Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia has recorded a historically low poverty rate, according to the latest survey conducted by Statistics Indonesia (BPS), but inequality has worsened slightly and remains particularly high in Jakarta.

Jakarta – The mysterious appearance of a makeshift bamboo fence spanning 30 kilometers in the coastal waters off Tangerang, Banten, has increasingly raised eyebrows since the beginning of the year.

Jakarta – A tiger has attacked livestock in Indra Makmur district, East Aceh regency, Aceh, marking the third such incident in the past month in the regency.

The latest attack occurred on Thursday and involved a cow belonging to a farmer named Zakaria.

Michaela Guo Ying Lo, Jatna Supriatna dan Matthew Struebig (The Conversation) – Indonesia has produced nearly four times the amount of nickel in recent years compared to a decade earlier, following the global push for a low-carbon revolution that drove mining for minerals essential to electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies and stainless steel production.

Jakarta – The increase in value-added tax on luxury goods from 11 percent to 12 percent shows the arbitrary way that the administration of Prabowo Subianto produces policy. He and the Finance Ministry have improperly circumvented the provisions of the law for populist reasons.

Jakarta – Thousands of people declined on Thursday a government-led evacuation in North Maluku where a volcano has been spewing smoke and ash, arguing that they are accustomed to the eruptions.

Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera, erupted on Wednesday, sending a column of smoke up to four kilometres (2.5 miles) into the sky.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said on Thursday that while he welcomed public participation in financing his signature free meals program for students, he would not accept zakat, Muslim alms, money to pay for the initiative.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, S. Dian Andryanto, Jakarta – Kamisan (Thursday) actions have entered their 18th year. For 18 years, the demands for justice have continued to be voiced by families of victims of human rights violations (HAM) and humanitarian activists every Thursday in front of the State Palace in Jakarta.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia aims to exceed the World Bank's 2025 growth projection of 5.1 percent, targeting 5.2 percent by boosting domestic consumption and encouraging local investment, according to Chief Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Devy Ernis, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto emphasized to all levels of the government that they should work and manage the budget efficiently.

Jakarta – Budi Arie Setiadi, the leader of Projo, the largest group of supporters of Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, has rejected speculation that in a meeting with Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X, the former president asked the Yogyakarta governor to broker a meeting with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chair Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Hanif Musyaffa, Tangerang – The Indonesian government aims to deploy 425,000 migrant workers to foreign countries in 2025, with plans to expand their destinations to European nations, a senior official announced on Friday.

Jakarta – Indonesia welcomed a recent ruling by the World Trade Organization or WTO on a palm oil-based lawsuit against the European Union (EU).

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The European Union (EU) announced plans to revise its biofuel policies after the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that parts of its Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) unfairly discriminated against Indonesia's palm oil exports.

Jayapura – The sudden occupation of forest areas and villages of indigenous peoples by the massive deployment of military units in the Indonesian region of Papua is becoming a constant that marks the life of an entire region with its human and natural heritage.

Church officials in Indonesia have rejected Indonesian security forces' claims of normalcy in a conflict zone in Papua, expressing concerns about the situation of displaced people and their safety.

The Church leaders said the security situation in the five villages in Oksop district is not yet normal, according to reports from pastoral officers of the Church in the field.

Sally Brooks and Natasya Salim – A university student was getting ready for church on Christmas Eve in Indonesia when a man snuck into her apartment to carry out an attack that would scar her for life.

As she stepped out of the shower with a towel around her torso, the man allegedly poured acid over her face and body.

Jakarta - The saying that there is no perfect crime is both a belief and the slogan of the police when investigating cases. But the National Police (Polri) headquarters is increasingly perfecting the chain of crimes committed by its own members.

Bangkok – Prabowo S. Djojohadikusumo took office as Indonesia's president in October 2024 after winning the February election, raising human rights concerns because of his abusive record in the military, Human Rights Watch said in its World Report 2025 (https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025).

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Chair of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan was offended by the World Bank's statement saying that Indonesia was one of the worst countries in collecting taxes. This was conveyed by the World Bank to Luhut when he visited the DEN Office three weeks ago.

Jakarta – The Mutual Assistance Consultative Organization (MKGR), one of the founding organizations of Golkar Party, has opened its membership doors to former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his eldest son Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, according to MKGR chair Adies Kadir.

Jakarta – Hundreds of islanders have been evacuated, with thousands more awaiting their turn following increased volcanic eruptions in North Maluku, officials said on Thursday.

Mount Ibu, located on the remote island of Halmahera, erupted on Wednesday, sending a column of smoke up to four kilometres (2.5 miles) into the sky.

Jakarta – Car sales have been plummeting in Indonesia lately, but maybe that is not all bad news.

Figures presented by the Indonesian Automotive Manufacturers Association (Gaikindo) earlier this week show that 14 percent fewer new cars were sold from factories to dealers in 2024 than in 2023, and 2023 had already marked a decline from 2022.

Pujud Andriastanto, Purbalingga – Sumanto, infamously known as the "Hannibal Lecter of Java," has turned into a rising social media content creator known for his unique and entertaining videos that often carry motivational messages.

Vinnilya, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia's (BI) decision to cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.75 percent has raised concerns among economists about its impact on the exchange rate of the rupiah.

Antara, Jakarta – The government is nudging more state-owned enterprises or SOEs to go public.

At present, there are dozens of SOEs, including the state-run bank BNI and telco giant Telkom, that already have their shares listed at the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). SOE Minister Erick Thohir recently nudged state-run enterprises to hold their initial public offering (IPO).

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia is gearing up to establish a special economic zone (SEZ) dedicated to semiconductor chip development in partnership with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java, senior economic advisor Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced on Wednesday.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) is reviewing complaints from online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers against application fees. The drivers claimed to have received deductions of up to 30 percent.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Indonesian Capital Authority (OIKN) continues its investment target of Rp100 trillion in 2025 for the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Previously, the Authority targeted Rp100 trillion in 2024, but the value realized at that time was only Rp58 trillion.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has officially adopted a global minimum tax rate of 15 percent to foster a healthier and more competitive investment climate, a senior official announced on Thursday.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday called for increased private sector involvement in Indonesia's infrastructure development, signaling a shift from the state-owned enterprises' dominance under the previous administration of President Joko Widodo.

Fika Nurul Ulya, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – The Denny JA Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) is recommending that the nomination limit or threshold in the election of regional heads (Pilkada) also be abolished as it was for presidential elections (Pilpres).

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday called for stronger collaboration between businesses and the government to achieve an ambitious economic growth target of 8 percent, as he welcomed the new leadership of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin).

Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Jakarta – Firefighters recovered four bodies from Glodok Plaza shopping center in West Jakarta on Thursday after a massive fire engulfed the upper floors of the building the night before.

Initial reports indicated that at least eight people were missing following the incident.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Anindya Novyan Bakrie, the president and CEO of the Bakrie Group, was officially inaugurated on Thursday as chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the country's most influential business lobbying group. His appointment follows a brief internal dispute but ultimately emerged unopposed.

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, a former Army general, won the presidential election in February 2024. Prabowo was implicated in grave rights violations while he was in military service that had led to his dismissal. His running mate, Gibran Raka, is the eldest son of outgoing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

Sabrina Mutiara Fitri, Ihsanuddin, Semarang – Exactly 18 years since the first Kamisan (Thursday) action was held, dozens of activists have again taken to the streets to fight for justice for victims of human rights violations.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Nurhadi, Jakarta – This year, Kamisan (Thursday) actions have entered their 18th year. The actions, which are held every Thursday in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta, have consistently demanded that the state resolve cases of gross human rights violations in Indonesia.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 28 November 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in Parim Village, Serambakon District, Pegunungan Bintang Regency, when Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel killed Mr Methodius Uropmabin, 28, and Mr Nerius Oktemka, 25.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) urges the government to consider the use of e-voting for the next election as part of the solution to address some persisting cases of human rights violations during the general elections.

Rachel Farahdiba Regar, Jakarta – A researcher at the Center for Law and Social Justice Studies (LSJ) of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and a member of the Collective for Critical Legal Studies (Colleges), Markus Togar Wijaya, believes that human rights enforcement in Indonesia under the Prabowo Subianto government is merely rhetorical.

Wahroni, Jakarta – Housing Minister Maruarar Sirait announced plans to use land confiscated in corruption cases as a resource for the government's 3 Million Houses Program.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is planning to send elected regional heads, including governor-elects, on a retreat – similar to what his ministers went on at the start of their term.

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Zacharias Wuragil, Batam – The Riau chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) regrets the move by the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam) which is allegedly involving the TNI (Indonesian Military) in pushing through the Rempang Eco City National Strategic Project (PSN).

Rania Teguh – On the eve of a long-anticipated increase in Indonesia's value added tax (VAT) rate from 11 to 12 per cent, President Prabowo Subianto abruptly decided to revise the hike, announcing that it would apply only to luxury goods.

New vehicle sales in Indonesia declined by 6% to 79,806 units in December 2024 from 85,284 units a year earlier, according to wholesale data compiled by the local automotive industry association Gaikindo. Last month's sales came up against already weak year-earlier volumes, after the strong rebound from the pandemic lows had fizzled out last year.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Judge Rudi Suparmono has been accused of accepting bribes from the defense team of a defendant who fatally assaulted his girlfriend while serving as the chairman of the Surabaya District Court, a senior prosecutor revealed on Wednesday.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The percentage of Indonesia's population living in poverty decreased to 8.57 percent in September 2024, a decline of 0.46 percentage points compared to March 2024 and a 0.79 percentage point decrease from the same month in 2023.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded a trade surplus of $2.24 billion in December 2024, though the surplus decreased by 48.7 percent from the previous month and contracted by 31.9 percent compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Jakarta – A volcano located in Halmahera erupted on Wednesday morning spewing a four-km (2.5-mile) high ash cloud, forcing authorities to raise the alert level in surrounding areas to the highest, officials said.