Andreas Harsono – In December 2008, I visited the Abepura prison in Jayapura, West Papua, to verify a report sent to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture alleging abuses inside the jailhouse, as well as shortages of food and water.

Rino Fajar Setiawan, Bekasi – At least eight people died and several others are missing after a fire broke out at a cooking oil factory in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta, on Friday morning.

"The bodies have been sent to Kramat Jati Police Hospital. So far, we have identified eight bodies," said Priadi Santoso, head of the local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is ramping up efforts to address a spike in layoffs, with Labor Minister Yassierli announcing nearly 60,000 workers affected nationwide as of October 2024 – a rise of 25,000 in just the past three months.

Jakarta – The number of foreign visitors to Indonesia reached over 10 million as of September, inching closer to the full-year target of 14 million, according to data released by the government on Friday.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Ministry of Manpower has confirmed that the calculation of the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) for 2025 will adhere to Government Regulation (PP) Number 51 of 2023.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Anti-corruption activists visited the South Jakarta Red and White Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Director General of Industrial Relations and Social Security of Manpower, Indah Anggoro Putri, stated that Jakarta Province had the highest number of layoffs as of October 28, 2024. She said that 14,501 workers were affected by layoffs in Jakarta.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto hosted a gathering with leaders from his coalition's political parties at the State Palace on Friday, many of whom also serve in his cabinet.

Jakarta – A former investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has urged graft suspect Thomas Lembong, who served as trade minister in 2015-2016, to assist authorities in uncovering alleged corruption in the country's sugar trade.

Agencies, Jakarta – The Industry Ministry has banned sales of smartphones made by Alphabet's Google due to rules requiring the use of locally manufactured components, days after blocking sales of tech giant Apple's iPhone 16 for the same reason.

Antara, Jakarta – Said Iqbal, President of the Labor Party, expressed his relief and gratitude after the Constitutional Court granted a partial judicial review of the Job Creation Law.

"Justice prevails. We appreciate the Constitutional Court's judges. No dissenting opinion today," Iqbal said on Thursday, October 31.

Linda Yulisman, Jakarta – Controversy has erupted across the country after a high-flying Cabinet minister was awarded a doctoral degree by a top Indonesian university following a short period of study, giving rise to allegations that he used the services of a writer-for-hire, or "joki", for his dissertation.

Tiara Juwita, Jakarta – The newly inaugurated President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, established the National Economic Council in the Red and White Cabinet. The institution, chaired by Luhut Binsar Panjdjaitan, is tasked with providing advice and recommendations to ensure the proper implementation of prioritized economic programs.

Jakarta – Village heads who fail to maintain neutrality in regional elections can be dismissed from their positions, the Home Ministry's village governance director general, La Ode Ahmad Pidana Bolombo, has warned.

This rule is outlined in Law No. 4/2014 on villages and Home Ministerial Regulation No. 82/2015 on the dismissal and appointment of village heads.

Zach Hope and Karuni Rompies – A former Indonesian trade minister who campaigned for the opposition has been arrested in the first days of Prabowo Subianto's presidency on alleged corruption offences from almost 10 years ago, raising questions about whether the timing is a coincidence or a message from the new administration.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – In Indonesia's North Sumatra province, conservation groups and authorities have built canopy bridges that stitch back together primate habitat, including for orangutans, that were fragmented by roads over the years.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, received instructions from President Prabowo Subianto to expedite the construction of the Giant Sea Wall (GSW), stretching from Jakarta to Gresik, East Java.

Greta Nabbs-Keller – As Jakarta geared up for the Indonesian armed forces' 79th anniversary on 5 October, there seemed to be an added frisson in the air. Amid the martial scene of massed military equipment in central Jakarta and with the 20 October inauguration of Prabowo Subianto approaching, it felt like Indonesia was on the cusp of something new – yet also familiar.

Jakarta – Indonesia's new leader Prabowo Subianto wants to complete key government and parliamentary buildings in the country's $32 billion new capital city in the next four years, according to a cabinet minister.

Duncan Graham – It took less than a week for the reality to be exposed. Even Deputy PM Richard Marles must now acknowledge that the nation next door he praises for its moderation and democracy is now a military dictatorship and a serious threat.

Agencies, Jakarta – Six people have died as nearly 100 Rohingya landed by boat in Aceh province, a local fishing community said on Thursday, in the latest wave of arrivals to Indonesia in recent days.

Miftach Tjut Adek, chief of the community, told Reuters that the 96 arrivals, including seven children, were still at the local beach in the eastern part of Aceh.

Jakarta – Jakarta deputy gubernatorial candidate Suswono apologized on Monday for his controversial joke suggesting that rich widows should marry unemployed men.

He used Prophet Muhammad's marriage to Khadijah, who was a wealthy widow, as an example.

Medikantyo Adhikresna, Jakarta – The Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) projects motorcycle sales in Indonesia to hit 6.7 million units next year, up from an expected 6.5 million units by the end of 2024.

Teguh Adi Prasetyo, Jakarta – Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana aims to attract high-quality tourists to Indonesia by intensifying the promotion of five 'Super Priority Destinations' over the next five years.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A Russian diplomat recently revealed that Moscow was still keeping its fingers crossed that Indonesia would implement its contract purchase for Su-35 fighter jets.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The government has given the green light for textile giant Sri Rejeki Isman, better known as Sritex. to resume its export-import activities despite a bankruptcy verdict, according to Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Widy Wicaksono, Semarang – Central Java gubernatorial candidate Ahmad Luthfi claimed on Wednesday that he has the backing of President Prabowo Subianto and former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Fitriansa Sima Sima Sohilauw, Ambon – At least seven people died and dozens more were injured after a seaside bridge in Central Maluku Regency collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, during a campaign event for a local regent candidate.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – The Ministry of Manpower responded to workers' demands for an 8-10 percent increase in the minimum wage. Manpower Minister Yassierli said that the demand will be considered as per existing regulations.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X has officially issued a gubernatorial instruction letter to regulate the circulation of alcoholic beverages.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Thousands of workers from various labor unions will hold a protest demanding the repeal of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, at the Constitutional Court Building, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, October 31, 2024.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Jepara District Court's panel of judges declared the four shrimp farmers in Karimunjawa guilty of environmental pollution. This decision was announced alternately on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Public Works, Dody Hanggodo, stated that President Prabowo Subianto is currently very concerned about the increasingly heated geopolitical situation. This is the basis for the president to request the Ministry of Public Works to support the food self-sufficiency program.

Nabiila Azzahra A, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto targets Indonesia's economic growth to reach 8 percent during his term. Far from that target, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Indonesia's economic growth will only reach 5.7 percent by 2029.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus and Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – Images of newly inducted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto wearing jungle-green camouflage fatigues and leading cabinet members in drills has raised concern over whether he is reviving the military's "dual function" role in government, as it was under dictator Suharto.

Thousands of workers from various trade unions again held a demonstration to oversee a Constitutional Court (MK) ruling on a judicial review of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation (UU Cipta Kerja). The demonstration was held in front of the Constitutional Court building in Central Jakarta on Thursday October 31.

Gusty da Costa – An indigenous human rights activist has asked Jakarta to reconsider the transmigration program in Papua region as bringing in non-Papuans to the country's easternmost region will only create new problems and challenges for the native inhabitants.

Catholic leaders have warned against the transmigration program of new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in conflict-stricken Papua, saying bringing in non-Papuans to the easternmost region will result in problems for the ethnic people.

Novan Gustaf Firyan, Jakarta – The Red and White Cabinet's lineup of ministers and deputy ministers was unveiled on Sunday, October 20, 2024, and officially sworn in on Monday, October 21, 2024, by President Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 09 October 2024, members of the Yonif Maleo 509/BY command arbitrarily arrested and tortured, Mr Alex Sondegau, 30, inside the military post in the Mamba Village, Intan Jaya Regency, Indonesia. According to human rights defenders from Intan Jaya, Mr Sondegau suffered from a mental disorder.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia could face an overheating economy if President Prabowo Subianto goes ahead with his plan to push the country's gross domestic product growth to 8 percent per year, analysts have warned, suggesting that the archipelago does not have enough capacity to handle that surge in output, which would come with consequences.

Jakarta – This country has seen a number of cases that call the integrity of its higher education system into question, but the doctoral degree awarded to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia earlier this month by the University of Indonesia's School of Global and Strategic Studies (SKSG) gets top marks for its divisiveness.

Jack Moore, Jakarta – When riots broke out in Indonesia's capital in 1998 leading to dictator Soeharto's downfall, activists were detained, women raped, and stores owned by ethnic Chinese ransacked in unrest many say was stoked by the army.

Vedro Imanuel G, Jakarta – Minister of Transmigration, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara, reveals the possibility for transmigrants to participate in food estate management. According to him, this will support Prabowo's food self-sufficiency goal.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Deputy Finance Minister Anggito Abimanyu faces criticism following his recent suggestion to tax revenues from the underground economy, including online gambling and gaming. Anggito argued that this sector represents untapped tax potential, citing online sports betting popular among Indonesians as an example of economic activity that goes unreported.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Betawi Bangkit society organization has filed a complaint against Jakarta deputy governor candidate number 1, Suswono, alleging blasphemy. However, the Jakarta Metro Police directed the group to the Integrated Law Enforcement Center (Gakumdu) at the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).

Harry Suhartono and Faris Mokhtar – Days after taking charge of Southeast Asia's biggest economy, Indonesia's president needs a plan to deal with rising borrowing costs for key state-owned enterprises carrying $186 billion of debt.

Carmen Molina Acosta – Former employees of a string of secretive companies accused of clearing swathes of Borneo rainforest claim the group is controlled by Royal Golden Eagle, one of the world's largest producers of wood pulp and paper, a new investigation by ICIJ partner The Gecko Project and Bloomberg reveals.

Hendrik Yaputra, Amirullah, Jakarta – Budiman Sudjatmiko, The Head of the National Team for Accelerating Poverty Reduction (BP Taskin), stated that President Prabowo Subianto wants to eradicate poverty completely. Therefore, it is necessary to know the actual data regarding the poverty rate in Indonesia so that the poverty reduction programs can be targeted effectively.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The government has asked the state-owned defense company Pindad to produce 5,000 units of its SUV model, Maung, for cabinet members and echelon-1 officials.

AM Putranto, head of the Presidential Staff Office, said on Wednesday the production of 5,000 Maung SUVs should be completed within 100 work days.