support and recognition. However, we are calling on the authorities to be consistent with their law enforcement, to do away with reactive, or even worse, discriminatory, measures.

Jakarta – Indonesia has begun talks with Britain to repatriate the most prolific rapist in British history, a senior minister said, following its move to also seek the return of a Guantanamo Bay detainee accused of being one of the Bali bomb plotters.

Roy Adriansyah, Arnoldus Kristianus, Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Isa Rachmatarwata, the Director General of Budget at the Finance Ministry, a suspect in the corruption case involving the financial management and investment funds of state insurer Asuransi Jiwasraya.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Devy Ernis, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur believes that the planned revisions to House of Representatives Regulation Number 1/2020 on Rules and Procedures or Tatib DPR will damage the democratic order in Indonesia.

Every nation has its own literary treasures in its national language. The entirety of national literature, along with other artistic works, contains and reflects the history of the development of a nation's national personality and the battles that occurred in that history.

M Iqbal Shukri, Blora – A plan by the Blora regency government (Pemkab) in Central Java to immortalise Indonesian literary writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer by naming a street after him has been rejected by the social organisation (ormas) Pancasila Youth (PP).

Sucipto, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has highlighted a statement by the chairperson of the National Defence Council (DPN) and Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin who stated that the DPN could take on a role in controlling forest areas, especially violations of the law by palm oil companies.

Responding to the recent raid, arrest, and detention of dozens of LGBTI people in a hotel in Jakarta, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry announced the suspension of all toll road projects funded by the State Budget (APBN) due to budget efficiency measures.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, acting chairman of President Prabowo Subianto's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), revealed on Friday that several ministers are struggling to align with the president's policies.

Jakarta – The Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide free health screening program on Feb. 10, allowing citizens to undergo age-specific medical assessments on their birthdays. The launch was announced in a press conference held on Friday.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Ardito Ramadhan, Bogor – TNI (Indonesian Military) Commander General Agus Subiyanto has revealed that village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) will be mobilised to oversee the sale of three kilogram liquid petroleum gas (LPG) canisters to retailers.

Jakarta – The government plans to provide pardons or amnesty for around 44 thousand prisoners. One of the categories of prisoners who will receive amnesty are political prisoners related to Papua.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The deputy chair of House Commission X, Maria Yohana Esti Wijayati, says the implementation of the Prabowo-led free nutritious meal program, or MBG, has been somewhat off the mark.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah opened weaker against the US dollar on Thursday morning, pressured by slowing economic growth. The currency depreciated by 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to Rp 16,308 per dollar at 9:07 a.m. Jakarta time, according to Bloomberg data. On Wednesday, the rupiah had strengthened 58 points against the greenback.

Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani remains upbeat about attracting hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investments throughout this year despite having to cut its spending within the ministry.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Industrial Estates Association (HKI) has reported potential losses totaling trillions of rupiah, driven by canceled investments and businesses pulling out of industrial zones. These losses are largely attributed to extortion practices by certain civic organizations.

Jakarta – Five police officers across the country have taken their own lives since the start of the year, raising the alarm about inadequate mental health support within the National Police.

On Monday night, a police officer, identified only as Chief Brig. HS, was found dead in his home in Langkapura subdistrict, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung.

Herman, Jakarta – Reports have surfaced online alleging that customer data from Bank Central Asia (BCA) was leaked following a cyberattack by an individual claiming to be the notorious hacker Bjorka. The claims were shared via the X account @bjorkanesiaaa.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – An expert recently said that Indonesia needed to fix its driving license issuance system following the deadly pileup at the Ciawi tollgate earlier this week.

Antara, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin recently said that his ministry had to cut Rp 19 trillion (around $1.2 billion) this year after President Prabowo Subianto instructed massive state budget cuts across the government.

Fajar Fitrianto – Indonesia's reform of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) marks a bold step toward modernization – or so it is claimed. By introducing the Business Judgment Rule (BJR) and establishing Danantara, a superholding entity overseeing assets worth US$570 billion, the government aims to transform its SOEs into agile, competitive enterprises.

Jakarta – The Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry is working to ensure that this year's Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) program for university students will be unaffected by President Prabowo Subianto's budget efficiency policy under Presidential Instruction No. 1/2025, issued on Jan. 23.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician who is also a member of Commission XII of the DPR, Muhammad Haris, stated that the third revision of the Mineral and Coal Law which allows universities to manage mines could be an income opportunity. He said that if campuses manage mines, they must ensure that they are of high quality.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has seized cars, cash and other evidence during a raid on Tuesday at the South Jakarta residence of Pancasila Youth (PP) chairman Japto Soerjosoemarno, in connection with a graft case involving former Kutai Kertanegara regent Rita Widyasari.