Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Denpasar – Climate change is putting the future of palm oil production at risk, as extreme heat threatens the survival of Elaeidobius kamerunicus, the primary pollinating beetle for oil palm.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has highlighted the culture of land ownership in Asia which has changed significantly and fundamentally in the last 70 years. Walhi Executive Director Zenzi Suhadi said the communal ownership systems for waters and land is heading towards privatisation.

Effendi Rusli, Pekanbaru – Corruption fugitive Nader Thaher has been arrested after 19 years on the run, finally facing justice for a Rp 35.9 billion graft scandal that caused losses to state-owned Bank Mandiri, a prosecutor in Pekanbaru confirmed on Friday.

Giffar Rivana, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has indicated that Indonesia's 2026 state budget (APBN) will follow the efficiency measures implemented in 2025, with significant spending cuts across ministries and government agencies.

Riandy Laksono – The Prabowo Subianto administration begins 2025 with a massive Rp 306 trillion fiscal spending cut, representing over 8% of this year's state budget, delivered by Presidential Instruction 1/2025.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Minister of Industry, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, says the number of car owners in Indonesia is far behind its neighboring countries.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Gerindra Party openly announced that newly appointed Chair of Gerindra Party, Prabowo Subianto, will once again run for president in the 2029 general elections.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is among the institutions affected by Prabowo's budget efficiency directive. As a result, the anti-corruption agency had to relinquish a budget of Rp201 billion due to the budget cut.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak has denied claims that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) are exercising a dual function (dwifungsi) within President Prabowo Subianto's administration. He emphasized that the concept of TNI's dual function was a feature of Soeharto's era and no longer applies today.

Jakarta – It has been unsettling to see the latest developments in the House of Representatives.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto, speaking via video conference at the World Governments Summit 2025 on Thursday, February 13, claimed to have established a government based on talent and meritocracy within his first 100 days of office.

Nusantara – The National Capital Nusantara Authority is offering free land to foreign governments that establish their embassies in the new capital before 2028.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Papua representative office of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has urged the Manokwari Municipal Police (Polresta) to arrest OU immediately, the alleged perpetrator responsible for the shooting of senior advocate and human rights defender Yan Christian Warinussy with an airrifle.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, said his agency would address the Rp200.2 billion budget cut by borrowing land from various government institutions. He explained that this land will be used to build the Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPG) for the free nutritious meal program.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 8 February 2025, five Papuan students were arbitrarily arrested without an arrest warrant by plainclothes officers in Jayapura. The students were identified as Mr Frengky Anouw, Mr Nataniel Pigai, Mr Fransiskus Petege, Mr Esau Kogoya, and Mr Yosua Mote.

Jakarta – A court in Banten has handed lengthy prison terms to poachers who killed dozens of rare Javan rhinos, court rulings seen by AFP Friday showed, drawing praise from conservationists who said it would help deter lucrative wildlife crime.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently told the World Governments Summit that his government had saved up to $20 billion in state spending amid mixed reactions towards his cost-cutting measures.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of Indonesian National Police (Polri) is investigating a report from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) regarding the seawall in the waters of Bekasi.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 7 February 2025, members of the Pumako Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) special unit reportedly opened fire at a Papuan farmer, Mr Marten Anouw, in the Kapiraya District, Deiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has guaranteed that ongoing government scholarships will not be affected by the budget cuts being implemented by President Prabowo Subianto.

It is known that ministries and agencies are implementing budget cuts based on Presidential Instruction.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 12 February 2025, students from the Puncak Regency, along with an investigative team probing the murder and mutilation of Tarina Murib, attempted to hold a peaceful demonstration at the local parliament Office in Nabire, Papua Tengah Province.

New analysis indicates that Timor-Leste is at a critical juncture in its development, with the need for economic diversification increasing as the Petroleum Fund that finances much of the economy is expected to dry up by 2035. That's according to a press release from the World Bank.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Denpasar – The palm oil industry faces mounting challenges from climate change, with prolonged droughts and rising temperatures threatening yields in major producing countries.

Aep, Jakarta – Government budget cuts are dealing a severe blow to Bandung's hotel industry, with businesses reporting significant revenue losses due to cancellations of government meetings and events.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Unlike Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) and the Public Broadcasting Institution (LPP) TVRI which had terminated employment due to budget efficiency, the National News Agency (LKBN) Antara did not experience budget cuts even though they are government media.

Keith Anthony Fabro – Authorities in Indonesia have made yet another major seizure of smuggled songbirds, highlighting the persistent pressure from a trade with deep cultural roots in the country.

Muhammad Farhan, Jakarta – Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) Minister Abdul Kadir Karding, has urged young Indonesians to channel their frustrations over limited job opportunities into working abroad, responding to the rising "kabur aja dulu" (just run away first) trend on social media.

Indonesia, West Papua – Komnas HAM has condemned the use of public facilities such as schools, district offices, and churches as security posts by the Indonesian military (TNI) and police in West Papua, stating that it constitutes a human rights violation.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 29 January 2025, a student named Herlis Pakaimu died after reportedly being tortured and shot by military members in the town of Kepi, Mappi Regency, Papua Selatan Province. Two other Papuans, Mr Steven Agawemu and Mr Santos Agawemu, were allegedly tortured by the same military personnel.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has once again displayed his penchant for military figures filling strategic posts within his government with the recent appointment of Maj. Gen. Novi Helmy Prasetya as the new president director of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Jakarta – The administration of Prabowo Subianto is busy promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology as a way of mitigating climate change. But is this really to prevent a 2-degree-Celsius rise in global temperatures, or simply an excuse to maintain the dominance of industries based on fossil fuels?

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Copper and gold mining company Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) has delivered its first batch of gold bars to state-owned gold supplier Aneka Tambang (Antam), marking a major milestone in Indonesia's mining industry. The initial shipment weighed 125 kilograms and was valued at approximately Rp 207 billion ($12.7 million).

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Chair of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hidayana said the budget for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program was cut by 0.2845 percent. Initially, BGN received a budget of Rp71 trillion to realize the free nutritious meal program in 2025.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has reappointed Prabowo Subianto as chairman by acclamation during an extraordinary congress held at his private residence in Bogor on Thursday.

With this decision, President-elect Prabowo will continue to lead Gerindra until 2030.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – A Jakarta judge on Thursday rejected a pre-trial petition filed by Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), who sought to challenge his designation as a graft suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Over 4,000 Indonesians are among the millions of foreigners who have received final deportation orders in the US which is currently witnessing mass arrests against undocumented immigrants.

West Papua – On 26 January 2025, human rights activist Mrs. Tineke Rumkabu attended a worship service at the GIDI Church outpost in Biak, Papua, Indonesia. After the service, around 12:20 pm while she and other church members gathered in the compound, joint security force members arrived and began questioning Mrs Rumkabu about alleged activities related to the Free Papua movement.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Hundreds of Indonesians are facing the death penalty overseas and many of whom are on close neighbor Malaysia's death row, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry on Thursday.

Melinda Martinus – As Indonesia forges ahead with plans to become an advanced economy, an honest reckoning needs to occur, to ensure that it does not squander its vast environmental resources for short-term gain.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The Public Works (PU) Ministry has furloughed thousands of contract workers and suspended multiple infrastructure projects following a massive Rp 81.38 trillion ($5 billion) budget cut. The reductions have halted road maintenance, clean water supply expansions, and waste management programs nationwide.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto's budget cuts policy also significantly affects Indonesia's Ombudsman. The budget cut will disrupt the handling of various public complaints received by the Ombudsman.

Spoorthy Raman – Charmed by the picturesque beaches and enchanting temple complexes, millions of tourists flock each year to the tiny Indonesian island of Bali to experience its unique culture and art. When they leave, many take home a piece of Bali in the form of souvenirs, such as carvings, pottery or textiles.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense stated that the appointment of Deddy Corbuzier as a special staff to the Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has complied with official regulations.

Taufik Kelana, Banda Aceh – Newly inaugurated Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf vowed on Wednesday to repeal restrictions on the purchase of subsidized vehicle fuels imposed by state-owned energy company Pertamina.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – A diplomat representing major rice supplier Vietnam recently responded to Indonesia's plan to stop the import of its staple food, saying that Jakarta might eventually change its mind.

Agencies, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks Wednesday, signing a series of agreements to boost trade and defence ties between the Muslim-majority nations, including a joint venture to build drones.

Jakarta – Thousands of Christians in Papua recently set a national record for having the largest number of people to handwrite the entirety of the Bible.

Jakarta – The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has launched an investigation into a mass mortality event that affected thousands of fish at floating fish farms at the Jatiluhur Dam, Purwakarta Regency, West Java, over the weekend.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police are expanding their efforts to ease the city's worsening traffic congestion, particularly during rush hours, by deploying additional personnel from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the riot police unit Sabhara to support the traffic unit.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Denpasar – WWF-Indonesia is strengthening its collaboration with the Indonesian government and the palm oil industry to promote sustainable practices, Conservation Director Dewi Lestari Yani Rizki, said on the sidelines of the 7th International Conference on Oil Palm and Environment (ICOPE) in Bali on Wednesday.