Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – More than a month after a hydrometeorological disaster swept across northern Sumatra in late November, children can be seen begging on the roadside in Aceh, carrying empty cardboard boxes and seeking a helping hand from passersby due to limited humanitarian aid.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Authorities in Indonesia's Majene Regency, West Sulawesi, have confirmed that an alleged food poisoning incident linked to the government's Free Nutritious Meal program (MBG) has affected not only young children but also pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and teachers.

Han Revanda Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto compared the quality of land for the food estate in Merauke, Papua province, Indonesia, with land conditions in Australia for the development of a national food barn area based on large-scale production.

Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – Millions of Indonesian ride-hailing drivers would receive major increases to financial and social benefits under a draft decree being considered by President Prabowo Subianto, two sources said, threatening the profitability of ride-sharing platforms in their largest market in Southeast Asia.

Adhfar Aulia Syuhada, Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol) held a demonstration in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta today where they demanded that the US release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – International Economic Association Secretary General Lili Yan Ing has urged the government to take a more measured and consistent approach in setting its economic growth targets, cautioning that overly ambitious figures could weaken policy credibility in the eyes of the market.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) has released the results of a poll showing that the majority of Generation Y or Millennials reject the election of regional heads (Pilkada) via Regional Representative Councils (DPRD).

Generation Y or Millennials are a demographic group born between 1981 and 1996.

Adinda Jasmine, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono has called for Indonesia's diplomacy to adapt to an increasingly uncertain and volatile global environment, urging a strategy rooted in preparedness, vigilance, and realism.

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Jessi Carina, Jakarta – Environmental activist and Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner, Iqbal Damanik, has reported the recent terror and threats he experienced to the National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim Polri).

Jakarta – Indonesian policymakers love targets, and always have, and the administration of President Prabowo Subianto is no exception. The problem is that targets can come back to haunt their creators.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – From being one of the most coveted tech collaborators, billionaire Elon Musk has fallen out of favor with the government as Indonesia became the first country to ban access to his artificial intelligence platform Grok over sexualized deepfakes.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Climate and Energy Campaign Manager of Greenpeace Indonesia, Iqbal Damanik, and a content creator, Yansen, visited the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri). They were consulted to create a report on the threats they received after criticizing the disaster response in Sumatra.

Between 30 November and 9 December 2025, a series of intimidation and surveillance incidents were reportedly directed against Mr Apolos Sroyer, Chair of the Biak Customary Council and Chief of the Biak Tribe, in the Biak-Supiori Regency, Papua province.

Lisa Hiwasaki and Haekal A. Haridhi (The Conversation) – Weeks after Cyclone Senyar made landfall in northern Sumatra, the province of Aceh continues to struggle. The cyclone passed through the Strait of Malacca in late November, bringing heavy rains and causing widespread flooding in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – Several professors from the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta have declined President Prabowo Subianto's invitation to a dialogue at the State Palace, citing concerns that the event would be largely ceremonial.

Yanuar Nugroho – Indonesia's 2026 state budget is the first that is truly President Prabowo Subianto's, in the sense that his administration drafted and defended it and it is not inherited from his predecessor Joko Widodo.

Riri Rahayuningsih, Jakarta – The latest survey results from Bank Indonesia reveal a trend where the public is allocating a larger portion of their income to savings while simultaneously decreasing consumption.Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Susiwijono Moegiarso, acknowledged this shift, noting that citizens are becoming increasingly cautious with their

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The National Conscience Movement (GNB) rejects the discourse on the Indonesian Military (TNI) dealing with terrorism that emerged through news of a draft presidential regulation (Perpres) which has been rejected by the Civil Society Coalition.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the government to safeguard Indonesia's textile industry and give it special attention as global trade tensions intensify, Chief of Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday.

Jakarta – Indonesian consumer complaints received by the Trade Ministry throughout 2025 totaled nearly Rp 18.2 billion, or approximately $1.1 million, in transaction value, according to the government.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – Greater Jakarta continues to grapple with a waste crisis, with Jakarta and neighboring Depok becoming the latest to report landfill leaks and collapses or overflowing of trash from disposal sites, prompting complaints from people living near the facilities over unmanaged waste.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia's auto market shrank further in 2025, with four-wheeler sales falling 7.2 percent year-on-year (yoy), signaling sustained domestic demand weakness despite year-end discounts and government incentives.

Kamilatul Farikhah – Women's presence in Indonesia's parliament still falls short of the 30 per cent quota. They are also underrepresented in parliamentary bodies handling strategic issues and in their leadership ranks.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the business model for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program is safe to operate. This program is guaranteed by the State Budget (APBN), which has allocated Rp335 trillion this year.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has alleged that certain parties are deliberately pushing Indonesia into dependence on imported goods, accusing some Indonesians of acting against the country's national interests.

Prabowo made the remarks while inaugurating a Pertamina refinery in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Islamabad/Jakarta – Indonesia's defense minister met Pakistan's air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal that includes the sale of combat jets and killer drones to Jakarta, three security officials with knowledge of the meeting on Monday said.

On 6 December 2025, Jayapura Resort Police (Polres Jayapura) officers forcefully dispersed a peaceful assembly organised by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB)at the BTN Matoa Field, Sentani, Jayapura Regency.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Indonesian Educational Monitoring Network (JPPI) recorded 1,242 people becoming victims of poisoning from free nutritious meals (MBG) throughout January 2026. Cumulatively, JPPI stated that the total poisoning victims of MBG from 2025 to early 2026 reached 21,254 individuals.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – The South Sumatra Provincial Health Office is preparing to distribute 5,000 free doses of the dengue fever (DBD) vaccine to children across Palembang. This initiative aims to reduce dengue cases across the South Sumatra region.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – A total of 50 people have been confirmed to have been poisoned after consuming free nutritious meals (MBG) in Majene Regency, West Sulawesi. Based on data from the monitoring Team of the West Sulawesi Provincial Health Office, currently 40 people are receiving treatment at the local community health centers (puskesmas).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Chair of the Democratic Party's High Assembly, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), emphasized that there is only one leader in the party, which is Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). Yudhoyono, also known as SBY, conveyed this during the national Christmas celebration of the Democratic Party in Jakarta on Monday night, January 12, 2026.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Nurani Bangsa Movement (GNB) has highlighted the increasing threats to press freedom during the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. GNB member and Chair of the Indonesian Church Association (PGI) Jacky Manuputty stated that they have faced violence, terror, and threats.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Hundreds of ad hoc judges who are members of the Forum Silaturahmi Hakim Ad Hoc (FSHA) Indonesia went on strike Monday, January 12, 2026, over demand for an allowance hike.

Antara, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has begun a weather modification operation to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological disasters and extreme weather in Jakarta, following flooding that hit parts of the capital earlier this week.

Julie Wark – The patterns of genocide, or the various ways humans go about killing large groups of other humans and their attempted justifications for doing so, are so sadly predictable or systematised that, in the case of West Papua, if you take just a small sample, say the last three months, about 2.5% of 60-plus years of Indonesian mass slaughter and environmental destruction, th

Nicholas Ryan Aditya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – Reverend Jacky Manuputty, a member of the National Conscience Movement (GNB), believes that Indonesian democracy is currently facing serious challenges that have the potential to undermine its fundamental principles, particularly civil liberties, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

On 8 December 2025, police officers carried out acts of intimidation and physical violence against students during a peaceful free speech rally at the P3 Uncen Atas bus stop, Jayapura City, in the Papua province.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The new Criminal Code (KUHP), whose implementation has been met with persistent opposition due to articles deemed to undermine civil liberties, has introduced non-custodial sentences in the form of community work, aimed at providing corrective measures for criminals without placing more of a burden on Indonesia's overcrowded prison system.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) stated that it has never encountered any attempts at smuggling of fishery products through the air route. "Because the supervision at airports or air terminals is very strict," said the Director of Fisheries Resources Supervision at KKP, Halid K.

Islamabad – The development came as Indonesian Defence Minister Lieutenant General (retd) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin called on Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) admits that Indonesia still imports salmon and mackerel. There is still an insufficient quantity of salmon and mackerel in Indonesia for industry needs.

A West Papuan advocacy group has condemned Indonesia over taking up the presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council, saying it was "totally unfit" and the choice "makes a mockery" of the office.

Agencies, Nusantara, Indonesia – President Prabowo Subianto reiterated his commitment to a $32 billion project to build Indonesia's new capital city as he made his first overnight stay there as president, the government said.

Questions about the fate of the Nusantara capital city project have lingered since Prabowo took office in October 2024.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Three people died when flooding struck Cilincing, North Jakarta. Cilincing Police Chief, Adjunct Commissioner Bobi Subasri, stated that all three likely died from electric shock.

"That is correct; [we have] three victims. At this stage of the investigation, it's due to electric shock," Bobi said when confirmed on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Over 1,000 children have reportedly suffered from food poisoning after consuming free nutritious meals (MBG) in January 2026, said the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI).

Laurens Ikinia, Jakarta – The island of Papua is a land of profound paradox. Beneath its ancient, cathedral-like forests and within its mineral-rich mountains lies a narrative of staggering contrast.

It is a place where immense natural wealth exists alongside some of Indonesia's most acute human development challenges.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Ministry of Agriculture has expanded its paddy field expansion program to several regencies across Papua. The initiative is no longer concentrated solely in Merauke, but now includes West Papua, Southwest Papua, the Papua Mountains, and other surrounding regions.

Jakarta – The idea from the leaders of political parties supporting President Prabowo Subianto to return regional head elections to the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) has no firm basis. High costs are a cliche, a broken record played so many times that is easily debunked.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that several regions in Indonesia were hit by floods over the past two days. The Center for Operation Control (Pusdalops) report shows that hydrometeorological disasters occurred in Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and Java.

Andrew Mathieson – The West Papua provincial government has stressed to Jakarta any release of forest areas for palm oil plantation expansion must obtain approval from Indigenous communities, who under new protections hold customary land rights.