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.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Employers and labor unions have both voiced dissatisfaction with the government's new formula for setting minimum wages in 2026, with businesses warning that the proposed increases are too high and could push up prices, while unions say they still fall short of meeting living standards.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has accused a prosecutor from the Banten Provincial Prosecutor's Office of extorting a South Korean national who was standing trial in Indonesia, the agency said on Friday.

Jakarta – The government must not be complacent regarding the offer from a Russian company to construct a nuclear power plant (PLTN). There must be thorough preparation and careful calculations to ensure that the hope of clean and cheap electricity does not end in disaster.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday swore in six new Indonesian ambassadors to various countries, including Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir, who was appointed ambassador to Japan.

In recent days, restrictions on reporting on the disaster in Sumatra have been widespread and systematic. The pattern is clear and dangerous.

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.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – One of the world's biggest pulp and paper companies has acknowledged to Mongabay a potential breach of its no-deforestation commitment in its supply chain, raising questions about the company's attempt to regain sustainability certification under the Forest Stewardship Council.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax revenue reached Rp 1.63 quadrillion as of Nov. 30, equivalent to 78.7% of the full-year outlook of Rp 2.07 quadrillion, leaving a remaining Rp 442.5 trillion to be collected to meet this year's target.

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.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The government recently said that any assistance sent by Indonesian diaspora to the Sumatra flood victims would be tax-free as long as they follow the right procedures.

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.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – As development of Indonesia's future capital continues, nearly 150,000 people are now living in the Nusantara area, according to data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's minimum wage is set to rise by about 5% to 7% next year under a new wage-setting framework signed into law by President Prabowo Subianto, opening the way for higher provincial minimum wages (UMP) in 2026.

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.

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.

Made Supriatma – Poor advice and a seeming refusal to acknowledge the reality and scale of the problem have hampered the Indonesian president's response to the disastrous floods across Sumatra.

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:

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.

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.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia plans to position its easternmost region of Papua as a national hub for bioenergy production, part of a broader push to curb the country's heavy reliance on imported fuel and strengthen energy self-sufficiency.