Caitlyn Rintoul – Anthony Albanese has deflected questions over whether China poses a strategic threat to both Australia and Indonesia as the two countries formalised a defence treaty.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) revealed the cause of mass poisoning among hundreds of students at State Senior High School or SMAN 2 Kudus, Central Java, after consuming free nutritious meals (MBG). The incident was caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination in the soto soup and sambal served to students.

Hariz Baharudin, Jakarta – Indonesia's officials and diplomatic figures said the country may withdraw from the Board of Peace if the US-backed diplomatic initiative fails to advance Palestinian independence.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting Jakarta from 5 to 7 February to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and to sign the Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security. He will be joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's banking sector is positioning for a modest rebound in 2026 after credit growth cooled to single digits last year, with economists expecting lending to be driven less by household spending and more by capital investment tied to industrial expansion and government-backed projects.

Ni Komang Erviani, Denpasar – Bali has launched a major beach cleanup initiative in response to President Prabowo Subianto's recent criticism of the island's growing waste problem.

Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim, Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesian and Australian leaders signed a bilateral security treaty Friday that both governments say will deepen ties between the often-testy neighbors.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesia's Gerindra Party has welcomed signals from two-term President Prabowo Subianto, with party leaders calling for support of a potential 2029 presidential run.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara on Friday kicked off the first phase of its downstream industrial push, breaking ground on six projects with a combined investment value of about $7 billion (Rp118 trillion), as the government accelerates efforts to strengthen value-added industries.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Indonesia is Australia's most important partner, underscoring the country's central role in regional prosperity, security, and stability.

Albanese made the remarks during a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has reported that the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) achieved the highest economic growth on Java Island by the end of 2025.

Arlina Arshad, Jakarta – The death of popular Indonesian social media influencer Lula Lahfah has thrown a little-known kitchen gas into the national spotlight.

In her South Jakarta flat, police found a canister of nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas", which is used to aerate whipped cream, mousse and dessert toppings.

The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform condemns President Prabowo Subianto's decision and move to sign the Board of Peace (BOP) Charter on January 22, shortly after attending the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Ministry of Trade records that the United States has become the largest contributor to the trade surplus in 2025. The Minister of Trade, Budi Santoso, revealed that Indonesia's trade surplus with America reached US$18.11 billion, surpassing India, which previously often held the top position.

Ref.: 020/AII – PM Australia/II/2026
Jakarta, 3 February 2026
To the attn. of:
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP
Prime Minister of Australia

Dear Prime Minister Albanese,

Akmalal Hamdhi, Arnoldus Kristianus, Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) moved to reassure investors after Moody's affirmed Indonesia's Baa2 sovereign rating while cutting the outlook to negative, a shift Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said does not reflect weakening economic fundamentals.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Indonesia is on the right pathway to achieve 8 percent economic growth, said Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, the Minister of Investment and Downstream and Danantara CEO. He emphasized that accelerating policy implementation is vital to reach this goal.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – A number of University of Indonesia (UI) students have reported allegations of terror and the distribution of personal data (doxing) to the National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim Polri).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The Indonesian sovereign wealth fund Danantara has agreed to work with the Australian government to power a reciprocal flow of investments.

Danantara sealed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) when Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made his official visit to Jakarta on Friday.

Ankur Banerjee and Stanley Widianto, Jakarta/Singapore – Indonesia's stocks and currency skidded on Friday after Moody's lowered the country's credit rating outlook, the latest jolt for Southeast Asia's largest economy, wiping about $120 billion off its equity market in a turbulent start to the year.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered an alleged bribery network involving customs officials who reportedly received around Rp 7 billion ($414,700) per month in illegal fees to allow counterfeit and undeclared goods to enter the country.

Zach Hope – Australia will develop joint military training infrastructure in Indonesia in a potentially provocative initiative flowing from the goodwill of a "watershed" defence agreement signed on Friday by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Director of the Postgraduate Program at YARSI University, Indonesia, Tjandra Yoga Aditama, discussed the emergence of the Nipah virus, which has been spreading in South and Southeast Asia.

Theressia Silalahi, Ichsan Ali, Maria Gabrielle, Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto used a low-key anniversary event of his party on Friday to call for unity, as coalition partners openly began floating the idea of a second term for Indonesia's new leader.

Suryadi M Nur, Jakarta – The Directorate of Special Crimes (Ditreskrimsus) of the Riau Regional Police is investigating the death of a Sumatran elephant within the PT Riau Andalan Pulp Paper (RAPP) concession in the Ukui Sector, Lubuk Kembang Bunga Village, Ukui District, Pelalawan Regency, Riau.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 20 August 2024, Mr Tobias Silak, a civilian, was fatally shot and Naro Dapla sustained serious gunshot injuries on the Dekai mountain road, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Papua Merauke has declared its full support for the Fellowship of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) in rejecting National Strategic Projects (PSN) across Papua. This stance follows the Plenary Session of the PGI Working Committee (MPL-PGI) 2026, held in Merauke from January 30 to February 2, 2026.

Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Papua Merauke Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) has emphasised that President Prabowo Subianto must respect and accept the results of the 2026 session of the Full Working Council of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (MPL PGI) as a form of respect for human rights, democracy and the rights of indigenous peoples in Papua.

Nick Sas and Timor-Leste reporter Vonia Vieira in Suai, Timor-Leste – Joao Gusmao remembers the promises made when the Xanana Gusmao International Airport opened in 2017.

"We were told lots of planes would fly here," the local community leader told the ABC.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy grows 5.11% in 2025, beating the previous year's performance but falling short of the government's 5.2% target, official data shows.

Antara, Jakarta – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) announced that Indonesia's level of income inequality, or Gini Ratio, decreased to 0.363 points as of September 2025 compared to the figures recorded in March 2025.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economy picked up pace last year to grow more than five percent, data showed Thursday, thanks to a pick-up in consumption following a huge government stimulus package.

The government unveiled a $1.5 billion package of economy-boosting measures in June including discounts for train, plane and ferry fares, as well as toll subsidies to boost tourism.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency is preparing a distribution scheme for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program targeting the elderly, expanding its reach beyond students and expectant mothers, in coordination with the Social Affairs Ministry.

Eka Jaya Saputra, Bekasi – Indonesia's central bank has launched an investigation after dozens of sacks containing shredded banknote fragments were discovered at a landfill in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta.

The team was dispatched to assist police following public reports and viral social media posts about the find in Bekasi Regency.

Christopher Knaus – The federal attorney general has used her mercy powers to pave the way for two Indonesian children to overturn a shocking miscarriage of justice that caused their wrongful imprisonment as adult people smugglers.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Indonesia has failed to realize its plan to acquire F-15EX fighter jets from United States aircraft manufacturer Boeing, ending a prominent defense procurement deal aimed to modernize the country's military equipment that has stagnated for years

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Jakarta – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has officially revoked the conservation permit of the Tamansari Wildlife Foundation (YMT), the current management body of Bandung Zoo. Satyawan Pudiyatmoko, Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, emphasized that this decisive action was taken to rescue the animals.

Jakarta – The ongoing evacuation of Indonesians from overseas scam compounds lays bare a painful truth: that organizing repatriation flights and offering citizen protection services are stopgaps, not solutions for preventing the criminal exploitation of migrant workers.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Former foreign ministers expressed support for Indonesia's participation in the Board of Peace for Gaza after receiving direct briefings from President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace on Wednesday.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Indonesia Onward Coalition (KIM) plus party has not yet unanimously endorsed President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to run in the 2029 presidential election.

Muhammad Yoppy Adhi Hernawan – On 27 January 2026, Indonesia saw two political appointments that will test the independence of two of its most important state institutions.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The international credit rating agency Moody's downgraded the Indonesian government's debt outlook from stable to negative on February 5, 2026. However, Indonesia's sovereign credit rating remains at Baa2, which is one level above investment grade.

Karina Tehusijarana, Jakarta – Flooding is a perennial problem in Jakarta, and 2026 is no different, with near-constant rain since the start of the year culminating in severe flooding on Jan 22 that displaced at least 1,600 people.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – A researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Budi Heru Santosa, outlined three main triggers for the flood issues in Jakarta. According to him, these three factors are interrelated and very complex.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – Indonesia's poverty rate declines to 8.25% of the population in September 2025, with the number of people living below the poverty line falling to 23.36 million, official data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – Indonesia's unemployment rate fell to 4.74% in November 2025, with Gen Z accounting for the largest share of the unemployed, while women continue to earn significantly less than men, according to official data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita highlighted the car sales in Malaysia approaching the same figures and potentially surpassing sales in Indonesia in 2025. He said that this situation should be a cause for concern for every brand.

Antara, Jakarta – The Jakarta government aims to operate as many as 10,000 electric buses by 2029 as part of efforts to shift commuters toward public transportation and reduce air pollution in the capital, Governor Pramono Anung said on Thursday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese set foot in Jakarta on Thursday evening for the signing of a bilateral security pact.

President Prabowo Subianto is set to host Albanese at the palace the following day. The common security treaty – which Albanese described as a "historic agreement" – will be high up on the agenda.

Arrum Harahap – From September to November 2025, severe flooding inundated large parts of both rural and urban Indonesia, especially on the islands of Sumatra and Bali. This disruption affected livelihoods, damaged infrastructure, and revealed longstanding weaknesses in local flood governance.