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.

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.

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.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) reported that outstanding financing within the online lending industry reached Rp94.85 trillion as of November 2025. According to the regulator, online loan debt surged by 25.45 percent on an annual basis. This growth is higher compared to the 23.86 percent year-on-year increase recorded in October 2025.

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.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has reported that flooding persists across several sectors of the capital following intense rainfall over the city and its surrounding satellite areas. As of Monday, January 12, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. WIB, data indicates that 28 neighborhood units (RT) and 44 road sections have been inundated.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – Sluggish household spending has weighed on Indonesia's retail sector, with estimated growth below 5 percent in 2025, but the beauty industry continues to post solid gains and is projected to keep expanding in 2026, supported by steady demand across physical and online channels.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia and China have agreed on 16 new investment projects worth a combined $2.19 billion (Rp36.4 trillion), spanning sectors from basic metals and seafood processing to advanced technologies such as drones, batteries, and artificial intelligence.

Theology student, Mr Yoas Pigai, died following an incident involving members of the Nabire Resort Police in Nabire Town, Central Papua Province, on 28 November 2025.

Heru Andriyanto, Theressia Sunday Silalahi, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan – President Prabowo Subianto on Monday inaugurated the operation of 166 People's Schools – state-run free boarding schools for children from low-income families – across 34 provinces.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has highlighted the existence of a political dynasty in East Kalimantan. However, he asserts that he does not have any objections if siblings hold government positions within the same province.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the giant sea wall construction could potentially address two primary issues faced by the region: land subsidence and clean water. "Hopefully, President Prabowo Subianto's directive on the giant sea wall can be implemented soon," said Pramono when met in East Jakarta on Monday, January 12, 2026.

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.

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).

Tri Listiyarini, Jakarta – Businesses are unhappy with Indonesia's decision to slash the meat import quota for private companies to just 30,000 tons this year.

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.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is boasting about the free nutritious meal program (MBG) once again. According to Prabowo, his priority program has reached 58 million beneficiaries.

On 16 December 2025, Mr Ermin Dabiye, a twenty-one-year-old student from Kenyam, was reportedly killed in Kenyam District, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan province, under circumstances strongly suggesting unlawful use of lethal force by Indonesian military (TNI) personnel. The body was later found far from the victim's last known location.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Hundreds of former employees of PT Sri Rejeki Isman, the textile giant known as Sritex, staged a protest at the Semarang Commercial Court in Central Java on Monday, January 12, 2026.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – The draft law on Presidential Regulation concerning military role in combating terrorism reflects the resurgence of a New Order-style militaristic authority. This was conveyed by Andreas Budi Widyanta, a lecturer at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has urged Indonesia to emulate the nationalism of Japan and South Korea, arguing that these East Asian nations have achieved global dominance despite lacking the vast natural resource wealth found in Indonesia. According to Prabowo, their strength as modern powers stems from the patriotic spirit of their citizens.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Balikpapan, E – Kalimantan. Indonesia will stop importing diesel fuel in 2026 as output from the newly upgraded Balikpapan refinery pushes domestic supply into surplus, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia said during the refinery inauguration on Monday.

Jakarta – A torrential downpour has caused flooding in large swaths of Greater Jakarta, leading to massive traffic snarls and commuting disruption early on Monday morning, according to the Jakarta Police's Traffic Monitoring Center (TMC), which reported severe floods in North, South, East and West Jakarta.

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.

Wahroni, Jakarta – Severe weather over Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Monday disrupted flight operations, forcing dozens of aircraft to circle in the skies over Jakarta and divert to alternative airports, air traffic authorities said.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed analysis suggesting a rift within his Red and White Cabinet. He asserted that the cabinet remains solid and unified.

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.

Rhett Butler – It was 27 December 2004. I was sitting at my computer in my office in Jakarta, Indonesia, my mind busy with plans for the New Year party I had organized with friends in the city, when my phone started ringing nonstop.

Yuni Rohmawati, Jakarta – The Indonesian province of South Sumatra is in a state of narcotics emergency, with a high prevalence of drug abuse at the national level. One of the concerns for authorities is the narcotics found in the liquid of electronic cigarettes (vape). The trend of using vape in modern lifestyle has become a new gateway for drug crimes.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Indonesia's free nutritious meal project (MBG), has been running for over a year. Several problems continue to haunt the project, a result of what the civil society coalition considers poor governance.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Hundreds of ad hoc judges who are members of the Forum Silaturahmi Hakim Ad Hoc (FSHA) Indonesia are planning to go on strike for 10 days, starting tomorrow, Monday, January 12, 2026. FSHA coordinator Ade Darusalam has urged members to ensure that the strike does not disrupt court proceedings.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday convened an unscheduled meeting with several cabinet ministers at his private residence to discuss a range of strategic issues, including the development of Indonesia's semiconductor industry.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said on Sunday that the city will begin dismantling more than 100 massive concrete pillars left behind by a long-abandoned monorail project, ending a two-decade blight on several of the capital's main thoroughfares.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Bank accounts belonging to peer-to-peer lending platform Dana Syariah Indonesia remain frozen by financial authorities amid an unresolved debt default totaling Rp 1.4 trillion ($83 million) owed to thousands of creditors.

Jakarta – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) General Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri has condemned the United States military intervention in Venezuela because it seen as a serious threat to the sovereignty of sovereign nations.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Themis Indonesia opposes the idea of regional elections through the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD). According to the researcher and advocate at Themis Indonesia, Kafin Muhammad, the efficiency cited by several parties as a reason for indirect regional elections is questionable.

Gandhi Armansyah, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named three officials at the North Jakarta Tax Office as suspects following their arrest on Saturday over allegations of granting illegal tax relief to a mining company in exchange for cash and gold.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK arrested eight individuals in a sting operation in North Jakarta on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

"Confirmed, an operation in Jakarta area," said KPK Spokesperson Budi Prasetyo when confirmed by Tempo on Saturday.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – Floods and landslides have struck Tempur Village in the Keling District of Central Java's Jepara Regency on late Friday, January 9, 2026, cutting off access to a tourism village on the slopes of Mount Muria and prompting a power blackout.

Guardian staff and agencies – Indonesia temporarily blocked Elon Musk's Grok chatbot on Saturday due to the risk of AI-generated pornographic content, becoming the first country to deny access to the AI tool.

The move comes after governments, researchers and regulators from Europe to Asia have condemned and some have opened inquiries into sexualised content on the app.

Jakarta – A hospital in Bandung, West Java, has reported Indonesia's first death linked to the so-called super flu, as health authorities step up surveillance to contain the virus.

The term super flu refers to the H3N2 influenza A variant known as subclade K, which has been spreading globally since the final quarter of 2025.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesia Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) recorded 803,687 wholesale car sales units (factory-to-dealer sales) throughout 2025, dropping 7.2 percent compared to 2024 with 865,723 units.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program, known as Makan Bergizi Gratis (MBG), marked its first year on January 6, 2026.

Launched by President Prabowo Subianto's administration, the flagship initiative aims to provide daily nutritious meals to schoolchildren, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and the elderly.

Suci Amaliyah, Jakarta – One year since its launch, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program still faces serious problems. In addition to being seen as rife with conflicts of interest, the flagship government program is also considered to be eroding the education budget and potentially reducing the quality of national education.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Two Indonesian civilians have filed a judicial review of Law Number 31 of 1997 on the Military Judiciary at the Constitutional Court, arguing that the system fails to provide justice in cases involving personnel of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas as a suspect in an alleged corruption case involving the allocation of the 2024 hajj quota.

KPK Vice Chair Fitroh Rohcahyanto confirmed the decision on Friday, January 9, 2026. "It's true," Fitroh said in a brief message.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's rich cultural heritage and vast natural beauty should make it Southeast Asia's top tourism destination, but the country continues to lag behind regional rivals Thailand and Malaysia in foreign visitor numbers, according to industry leaders.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The latest consumer survey by Bank Indonesia (BI) shows rising public optimism over job availability in Indonesia, with the Job Availability Index (IKLK) strengthening in December 2025.

BI reported that the IKLK climbed to 106.5 in December, up from 103.7 in November, signaling improved perceptions of current employment opportunities.