Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's planned minimum wage increase in 2026 is unlikely to sway foreign investors, who continue to favor other Southeast Asian countries due to economic inefficiencies, an economist said Tuesday.

Esti Utami – On Thursday December 18 Greenpeace Indonesia held a creative peaceful action in front of the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs in Jakarta.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll from the Sumatra disaster has reached 1,068. This data was recorded as of Friday, December 19, 2025, at 09:30 a.m. The latest figures were accessed directly from the BNPB Disaster Data Geoportal.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno stated that several regencies/cities have declared an emergency transition status following the Sumatra post-disaster. The determination of the transition status is based on the conditions of each region. However, Pratikno did not specify the areas.

Responding to the phenomenon of people raising white flags in Aceh amidst the poor handling of aid for victims of the ecological disaster on Sumatra Island, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) is concerned about the impact of the 2026 Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) formula on the sustainability of labor-intensive industries. This comes after the government set the minimum wage with an alpha range of 0.5-0.9.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The Government has allowed timber debris left behind by recent floods and landslides in Sumatra to be used for disaster recovery, including the construction of temporary and permanent housing.

Igor ONeill – Travellers flying over Merauke, on West Papua's southern coast, have long been treated to a sight that's hard to find remaining anywhere in the world: an expansive lowland filled with natural forests, savannahs, and vast wetlands. But these days, they're also likely to see a landscape in the midst of change.

Philip Jacobson, Pidie Jaya, Indonesia – A group of specialist Sumatran elephants have joined recovery operations in Aceh following the catastrophic landfall of Cyclone Senyar in late November – two decades after the veteran responders supported rescuers after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Jakarta – From the outset, it has been difficult to accept the conclusion that the death of diplomat Arya Daru Pangayunan was the result of suicide. There are too many irregularities that strongly indicate a murder and cover-up.

Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Jakarta – Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) halted trading in shares of Toba Pulp Lestari on Thursday afternoon, citing uncertainty over the company's business continuity following a government-ordered suspension of its operations.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that its investigation into alleged corruption in Bank BJB's advertising procurement will continue uninterrupted, despite the ongoing divorce between former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, a witness in the case, and her wife, Golkar Party lawmaker Atalia Praratya.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Bishop of Timika from the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), Bernardus Bofitwos Baru, has condemned President Prabowo Subianto's desire to expand palm oil cultivation in Papua. Bernardus expressed disbelief in Prabowo's claim that palm oil is intended for the benefit of the people.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has reported a surge in hydrometeorological disasters over the last 48 hours, with East Java, Riau, and South Kalimantan emerging as the hardest-hit regions.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has signed a new government regulation on wages that will serve as the basis for setting minimum wage increases in 2026, the Manpower Ministry revealed, just before the turn of the year.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Remittances sent by Indonesian migrant workers reached Rp 212 trillion, or about $12.7 billion, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, highlighting their increasingly important contribution to the national economy, Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin said on Thursday.

Fachri Hamzah, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia and Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, part of Solidaritas Merauke, have criticized Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's directive to the local authorities in Papua and the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua on Monday, December 16, 2025.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Business circles assess the plan to increase the Regional Minimum Wage (UMP 2026), valued at 0.5-0.9 alpha, as incongruent with the actual state of the business world. According to the Chair of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo), Shinta W.

Singapore – Recent landmark Indonesia-Singapore agreements did not materialise overnight but were the payoff from decades of groundwork and trust-building, panellists said at the launch of a book on the "next chapter" of bilateral ties.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has authorized the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) to become Law No. 20 of 2025. The inauguration took place on December 17, 2025.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Labor Party has rejected the formula for calculating the 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP) proposed by President Prabowo Subianto's cabinet, arguing that it fails to meet workers' basic needs.

Romora Edward Sitorus and A. Prasetyantoko – Indonesia's first high-speed train project is historic but its government now has to prevent it going off the rails as costs spiral and boomerang onto the state and taxpayers.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Extreme weather is not the sole reason for the devastation left by flash floods and landslides in Sumatra. Erma Yulihastin, a researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said the energy from Cyclone Senyar only contributed about 20 percent to the damage, while the remaining 80 percent was all environment-related.

Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Indonesian Consulate for the Makassar region has stated that the burning of the Morning Star (Bintang Kejora) flag by social or mass organisations (ormas) during a demonstration at the Makassar Metropolitan District Police (Polrestabes) in South Sulawesi was wrong.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has reportedly detained several prosecutors and other individuals in a series of separate operations conducted over the past two days in Banten, Jakarta, and South Kalimantan.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Police Reform Commission has proposed an omnibus law covering the revised National Police Law, government regulations, and other regulations related to police affairs. Commission head Jimly Asshiddiqie said the idea is being floated due to the abundant cross-institutional police-related regulations.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Labor Party and the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) are taking to the streets on Friday, December 19, to reject the formula for calculating the 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP). The protest is set to take place scheduled to take place around the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon officially launched the government's comprehensive new edition of Indonesian history, titled 'Sejarah Indonesia: Dinamika Kebangsaan dalam Arus Global' (Indonesian History: National Dynamics in the Global Flow). This book is part of the state-led project to rewrite the nation's history.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Jakarta – The Geological Agency has identified several regions across Java currently experiencing land subsidence exceeding five centimeters per year. While often associated with coastal areas, the phenomenon is also affecting highland regions like Bandung.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Manpower Yassierli said the government will apply an adjustable index, with an alpha range of 0.5 to 0.9, to calculate the increase in Provincial Minimum Wages (UMP) for 2026.

He said the approach is intended to reduce regional disparities, as previous policies relied on a single uniform figure for all provinces.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – A suggestion by President Prabowo Subianto that regional Indonesian leaders be appointed and not elected by the people has sparked debate among political parties, with analysts saying it would be a setback for democracy that would not address corruption risk.

Igor Oneill, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia today brought the voices of West Papuan environmental protesters to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

As 2025 comes to an end, I would like to thank everyone who has supported a Free West Papua this year, whether through practical contributions or through their spirit.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – In Aceh, Indonesia, residents are raising white flags along roadsides in the wake of severe floods and landslides, sending a message to both local authorities and the international community.

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, commonly known as Mualem, explained that the white flags reflect solidarity, empathy, and the pressing desire for aid.

Satya Adhi and Marchio Gorbiano, Aceh Tamiang and Jakarta – Nurlela Agusfitri has nowhere to turn after losing her home and business to devastating floods that wreaked havoc on her home in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, killing more than 1,000 people.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has launched the report titled "Papua in the Grip of Military Operations". The report profiles the impact of military operations on the lives of civilians in Papua between 2023 and 2025.

The launch of the report was live-streamed on YLBHI's YouTube channel on Tuesday December 16.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia and Pusaka Bentala Rakyat Foundation have voiced their concerns over President Prabowo Subianto's push to drive palm oil, sugarcane, and cassava plantations in Papua. They believed the initiative could bring ecological disasters to the region.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration has detained 26 Chinese nationals following an attack on Indonesian military personnel during a training session in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. Authorities are currently reviewing the immigration documents of those detained.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Indonesian National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, stated that the budget for the free nutritious meals (MBG) in Papua is three times higher than the budget for MBG in Java.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Manpower, Yassierli, announced that President Prabowo Subianto has approved the formula for calculating the provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2026, formalized in the latest government regulation.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has given all governors one week to finalize provincial minimum wages under a newly issued regulation, with a deadline of December 24, Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian said on Wednesday.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Chairperson of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Association (Aspirasi), Mirah Sumirat, has criticized the formula for determining the provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2026, arguing that it does not guarantee workers and their families a decent standard of living.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Flash floods and landslides in several regions of Sumatra in Indonesia have been highlighted by the World Bank. According to the institution, the disasters that occurred since late November 2025 in several areas of Sumatra, including Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, have the potential to have a negative impact on Indonesia's economy.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has banned Papua's regional heads from traveling abroad, especially if these trips use the so-called "special autonomy funds".

Aep Sopandi, Bandung – West Java Police have arrested a YouTuber who sparked widespread online outrage after making derogatory remarks targeting the Sundanese ethnic group, authorities said on Wednesday.

The suspect, Adimas Firdaus, known online as "Resbob," has been named a suspect in a hate speech case stemming from videos broadcast on his channel.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has warned that officials who are unable to perform their duties or misuse state assets for personal or group gain will face dismissal.

Duncan Graham – A year after Prabowo Subianto's election, Indonesia's democracy is under strain as power centralises, dissent is curtailed and the military's influence grows.

Prabowo Subianto, a former army general with a disputed record of human rights abuses, was elected president last year through a democratic vote. Now he's trying to destroy the system:

Putri Nurjannah Kurita, Sentani – The Papua chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has issued an official statement voicing serious concerns about plans by the central and regional governments.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto has explained why he is advocating for the cultivation of palm oil in Papua, linking it to the government's goal of ending Indonesia's dependency on imported gasoline.

Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially acquired a hotel and land in Thakher City, Mecca, in a deal worth $500 million, a move expected to accommodate up to 23,000 Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said on Wednesday that the Novotel Thakher City hotel purchased by Indonesia has a total capacity of nearly 4,400 rooms.