Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has received a report regarding allegations of corruption in the issuance of the right to build certificate (HGB) and ownership rights certificate (SHM) in the waters of Tangerang, Banten, which has been sealed with a fence.

Jakarta on Friday said Frenchman Serge Atlaoui, held on death row in Indonesia for nearly two decades, is to be returned to his home country.

In recent weeks, Indonesia has freed some half a dozen high-profile detainees, including a Filipina mother who was also on death row over a drugs conviction and the remaining five members of the so-called "Bali Nine" narcotics ring.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Illegal deforestation has reportedly surged to record levels in a wildlife reserve at the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra Island that's known as the "orangutan capital of the world."

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Center for Economics and Law Studies (Celios) has raised concerns about the potential for budget leakage up to trillions of rupiah in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program if its management lacks transparency. This risk stems from several factors, including inefficient program management and opportunities for corruption.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Center for Economics and Law Studies (Celios) considers the miscoordination regarding the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) increase at the end of 2024 as one of the worst issues in the first 100 days of the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has revealed that bribery and gratification practices remain prevalent in ministries/institutions and regional governments. Based on the results of the 2024 Integrity Assessment Survey (SPI), the KPK recorded a National Integrity Index score of 71.53 points.

Jakarta – Where does America First leave the rest of the world, including Indonesia?

With Donald Trump's return to the White House earlier this week, that question is occupying the minds of policymakers around the world, especially in countries that have tied themselves very closely to the United States, whether politically, economically or both.

Victoria Wanata, Jakarta – Indonesia pitched domestic renewable and green energy investments to businesses and foreign representatives at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting running from Jan. 20 to 24 in Davos, Switzerland, saying the government had readied multiple incentives to make the potential deals worthwhile.

Aisyah Llewellyn, Jakarta – For many Indonesians, last year's disbandment of the militant group behind the 2002 Bali bombings may have come as a relief, but one convict incarcerated for his role in the twin attack fears the move increases terror threats.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The competition watchdog has fined Google Rp 202.5 billion (US$12.4 million) for engaging in monopolistic and unfair business practices related to its payment system services on Google Play Store, its software distribution platform.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Student Executive Board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) has rejected the proposal of permission for universities to manage mining, as outlined in the revision of the Mineral and Coal Mining Bill. BEM UI Chair Iqbal Cheisa Wiguna stated that such a proposal could lead to significant regression for the academic sector.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) is of the view that the work of eradicating corruption will face a very steep and uphill road.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – The feud between Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Satryo Sumantri Brodjonegoro and his staff has been resolved amicably, a senior official confirmed on Wednesday.

Jakarta – The government has set up a new task force to scale up efforts to improve forest management and curb illegal oil palm plantations and illegal mines within forest areas.

Presidential Regulation No. 5/2025, signed on Jan. 21, forms the legal basis for the task force, Tempo.co reported.

Jakarta – Trillions of rupiah channelled by Indonesia's central bank to some lawmakers under a corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme were allegedly misused, said the country's anti-graft agency.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has instructed central and regional governments to reduce spending by Rp 306.69 trillion ($18.9 billion) for the current fiscal year.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Wahyu Sakti Trenggono admitted that his KKP ministry was caught off guard by the discovery of the illegal sea fence in Tangerang, Banten. He made this admission during a hearing with Commission IV of the House of Representatives (DPR) today.

Yolanda Agne, Jakarta – Floods have wreaked havoc across several regions in Indonesia, forcing residents to evacuate and disrupting transportation. In Grobogan, two train trips were canceled due to flooding that submerged the railway tracks at KM 32+5/7, precisely between Gubug Station and Karangjati Station.

Jakarta – One by one, the hills in Central Sulawesi have disappeared. Rocks and sand have been extracted on a huge scale to build the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) in East Kalimantan and for the food estate project in Merauke, South Papua. This has made the formerly green hills in Palu Bay and Donggala pockmarked and dry.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov recently said that the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet deal with the Southeast Asian nation remained "on the table".

Mega Putri Mahadewi, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) recently released the State Officials' Wealth Report (LHKPN) for ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of institutions in President Prabowo's Red and White Cabinet. Here is a look at the top five richest ministers based on information from the LHKPN reports available on elhkpn.kpk.go.id.

Antara, Jakarta – The Industry Ministry has revealed that US technology giant Apple plans to invest approximately $200 million in an AirTag device manufacturing plant on Batam Island. This amount is significantly lower than the previously reported $1 billion investment pledge.

Jakarta – Indonesia's parliament proposed on Thursday to revise the country's mining law to help the government accelerate development of its mineral processing industry and to regulate mining permits for religious groups and for universities.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Eko Ari Wibowo, Jakarta – Deputy Chairman of the Golkar Party's Central Leadership Council, Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, hopes that for universities, managing mines can solve the budget problems commonly faced by campuses. Doli wants the management of mines by campuses to also encourage the quality of educational institutions.

Jakarta – The sprawling sea fence of unexplained origin in Tangerang, Banten, that has impeded fisherfolk's access to the sea has sparked a fierce debate about the issue of unlicensed land reclamation.

We cannot put a price tag on our waters, particularly when it is still unclear who installed the 30-kilometer bamboo barrier off Tangerang's coast and for what purpose.

Christine Tan, Singapore – A man who allegedly handed a counterfeit $10,000 note to a bank employee has been hauled to court.

On Jan 23, Indonesian Chandra Ahmadyani, 36, was handed one charge of using a counterfeit banknote. His charge sheet states that he allegedly committed the offence at noon on Dec 23, 2024, at the DBS South Bridge Branch at Hong Lim Complex.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Constitutional law expert Mahfud Md said it was not difficult to enforce the law regarding the right to build certificate (HGB) and land ownership certificate (SHM) in the sea area of Tangerang, Banten. He said that it was a violation of the law.

Wawan Kurniawan, Ilham Oktafian, Stefani Wijaya, Tangerang – The Indonesian Navy, supported by local fishermen, continued dismantling offshore bamboo barriers near Tangerang Regency on Thursday. The barriers, spanning 30 kilometers, have restricted fishing boat access and raised concerns about potential environmental damage, authorities said.

Riski Maulana, Cianjur, West Java – A high school in the West Java town of Cianjur has sparked controversy by requiring its female students to take pregnancy tests in an effort to "protect the school's reputation."

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority and the Ministry of Public Works will review the design of legislative and judicial office buildings in the new capital city project. IKN Authority Spokesperson Troy Pantouw said the review is based on President Prabowo Subianto's inputs.

Olena Wibisana, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta City Government has reimposed a local regulation designating the Malioboro tourist area as a smoke-free zone. According to this regulation, people caught smoking on Malioboro Street will face a fine of Rp 7.5 million ($461), authorities announced on Thursday.

Antara, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has set a goal for Indonesia's airports to be among the top 10 best airports in the world. The minister hopes to achieve the target in 2029, as he said during the Airport Service Optimization Coordination Meeting in Badung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) revealed that corruption is one of the problems hindering national strategic projects (PSN). ICW researcher Dewi Anggraeni said her institution recorded at least six PSN corruption cases in 2022-2024.

Trystanto Sanjaya, Rennes, France – The great Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin once said, "There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen." That quote rings pertinently in the rapid evolution of Indonesia's foreign policy today.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Police observer from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) Bambang Rukminto said that demolition alone is not enough to resolve the 30.16-kilometer sea fence problem in the waters of Tangerang, Banten. The dismantling of the sea fence was continued on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Roy Triono, West Lampung – A villager was found dead in a plantation near a national park in West Lampung Regency, Sumatra, on Tuesday, in what authorities suspect was a tiger attack.

The dismembered body of Zainudin, 28, a resident of Kegeringan Village in Batu Brak District, was discovered two days after he left home to work on his farm.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia gave a D rating to the Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration in the energy transition sector. Greenpeace assigned this rate based on their performance toward the first 100 days in office.

Fajar Fitrianto, Jakarta – Donald Trump took the stage for his second inauguration on Monday, marking the start of a renewed era of "America First" policies. This significant moment not only reinforced his commitment to reshaping America's role in global affairs but also served as a stark reminder of the protectionist agenda that characterized his first term.

Indira Rezkisari, Jakarta – Climate activist and founder of Indonesian Climate Justice Literacy, Firdaus Cahyadi, has criticised the government's plan to give mining concessions to tertiary education institutions.

Cahyadi said this shows that the political elite never stop displaying their error in thinking about the substance of natural resource management.

Pekalongan, Indonesia – The death toll from a landslide on Indonesia's main island of Java rose to 21 with five people still missing on Jan 23, officials said, as rescuers raced against time and bad weather to find survivors.

Moffat Mamu – Leader of Opposition Matthew has strongly condemned the latest murders in West Papua by the Indonesian military.

Hon Wale's call comes amidst recent media reports of Indonesian military unit that are roaming Intan Jaya Regency, slaughtering West Papuans at will. The recent killings have also included minors.

Agencies, Pekalongan, Central Java – Hundreds of rescuers were searching through thick mud and debris to find survivors Wednesday after a rain-triggered landslide in Central Java that killed at least 17 people and left nine missing.

Intense rainfall in a mountainous area near Pekalongan city sparked the landslide on Monday, collapsing bridges and burying cars and houses.

Binoy Kampmark – Bugging, in the context of intelligence, is natural for the buggee. Those who approve it and engage in such a practice, however, get riled when the favour is returned in all its rich naturalness. In the murky stock exchange of espionage, deception and surveillance, agencies are expected to lie and spy for their country.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced on Wednesday that Indonesia will no longer rely on imports for key food commodities, including rice, corn, and salt, by the end of 2025.

M Iqbal Shukri, Blora – A commemoration of "One Century of Pramoedya Ananta Toer" will be held in Blora regency, Central Java on February 6. Pram, as he is known, is a writer from Blora who produced more than 50 works. A number of Pram's literary works have been translated into 42 languages around the world.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia's special economic zones (SEZs) attracted Rp 90.1 trillion ($5.5 billion) in new investment and created 47,747 jobs last year, an official announced on Wednesday.

Yovanda Noni, Penajam Paser Utara – The government has approved a budget of Rp 48.8 trillion ($2.99 billion) for the second phase of Nusantara's development, Indonesia's new capital, for the 2025-2029 period. This marks a significant reduction from the Rp 89 trillion allocated for the first phase in 2022-2024.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – Two police officers in Bali are under investigation after allegedly charging a Colombian tourist, identified as SGH, Rp 200,000 ($13) in exchange for filing a loss report for her stolen iPhone 14.

Jakarta – Nine organizations will commemorate a century of Pramoedya Ananta Toer at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural centre in Jakarta on Saturday February 8.

Jakarta – The recent increase in the state pension age has caused controversy, with people accusing the government of delaying payouts to save money in the state budget.