Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's Constitutional Court has partially granted a judicial review petition against the 1999 Press Law, ruling that journalists cannot be directly subjected to criminal or civil prosecution without first going through dispute-resolution mechanisms under the Press Law, including the Press Council.

Karina Tehusijarana, Jakarta – One might expect the recent police report filed against popular Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono for his Netflix special Mens Rea to make other Indonesian comedians think twice about tackling sensitive topics in their routines.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has inaugurated the operations of 166 Sekolah Rakyat schools nationwide at the start of 2026, with state spending reaching Rp 6.6 trillion ($390.02 million) as of last year.

The flood and landslide disasters that hit Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra starting on November 25, 2025, killed 1,190 and left 141 people still missing as of January 17.

In addition to this, more than 40 days since the disaster struck, there are around 131 thousand people still living in refugee camps.

Chesa Andini Saputra, Dede Adhitama, Jakarta – Prolonged heavy rainfall over the past two days has caused flooding in parts of Jakarta and disrupted train services along the northern corridor of Java, prompting dozens of cancellations on Sunday.

Mila Novita, Jakarta – Bali in Indonesia was ranked number one as the world's best tourist destination in 2026 in TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations List. This marks the highest position Bali has ever achieved in the history of TripAdvisor's rankings.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Heavy rains that poured down on Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday, January 18, 2026, caused flooding in several areas. The Head of the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Data and Information Center, Mohamad Yohan, stated that as of 7:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), 16 neighborhood units (RTs) and 10 roads were affected.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Several areas and roads in Jakarta were once again submerged in floodwaters on Sunday morning, January 18, 2026. The current cause of the flooding is persistent rain from Saturday evening to Sunday morning.

Jakarta – Authorities said on Sunday they had located the wreckage of a fisheries surveillance plane that went missing in South Sulawesi province near a fog-covered mountain, but were still searching for the 10 people on board.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) claims to have shot down a Hercules aircraft passing through the Yahukimo region of the Highland Papua.

Nida Sahara, Jakarta – Buy now, pay later (BNPL) services are increasingly becoming a preferred payment option for Indonesian consumers, offering flexible installment payments without disrupting cash flow, according to data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police are now using 40 handheld electronic traffic law enforcement devices to crack down on traffic violators. The device, named the Electronic Traffic Law Enforcement (ETLE) Handheld Presisi, is intended to enhance the effectiveness of ticketing in urban areas.

Nabire, Jubi – Jubi's CEO, Victor Mambor, urged Papuan journalists to become key players in covering major issues in Papua, rather than merely being spectators while media from outside Papua dominates.

Indah Ayu Pujiastuti, Jakarta – Indonesia's ambitious target to sell 2 million new cars annually by 2030 has drawn mixed reactions, with economists and researchers questioning its feasibility while industry leaders argue the goal remains achievable with the right policy support.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Vice-Chair of the Macro-Micro Economic Policy Analysis at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Indonesia, Aviliani, believes there needs to be an evaluation of the reduction of transfers to regions (TKD) policy. This policy is considered to have the potential to affect regional economic growth.

Aep Sopandi, Bandung – Indonesia's Ministry of Environment has filed civil lawsuits against six companies accused of causing environmental damage linked to severe flooding and landslides in Sumatra, seeking compensation of Rp 4.8 trillion ($283.9 million), the government said.

A'an Suryana – The government has launched an ambitious plan to improve the experience for Indonesian haj pilgrims. The question is whether worldly rewards might compromise the holiness and rightfulness of the mission.

Sesilia Ayu Febriani, Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Jakarta – Foreign investors posted a net outflow of Rp 7.71 trillion ($455.6 million) from Indonesia's financial markets in the second week of January, driven by sales of government bonds, even as equities saw inflows and the rupiah showed modest stability.

Jakarta – An Indonesian court found a woman guilty of incitement on Jan. 15 over social media posts during nationwide protests, with activists saying hundreds of others are on trial on charges related to last year's unrest.

Nadhifa Azkiya Hurin – "Long live the victims, don't be silent, fight!". A phrase that is presented at every Kamisan (Thursday) action in various different cities across Indonesia.

The phrase is not just a rallying cry, but rather a deep breath of resistance that is maintained so that memories do not fade and promises of justice continue to be met.

On 2 January 2026, Indonesia enacted its new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), prompting a coalition of civil society organizations to declare an "Indonesian legal emergency." The new laws, which replace Dutch colonial-era criminal legislation, have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts, human rights defenders, and historians.

Basten Gokkon – When Indonesia designated Flores a "geothermal island" in 2017, identifying up to 21 geothermal sites, the policy was framed as a cornerstone of the country's renewable energy transition. Backed by international lenders and enshrined as a "national strategic project," Flores was positioned as a global showcase for clean energy.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Experts have called for a change in thinking among business leaders and regulators after Indonesia dropped sharply in a global cybersecurity ranking, warning that the country's digital economy is at risk.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Aksi Kamisan has continued for 19 years. The demonstration, held weekly in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, reaches its 19th anniversary on January 18, 2026.

Sahat Simatupang, Jakarta – Fifty days after the ecological disaster in Sumatra, recovery is not progressing significantly. Law enforcement against corporations suspected of damaging ecological infrastructure has not shown a deterrent effect.

Hanifah Salsabila, David Oliver Purba, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid believes that Laras Faizati's probationary sentence of one year of supervision is the same as imprisonment without bars.

We, the undersigned organisations, collectives, and individuals across the world, express our deep concern regarding the prosecution of Laras Faizati, a young Indonesian woman and dedicated worker supporting her family, who is currently standing trial at the South Jakarta District Court for her social-media expression following the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan during

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's government has confirmed that the Draft Law on Countering Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda is still in the discussion stage and has not yet been formally drafted.

State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi emphasized that the plan remains a discourse rather than concrete legislation.

On 31 December 2025, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel stationed at the Aisa Military Post reportedly ill-treated an elderly man named Mr Markus Sahbuku in the Sahbuku Village, East Aifat District, Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua Province..

Fadli, Batam – An Indonesian migrant worker from South Sulawesi, identified only as MRI, has escaped the death penalty after a six-year legal battle over an alleged 2020 murder.

The release was a result of cooperation among the protection task force at the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and law firm Gooi and Azura.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia Climate and Energy Campaign Manager Iqbal Damanik on Wednesday submitted evidence of an alleged intimidation campaign to Indonesia's National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), including a decapitated chicken carcass and a written threat sent to his home.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) has warned that child grooming and sexual violence against children remain serious threats.

Minister Arifatul Choiri Fauzi said perpetrators often manipulate children in subtle and hidden ways.

Shaan Amin – Prejudice against queer people in Indonesia is on the rise in many forms.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Research funding during Prabowo's administration has increased up to 218 percent, said Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie.

"This is a significant raise," said Stella on Thursday, January 15, as it occurred in the first year of Prabowo's presidency.

Wahroni, Tangerang, Banten – The Tangerang City administration, on the outskirts of Jakarta, is planning to revise two long-standing local bylaws that strictly ban prostitution and the sale of alcoholic beverages, reopening a sensitive debate over morality, zoning and local revenue in one of Indonesia's most populous urban areas.

Johnny Blades – Indonesia's vice-president cancelled a visit in West Papua after a shooting attack on an aircraft in the area.

Gibran Rakabuming Raka was scheduled to land in Papua's Yahukimo regency yesterday, but changed plans following reports that Papuan militants shot at a plane the day before.

Antara, Jakarta – Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios), identified factors that will increase pressure on consumer purchasing power this year in Indonesia. He believes the lack of formal employment or job opportunities is one factor putting pressure on people's purchasing power.

On 9 January 2026, Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained six Indigenous Papuans in Dekai District, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua province. At least three of them were subjected to torture during interrogation. All victims are Indigenous Papuans and civilians.

Indonesian military (TNI) personnel arbitrarily detained five indigenous Papuans after returning from Sunday worship at a church in Jampul Village, West Beoga District, Puncak Regency, on 4 January 2026.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), Indonesia's state-owned mining companies, has responded to circulating reports and social media videos claiming an explosion at its Pongkor gold mine in West Java and that hundreds of workers were trapped inside.

The company confirmed that the information is false.

Putri Maharani Kristiana, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Sugiono highlighted ten of Indonesia's recent successes in international diplomacy, including its election as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for 2026.

Prasetyo said that the government is currently developing strategies to fulfill the need for doctors.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has requested PT Nestle Indonesia to temporarily halt distributing and importing S-26 Promil Gold pHPro 1 baby formula with batch numbers 51530017C2 and 51540017A1.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has criticized the government's proposed Bill on the Prevention of Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda, saying it contradicts the 1945 Constitution.

YLBHI warned that the bill could curtail the freedom of expression guaranteed under Articles 28E and 28F.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia will need nearly Rp 60 trillion ($3.55 billion) to rehabilitate damaged infrastructure and rebuild almost 239,000 homes following flash floods in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra last November, the government said.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has scrapped a plan to retire a major coal-fired power plant, after having promised for years to do so.

Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is asking that discussion on the Draft Law (RUU) on Countering Disinformation and Foreign Propaganda be stopped.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Executive Director of Parameter Politik Indonesia, Adi Prayitno, predicts that the issues of extending the president's term and the president being elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) will emerge during the era of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto gathered academics at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Prabowo will deliver a briefing to them at the event, which will take place this morning.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – An analyst said Thursday that Indonesia should think twice about joining the Gaza security force that US President Donald Trump had pitched, citing concerns over Jakarta being the "face of new colonialism" in the war-torn enclave.