Larissa Huda, Jakarta – The first court hearing of three activists accused of inciting the August 2025 demonstrations was marked by symbolic action.

Lokataru Foundation Director Delpedro Marhaen gave pink roses to the public prosecutor and the panel of judges during the hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday December 16.

Adi Abidin – In the pantheon of Southeast Asia's strongmen, Soeharto and Rodrigo Duterte occupy adjoining pedestals – both built on fear and polished by the rhetoric of 'order.' Each promised to rescue their nation from chaos, and each delivered that promise through killings.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Disaster-handling across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra is entering its third week. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll from the floods and landslides that devastated the region has exceeded 1,000 people.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office has released a list of 23 companies accused of having a hand in causing ecological disasters across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Maria Gabrielle Putrinda, Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers will deploy 1,035 Indonesian migrant workers overseas this week, coinciding with the commemoration of International Migrants Day on December 18.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto is urging the expansion of oil palm cultivation in Papua as a means to produce alternative fuel to replace hydrocarbon-based energy.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf has once again received international assistance to cope with the devastating floods and landslides in his region. On Monday night, Muzakir personally welcomed foreign aid in the form of basic necessities donated by the multinational energy company, Upland Resources.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – A fire tore through Jakarta's largest wholesale market, Kramat Jati, in East Jakarta, on Monday morning, destroying hundreds of stalls and prompting Governor Pramono Anung to order a thorough investigation amid renewed scrutiny of the capital's fire-safety standards.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy has remained resilient despite rising global uncertainty, but persistent weaknesses in job quality and household purchasing power threaten the durability of growth, the World Bank said in its latest Indonesia Economic Prospects report released on Tuesday.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto convened regional leaders from Papua, Papuan community figures, and members of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development for Papua at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Jakarta – The birth of investment management agency (BPI) Daya Anagata Nusantara, or Danantara, during Prabowo's administration, has drawn sharp scrutiny. Various parties have raised concerns about the governance and accountability of the agency that manages over US$900 billion in assets.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto admitted to being contacted by several other world leaders to assist in the handling of the Sumatra disaster. The Head of State expressed gratitude for the offers. However, Prabowo feels that the Indonesian government is capable of addressing this disaster.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto urged the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) to increase the number of operational Nutritional Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) in Papua to 2,500 by August 17, 2026, to serve Free Nutritious Meals (MBG).

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) has rejected the Draft Government Regulation on Wages, which will serve as the basis for determining the 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP).

The government is scheduled to announce the UMP provisions on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.

Jakarta – The period of Suhartoyo's leadership may be called the Constitutional Court's redemption. The justices, guardians of the constitution, have issued normative, progressive rulings in various judicial reviews of laws.

Mamay Sukaesih, Jakarta – The government has introduced a variety of fiscal incentive policies to support the property sector in 2025, one of which involves the government bearing the value-added tax (VAT) that homebuyers would otherwise pay.

Jakarta – The renewed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia along their common border this past week has again exposed ASEAN's impotence when it comes to dealing with serious threats to the peace and stability of Southeast Asia.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Army (TNI) has confirmed an incident involving an attack on the soldiers of the Combat Engineer Battalion 6 of the Division Unit during a training session in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The incident involved 15 foreign nationals from Beijing, China.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – The Tourism Ministry has admitted that its ambition to spread tourist arrivals beyond Jakarta and Bali to 10 priority destinations, known as the "10 New Balis" program, is falling short.

Antara, Denpasar – Flooding has affected five of Bali's nine regencies and cities since last week as heavy rain and strong winds linked to tropical cyclone system 93S continue to batter the island, the provincial disaster mitigation agency said on Tuesday.

Rizal Harahap, Jakarta – Police in Meranti Islands, Riau, have arrested a recruiter of illegal migrant workers after one of his victims filed a police report following the latter's repatriation from Malaysia, the worker also claimed his wages had not been paid.

The report was filed by Surya Hafandi, a resident of Bokor village in Meranti Islands regency, on Dec. 5.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has alluded to foreign parties who dislike Indonesia being a strong nation.

This was conveyed by Prabowo when he asserted that Indonesia was capable of handling the disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Rhett Butler – Indonesia's government has been at pains to stress that the recent catastrophe in Sumatra was triggered by a rare meteorological event. Cyclone Senyar formed in the Malacca Strait, an area where the national weather agency notes such storms are "an extremely rare phenomenon," before unloading torrents of rain on Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Law Enforcement Agency for Forestry in the Kalimantan Region, together with the Conservation and Natural Resources Agency (BKSDA) of East Kalimantan and the Denpom VI/1-4 Military Police in Penajam Paser Utara, have taken action against four heavy excavator units and one truck that were found conducting unauthorized coal mining activities within the Telu

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Head of the Economic Division at PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, David Sumual, stated that the Sumatra floods caused a 0.31 percent decrease in spending, equivalent to Rp18.58 trillion of the gross domestic product in the fourth quarter of 2025. The condition arose because the purchasing power of flood-affected communities decreased automatically.

Esti Utami – The Civil Society Coalition Against Impunity has condemned the launch of the latest edition of the Indonesian National History book, which was released on Sunday December 14.

Jakarta – As of the third quarter of this year, domestic consumption contributes more than half of Indonesia's economic growth. Although all appears well, this figure reflects a fragile economy: the long-established middle class is spending money to relieve the pressures of life.

Cut Mery, Banda Aceh – The Aceh provincial government has formally requested assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) to support post-disaster recovery efforts following deadly floods and landslides in the province.

Basten Gokkon – Conservation officials have announced the death the first Javan rhino ever translocated as part of Indonesia's conservation program, marking a setback for efforts to protect the critically endangered species.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia announced Indonesia's foreign debt position in October 2025 amounted to US$423.9 billion or Rp7,062 trillion (with an exchange rate of Rp16,659 per U.S. dollar on Monday, December 15, 2025). This figure decreased from the previous month's position of US$425.6 billion. Indonesia's foreign debt grew by 0.3 percent annually.

Mele Tuuakitau – As a small island state in the Pacific, Tonga is the only remaining Kingdom that has never been colonized in the region, valuing sovereignty and self-determination which are principles that could shape a moral stance for West Papua.

Jakarta – It is time for Jakartans to stop waiting. We can no longer afford to merely complain about the slow pace of the city administration's actions to reduce pollution in this choking megapolis: We must be proactive in creating cleaner air ourselves.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's recent visit to Aceh Tamiang on December 12 was marked by an apology to the public regarding the electricity network which has yet to be restored.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – On any given weekday, Jakarta's commuter trains echo with familiar reminders to safeguard wallets, phones and other valuables. But recent videos circulating on social media show that one more item has now joined the list: a tumbler.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Solo, Central Java – The squat, one-storey school building near the Bengawan Solo (Solo River) appears unremarkable from the outside. Inside, rows of bunk beds line former classrooms, the blackboards and chalk replaced with simple shelves and medicine boxes.

Aditya Budiman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Environment has pointed to poor environmental management as a key factor behind recent floods and landslides in North Sumatra, summoning eight companies operating in the region for clarification.

The Civil Society Coalition Against Impunity condemns the launch of the latest edition of the book "The National History of Indonesia" that was launched on Sunday December 14.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto said the presence of central government agencies in responding to the Sumatra disaster is widely seen by the public as a direct reflection of his leadership, adding that any shortcomings in disaster management ultimately fall under his responsibility.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – A major global forestry certification body is under scrutiny for endorsing one of Indonesia's largest recent deforesters, raising concerns that consumers may be misled about the origins of the wood products they buy.

Aceh – In order to accelerate dealing with victims, restoring infrastructure and opening access to international humanitarian aid in a coordinated and accountable manner, Acehnese Islamic clerics (Ulama) are asking President Prabowo Subianto to declare a national disaster in the three provinces affected by floods and landslides in Sumatra, namely Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra

Muawwan Daelami, Jakarta – Sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia announced on Sunday that it has acquired hotel and real estate assets in Thakher City, an integrated development located about 2.5 kilometers from the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The disaster situation in several regions in Indonesia has once again highlighted the high risk of sexual violence against women in evacuation centers. Women, children, and the elderly are considered the most vulnerable in emergency conditions, while non-physical risks such as sexual violence often go unnoticed in disaster response priorities.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Culture has designated December 14 as National History Day. The History Day launch took place at the Plaza Insan Berprestasi in Jakarta today.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has evacuated the body of someone believed to be a female foreign national victim of the flood in Tibubeneng, Badung Regency, Denpasar, Bali.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, launched the book series Sejarah Indonesia: Dinamika Kebangsaan dalam Arus Global (History of Indonesia: National Dynamics in the Global Flow) at Plaza Insan Berprestasi in Jakarta, on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Senior Director of Business Performance and Asset Optimization of the Investment Management Agency Danantara Indonesia Bhimo Aryanto speaks out about the state-owned enterprises (BUMN) business merger process. He ensures that there will be no layoffs during the merger process of these state-owned companies.

Jakarta – Indonesia is continuing large-scale reconstruction efforts across Sumatra after devastating flash floods and landslides killed more than 1,000 people and displaced tens of thousands over the past two weeks, authorities said on Sunday.

Naomi Lyandra, Jakarta – Three weeks after the hydrometeorological disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, the Civil Society Coalition believes the government's response has been suboptimal because it has failed to declare a national disaster.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has vowed a stringent crackdown on all illegal logging activities following the devastating disaster in Sumatra.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian immigration authorities have deported British adult film actress and OnlyFans personality Tia Emma Billinger, widely known as Bonnie Blue, for violating immigration rules and traffic laws during her stay in Bali.