Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Indonesia – the country with the largest nickel reserves in the world – is increasingly importing ore from the Philippines to keep domestic smelters running, according to the Indonesian Nickel Industry Forum (FINI). The group described the situation as a warning sign for the long-term sustainability of Indonesia's downstream industrialization strategy.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Indonesia produced 822,000 four-wheeled vehicles between January and September 2025, the Ministry of Industry reported.

Setia Diarta, Director General of Metal, Machinery, Transportation Equipment, and Electronics Industry at the ministry, said around 380,000 units were exported during this period.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – PT Freeport Indonesia workers who were laid off (PHK) in 2017 are demanding that the company immediately fulfill their rights, and convey the Inspectorate's findings to the Papuan House of Representatives (DPRP).

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Manpower Ministry will bring in governors, mayors, and regents to discuss the country's new provincial minimum wage (UMP) formula for 2026, aiming to ensure that wage decisions reflect the varied economic realities across regions.

Agencies, Jakarta – Semeru volcano erupted on Wednesday and the country's volcanology agency increased the alert level of Java Island's tallest mountain to the highest.

The volcano spewed ash clouds as high as 2 km (1 mile) above the mountain's peak, the agency said, adding residents should keep to a 2.5 km distance away due to risks.

Duncan Graham – "All power flows from the barrel of a gun," said Mao Zedong. His aphorism may have been right a century ago in China, but not in modern Indonesia. In the nation next door, power comes subtly via unarmed brigadiers in boardrooms. The riflemen are there, but out of sight.

Sri Wahyuni, Makassar, Indonesia – For years, Rahma paid a monthly rate for water that never flowed to her home in eastern Indonesia's largest urban area, here where the Tallo River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Manpower Minister Yassierli announced that Indonesia's 2026 minimum wage is still being reviewed, with the government preparing a new regulation to govern the increase.

Under Government Regulation No. 36/2021, the annual minimum wage should be announced no later than November 21.

Mitra Tarigan, Jakarta – The Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, said that the problem of diabetes has a significant impact.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – House Commission VII Deputy Chair Evita Nursanty on Thursday called on the government to rethink its visa policy for foreign visitors, warning that Indonesia risks losing ground to ASEAN neighbors that have aggressively expanded visa-free entry.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia has raised concern over the scale of gender-based online violence faced by women as the country undergoes rapid digital expansion, accompanied by a sharp rise in technology-enabled abuse.

Jakarta – Upstream oil and gas regulator SKK Migas recently highlighted the need for a collaboration with the Indonesian Armed Forces or TNI to meet the country's energy targets.

Jakarta – With much of the country suffering from the impacts of global heating, verging on boiling, citizens are rightly expecting the government to deliver a genuinely ambitious pledge to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil, dubbed COP30, now underway until the weekend.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi – The honeymoon is clearly over for Indonesia's president as he begins his second year in office, even if a majority of the public still supports him.

Fadli, Jakarta – The Batam Customs and Excise Office uncovered two new methods to smuggle drugs from Malaysia, with combined evidence of about 1.5 kilograms of drugs, in two separate cases.

Recent operations revealed that drug syndicates have started using body cavities to smuggle drugs.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia will require an estimated Rp 3,000 trillion ($179 billion) in investment to achieve full reliance on electricity sourced from renewable energy, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) revealed that the majority of online gambling sites use content delivery network infrastructure owned by Cloudflare.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Indonesian peatland and environment watchdog Pantau Gambut's Research Manager, Muhammad Syafiq Gumilang, doubts the country's approach to advance simultaneously emissions reduction, economic growth, and social improvements. The goals are laid out in Indonesia's Second NDC or Second Nationally Determined Contribution document.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal claimed that nutritionists in Indonesia are scarce and insufficient to meet the needs of the free nutritious meals program (MBG). His statement went viral on social media and has sparked debate.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has officially classified bank accounts with no deposits, withdrawals, or balance checks for more than 1,800 days – roughly five years – as dormant accounts.

Seth Soderborg & Burhanuddin Muhtadi – On 23 September 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto offered an audacious speech to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – Indonesia has never facilitated the transfer of any Palestinians, including those from Gaza, to the country, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday, responding to allegations from international sources that hundreds of Palestinians have traveled by air to destinations such as South Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia through dubious Israeli-linked nongovernmental o

Kurniawan Arif Maspul – Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN this week came with a boom: not just a new flag at the summit in Kuala Lumpur, but a live demonstration of how great-power politics, resource competition and institutional fragility are colliding in Southeast Asia.

Brent Patterson – On Tuesday November 18, PBI-Canada hosted a webinar that featured Indigenous West Papuan environmental defenders Dina Danomira and Teddy Wakum along with Global Witness policy advisor Javier Garate.

Rizal Harahap, Pekanbaru – An upper respiratory infection outbreak that has killed five children and sickened hundreds of members of the Talang Mamak Indigenous tribe in Indragiri Hulu regency, Riau is finally showing signs of easing, though health authorities say they will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Ministry of Manpower is still finalizing the government regulation (PP) regarding Indonesia's 2026 minimum wage. Manpower Minister Yassierli revealed that the calculation of the 2026 minimum wage in the draft government regulation does not lead to a single figure.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The head of the National Nutrition Agency, Dadan Hindayana, reveals the plan to export waste cooking oil, or used cooking oil, to Singapore. The used oil will come from Indonesia's free nutritious meal (MBG) program.

A couple of months ago Bali experienced its worst floods in more than a decade. They came at the peak of the dry season. Instead of the empty wells farmers faced last year, this time their crops were washed away; roads turned into brown, swirling rivers; houses collapsed in the torrents; and 17 people were killed.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara reported that as of November 18, 2025, the utilization of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) budget had reached Rp41 trillion. This amount is only 58 percent of the allocated MBG budget for this year.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 19 November 2025, judges at the Makassar District Court in Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, sentenced four Papuan political prisoners from Sorong City to seven months' imprisonment on treason charges.

Responding to the verdict by the Makassar District Court which found four Papuan political activists from Sorong guilty of treason, Amnesty International Indonesia Deputy Director Wirya Adiwena said:

Tokyo – Japan and Indonesia agreed to strengthen maritime security as well as expand personnel exchanges between defense officials and joint training sessions, at a two-plus-two meeting between the countries' foreign and defense chiefs in Tokyo on Monday.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights has called for an immediate end to armed violence in Papua, following reports of civilian casualties linked to a recent Indonesian military operation in Lanny Jaya Regency, PapuaPegunungan Province.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia's English proficiency remains in the low-proficiency band, placing 80th out of 123 countries in the 2025 EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI). The report shows Indonesia scoring 471 in 2025 higher 3 points comparing to last year's EF EPI Edition, trailing most of its Asian peers and far below leading European countries.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Ministry of Immigration and Corrections has detained a high-profile fugitive from China and deported 27 foreign nationals suspected of operating a cybercrime syndicate. Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman declared that there is no safe haven in Indonesia for international criminals.

Petaling Jaya – The durian, the king of fruits, is synonymous with Malaysia, right? While every Malaysian will agree, the Indonesians are saying no.

They insist that they have a stronger claim to the durian, creating a thorny issue in Malaysia's bid to make it the country's national fruit.

Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura – Students from the group Papuan Student Solidarity held a peaceful demonstration in the Lingkaran area of Abepura district in Jayapura city, Papua, on Wednesday November 19.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – The International Monetary Fund has praised Indonesia for maintaining economic growth and containing inflation amid mounting pressure from external factors but emphasizes that the country needs the right "policy mix" to secure the future.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) kept the benchmark BI Rate unchanged at 4.75 percent during its November 18-19 policy meeting, maintaining the Deposit Facility at 3.75 percent and the Lending Facility at 5.5 percent.

Indonesia's Mount Semeru, the highest peak on Java island, has erupted, blanketing several villages with falling ash, prompting evacuations and leading authorities to raise the alert to the highest level.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has instructed regents and mayors against mobilizing schoolchildren to greet him during his working visits to the regions. He ordered the Cabinet Secretary, Teddy Indra Wijaya, to issue a relevant circular.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to repeal the newly enacted revision of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). The organization states that the approval of the revision signals a regression in the country's commitment to respecting, protecting, and fulfilling human rights.

Pes Yanengga, Sentani – The commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) on November 19 is a moment to reflect on the history of the organisation's founding.

Muhammad Firman/Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has launched a long-awaited "people's internet" program that promises faster broadband at a fraction of current prices, as the archipelago seeks to close its digital divide and reduce its reliance on costly fiber-optic infrastructure.

Jakarta – Right from the beginning, it is difficult to expect much from the Indonesian National Police Reform Acceleration Commission. Its composition shows that President Prabowo Subianto still has complete faith in the institution he claims to want to reform.

Jakarta – The improving financial statements of Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) have yet to ease the management's worries. Even with an upward trend in operational performance, the cash flow of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, known as Whoosh, remains far from healthy.

Riyad Dafhi Rizki, Rendy Tisna, Banjarmasin, Indonesia – A growing coalition of Indigenous communities, students and civil society organizations from Borneo is rallying against fast-moving plans to establish a new national park in the remote Meratus mountain range.

Jeff Hutton – The Indonesian administration of President Prabowo Subianto is pushing ahead with a multibillion-dollar plan to build a vast string of plantations in South Papua province that it hopes will secure domestic supplies of rice as well as sugarcane, as the government seeks to ramp up production of biofuel as a means of weaning itself off foreign sources of oil.

On Tuesday, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) unanimously passed the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) into Law. While the plenary session was marked by applause and claims of "modernisation," Indonesia's civil society has raised deep concerns regarding the new Law.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's House of Representatives has passed the Draft Law on Amendment on Law Number 8 of 1991 on Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). House Speaker Puan Maharani approved the KUHAP Bill in a House plenary meeting today, Tuesday, November 18, 2025.