Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Jakarta – Indonesia has long been mentioned as having great potential for rare earth metals. The material useful for the production of electric vehicle batteries is scattered from Sumatra to Papua. Is that true?

Ananda Teresia and Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – Indonesia may start negotiations to buy four more units of Airbus' A400M military aircraft, President Prabowo Subianto said on Wednesday, as the country continues to revamp its aging military through a string of hardware deals.

Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Authority has reported that illegal farming and mining have damaged over 13,000 hectares of forest area in the country's new capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan fueling growing concerns about the city's long-term viability.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) began construction on supporting areas for legislative and judicial offices in IKN in October 2025.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa tries to ease concerns that Indonesia's new capital Nusantara could become a "ghost city," saying the massive East Kalimantan development remains firmly on track and is backed by binding medium-term state planning.

An Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) air-and-ground operation in Yigemili Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, on 05 October 2025, allegedly resulted in the enforced disappearance of two civilians named Mr Yoban Kine Wenda, 60, and Mr Wiringga Walia Wenda, 23.

Irfan Amin, Fransiskus Adryanto Pratama – The Civil Society Coalition together with the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) held a demonstration at the South Jakarta District Court on Monday November 3.

The demonstration was a form of support for Tempo which is being sued in a civil lawsuit by Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia saw a decline in air passenger numbers in September 2025, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics Pudji Ismartini reported that the decrease was observed at several major airports, including Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta and I Gusti Ngurah Rai in Bali.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia booked another trade surplus in September 2025 at $4.34 billion, extending its winning streak to 64 consecutive months since May 2020, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) on Monday.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Pertamina Patra Niaga Central Java Region (JBT) urges the Indonesian public to be more cautious about the circulation of fake LPG cylinders. This follows the exposure of cases of falsification and misuse of subsidized LPG in the Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto ordered the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to increase the number of health battalions, to assist in disaster handling and overseas humanitarian crises.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Monday that its nine-month palm oil export value had skyrocketed by around 32 percent amidst an uptrend in price.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Residents living around the Rorotan RDF waste processing facility in Jakarta are planning to demonstrate on November 10, 2025. They are demanding that the project be halted due to the foul odor and air pollution it produces.

Gembong Hanung, Cikande – More than a dozen households in a hamlet in Cikande district, Serang regency, Banten are anxious and confused following the discovery of radioactive materials in an industrial complex close to their home, as the incident seems elusive but has troubled their economy and may pose health risks.

Amelia Rahima Sari, Jakarta – Indonesia's Civil Society Coalition held a demonstration in front of the South Jakarta District Court today to support Tempo in the lawsuit filed by Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman over the motion graphic in Tempo's daily edition of May 16, 2025, titled 'Poles-Poles Beras Busuk' (Polishing Rotten Rice).

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia's inflation edged higher in October 2025, mainly driven by rising jewelry prices, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported on Monday.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been ranked 15th in The Muslim 500: The World's 500 Most Influential Muslims for the year 2026.

The listing, compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre (RISSC), places Prabowo's ranking below Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud (Prince MBS) of Saudi Arabia.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA) has rejected the proposal to name Indonesia's second president Suharto a national hero.

Jayapura – The trial of four Papuan political prisoners (tapol) at the Makassar District Court in South Sulawesi has been sharply criticised by the West Papua National Committee's (KNPB) Indonesian Consulate in the Makassar region.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Sad news has come from the Surakarta Hadiningrat Palace. The king of Surakarta Palace, Sri Susuhunan Pakubuwana XIII, passed away at the age of 77 on Sunday morning, November 2, 2025 at 07:30 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time) at Indriati Solo Baru Hospital, Grogol District, Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Army plans to establish 750 combat battalions across strategic and conflict-prone regions, including border areas, by 2029 as part of a broader effort to strengthen national defense.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police has uncovered an extensive case of illegal sand mining within the Mount Merapi National Park. The area damaged by this illicit activity reached 312 hectares, or nearly five percent of the park's total area of 6,607 hectares.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) has warned that the surge of illegally imported second-hand clothing is inflicting serious damage on the country's labor-intensive textile sector, with more than half a million workers already affected.

The proposal to name former president Suharto a national hero is a policy that is blind to history and defies the law. During his 32 years in power, Suharto ruled over an authoritarian and corrupt regime, with a record of gross human rights violations.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The families of Muhammad Farhan Hamid and Reno Syahputradewo have undergone deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing following the discovery of two human skeletons on the second floor of the Astra Credit Companies (ACC) building in Kwitang, Senen Sub-district, Central Jakarta.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Investigation into alleged corruption of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train project, or Whoosh, is a test for Indonesian anti-graft agency KPK, said former senior investigator Praswad Nugraha.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently revealed that Indonesia would back the proposed Gaza international stabilization force.

Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) – A soldier testified about the inhuman treatment and torture he suffered with a fellow soldier which led to the death of his friend, on accusations that they both were involved in LGBT relationships.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto attributes artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology as key to poverty eradication and strengthen food resilience.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Coordinator of the Advocacy Field for the Association of Education and Teachers (P2G), Iman Zanatul Haeri, criticized the policy of increasing incentives for honorary teachers in Indonesia by only Rp100,000 per month.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Human Rights speaks out about the mass poisoning incident experienced by students after consuming the free nutritious meal (MBG). Until now, the number of students affected by the poisoning continues to rise.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The planned Gilimanuk – Mengwi toll road project in Bali has failed to draw investor interest, causing repeated delays, Public Works and Housing Minister Dody Hanggodo said on Friday.

Thresa Sandra Desfika, Jakarta – Cigarette manufacturer Gudang Garam recorded a net profit of Rp 1.1 trillion ($66.2 million) in the January-September 2025 period, marking an 11.8 percent increase from Rp 992.2 billion in the same period last year.

Kyaw Win – As leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Kuala Lumpur for their biennial summit over the weekend, they formally admitted Timor-Leste into the bloc, marking the first expansion of its membership since 1999.

This 12-page document outlines cases and developments, including human rights violations and their patterns, the escalation of armed conflict and its impact on civilians, significant political shifts in Indonesia affecting West Papua, and international responses and initiatives. It covers the period from 1 July to 30 September 2025.

Human rights

Irfandi, Makassar – Indonesia's divorce rate is climbing fast – and it's starting to worry the government. Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar said the country is now in a "warning zone," urging couples to take family stability more seriously.

Mila Novita, Jakarta – The construction of a glass elevator in Nusa Penida, Bali, has sparked controversy. The elevator at Kelingking Beach was built to make it easier for visitors to reach the beach, but it has also damaged the scenery. Furthermore, the construction of the elevator has compromised the purity of the beach, which tourists actually favored.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has introduced a new food safety protocol for the free nutritious meal program to ensure that food remains fresh as well as to bring the program's rollout closer to its "zero incidents' target, although concerns persist over its rapid scale-up to reach 82.9 million beneficiaries.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia must strengthen its bargaining position to push the United States into lowering its import tariff on palm oil to zero percent, mirroring the deal Washington recently struck with Malaysia, according to the Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios).

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Chair of the National Economic Council, claims that the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, also known as Whoosh, has had a significant economic impact on the regions it serves. Luhut made this statement while sharing his recent travel experience using Whoosh to Bandung.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – At least ten trees fell after a torrential downpour and strong winds lashed in Jakarta yesterday afternoon, Thursday, October 30, 2025. Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo mentioned that the extreme weather caused damage at various points in the capital.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has formed a new partnership with the United Kingdom to strengthen national cybersecurity. This agreement aims to strengthen the country's digital resilience in the face of increasing complexity and ensure support for digital transformation.

Wawan Kurniawan, Jakarta – About 1,800 workers at Victory Chingluh Indonesia, a shoe manufacturer in Tangerang, Banten, have been laid off following a wave of export product returns due to quality issues. The mass termination adds pressure to Indonesia's labor-intensive manufacturing sector, which is struggling to balance rising costs and global competition.

Jakarta – Prosecutors are seeking an 11-year prison sentence for Priguna Anugerah Pratama, a former anesthesiology resident at Hasan Sadikin Hospital in Bandung, West Java, who is accused of raping two patients and a patient's family member.

Jakarta – The administration of President Prabowo Subianto does not appear to be serious in preventing the climate emergency by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions.

Jakarta – South Korea's Hyundai Motor is interested in participating in Indonesia's plan to develop its own national car, the government said on Friday.

President Prabowo Subianto said on Oct. 20 that Indonesia was planning to fully manufacture its own national car in the next three years, with a budget already allocated and land prepared for the factories.

Ian Story – Indonesia's recent announcement that it was considering buying the China-made J-10 fighter raises more questions than answers.

Aamer Madhani and Edna Tarigan, Washington – President Donald Trump made sure during his visit to Asia this week to praise regional allies who have backed his push to bring about a permanent end to the Israel-Hamas war.

Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) expressed deep concerns regarding a proposed revision to Indonesia's foundational human rights legislation that threatens to fundamentally undermine independent human rights protection mechanisms.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has identified 21 problematic articles in the draft revision of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights.