Stefanno Sulaiman, Jakarta – The lobby of Indonesia's Economic Affairs ministry was a bit darker this week when some lights were turned off as the minister looked for savings after President Prabowo Subianto ordered $19 billion of budget cuts to help fund election promises.

Hans Nicholas Jong, JAKARTA – Indonesia's deforestation is once again rising after several years of decline, with 2024 marking the highest rate since 2021. The data also show that the vast majority of forest loss is legal, a stark difference from previous periods dominated by illegal deforestation.

Zach Hope and Amilia Rosa – It's no surprise to see the old Sari Club site in Bali pocked with refuse and thick at the edges with rainy season weeds. Or the green, street-facing corrugated iron fence buckled and dented.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Devy Ernis, Jakarta – Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) Chairperson Muhammad Isnur believes that the planned revisions to House of Representatives Regulation Number 1/2020 on Rules and Procedures or Tatib DPR will damage the democratic order in Indonesia.

Every nation has its own literary treasures in its national language. The entirety of national literature, along with other artistic works, contains and reflects the history of the development of a nation's national personality and the battles that occurred in that history.

M Iqbal Shukri, Blora – A plan by the Blora regency government (Pemkab) in Central Java to immortalise Indonesian literary writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer by naming a street after him has been rejected by the social organisation (ormas) Pancasila Youth (PP).

Responding to the recent raid, arrest, and detention of dozens of LGBTI people in a hotel in Jakarta, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Head of the Presidential Communication Office Hasan Nasbi has confirmed that the budget for the development of the Indonesian Capital City, known as IKN is still blocked by the Finance Ministry. However, he emphasized that this does not mean there are no funds allocated for the project.

Roy Adriansyah, Arnoldus Kristianus, Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Isa Rachmatarwata, the Director General of Budget at the Finance Ministry, a suspect in the corruption case involving the financial management and investment funds of state insurer Asuransi Jiwasraya.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, acting chairman of President Prabowo Subianto's Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), revealed on Friday that several ministers are struggling to align with the president's policies.

Jakarta – The Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide free health screening program on Feb. 10, allowing citizens to undergo age-specific medical assessments on their birthdays. The launch was announced in a press conference held on Friday.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Ardito Ramadhan, Bogor – TNI (Indonesian Military) Commander General Agus Subiyanto has revealed that village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) will be mobilised to oversee the sale of three kilogram liquid petroleum gas (LPG) canisters to retailers.

Jakarta – The government plans to provide pardons or amnesty for around 44 thousand prisoners. One of the categories of prisoners who will receive amnesty are political prisoners related to Papua.

Indonesia, West Papua – Prominent Papuan human rights activist Yones Douw died on Sunday, 2 February 2025 at his home in Karang Timur, Kali Harapan Village, Nabire District, Papua Tengah Province.

Antara, Jakarta – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has requested to be exempt from a 50 percent budget cut from its initial Rp2,826 trillion funds, citing risks on the agency's main operational instruments and putting them in danger of becoming inoperable.

Bisnis.com, Jakarta – The annual Tempo Film Festival returns this year to express appreciation for Indonesia's film industry. This year's awards took place at Graha Bhakti Budaya at Ismail Marzuki Park in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 5, 2025.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Ministry of Health is seeking new donor countries as a consequence of U.S. move to shut down USAID, its minister said on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

"I will try and seek other sources of donors," said Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia's Minister of Health, when met at the Directorate General of Health Resources office.

Jakarta – Up until today, President Prabowo Subianto still has not clearly defined the direction of his economic strategy.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – E. Aminudin Aziz, chief of the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia (Perpusnas), said the library was forced to adjust its operational hours due to budget cuts.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rolliansyah Soemirat, also known as Roy, addressed the first 100 days of president prabowo subianto's administration, particularly focusing on foreign policy under the leadership of Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Central Java Provincial Government officially prohibits Civil Servants (ASN) from using 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This ban is stated in Circular Letter Number 500.2.1/196 signed by the Central Java Provincial Government Secretary on February 4, 2025.

Sucipto, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition has highlighted a statement by the chairperson of the National Defence Council (DPN) and Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin who stated that the DPN could take on a role in controlling forest areas, especially violations of the law by palm oil companies.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Poland is finally exporting its apples to Indonesia, thus paving the way for Warsaw to cut its trade deficit with Jakarta.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – The construction of Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, cost the government Rp 40.29 trillion ($2.5 billion) in 2024, Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo revealed on Thursday.

According to Dody, progress on key infrastructure, public facilities, and utilities has reached approximately 87 percent.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is considering allowing civil servants to work remotely twice a week to boost productivity and reduce operational costs, an official said on Friday.

Jakarta – The efforts to curb unchecked development and overtourism in Bali deserve our support and recognition. However, we are calling on the authorities to be consistent with their law enforcement, to do away with reactive, or even worse, discriminatory, measures.

Jakarta – Indonesia has begun talks with Britain to repatriate the most prolific rapist in British history, a senior minister said, following its move to also seek the return of a Guantanamo Bay detainee accused of being one of the Bali bomb plotters.

Jakarta – Hundreds of homes in South Tambun and Cibitung districts in Bekasi regency, West Java, were damaged by a whirlwind in the early hours of Thursday.

The disaster occurred around 3:45 a.m., causing panic among residents. A total of 379 homes were damaged as the tornado swept through the area.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The deputy chair of House Commission X, Maria Yohana Esti Wijayati, says the implementation of the Prabowo-led free nutritious meal program, or MBG, has been somewhat off the mark.

Yovanda Noni, Nusantara – The Nusantara Capital Authority and the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation plan to develop a cluster of islands in the Balikpapan Bay area into a sanctuary for orangutans in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, where Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, is being built.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia said Wednesday that it would "strongly reject" any attempts to displace Palestinians as US President Donald Trump announced his plans to take over Gaza.

Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani remains upbeat about attracting hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investments throughout this year despite having to cut its spending within the ministry.

Muhammad Awaludin, Mataram – State-owned energy company Pertamina revealed on Wednesday that several hotels and upscale restaurants have been using subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) despite government restrictions.

Jakarta – In his 100 days on the job, President Prabowo Subianto has shown two contradictory approaches to environmental policy. In his Asta Cita – Prabowo's eight missions as president – he promised harmony with nature. However, Prabowo is supporting the expansion of oil palm plantations.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician who is also a member of Commission XII of the DPR, Muhammad Haris, stated that the third revision of the Mineral and Coal Law which allows universities to manage mines could be an income opportunity. He said that if campuses manage mines, they must ensure that they are of high quality.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – SETARA Institute suspects that the removal of Ubedilah Badrun from his position as the Chair of the Sociology Department at Jakarta State University (UNJ) was due to his frequent scrutiny of corruption allegations against the seventh President, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), and his family.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah opened weaker against the US dollar on Thursday morning, pressured by slowing economic growth. The currency depreciated by 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to Rp 16,308 per dollar at 9:07 a.m. Jakarta time, according to Bloomberg data. On Wednesday, the rupiah had strengthened 58 points against the greenback.

Jakarta – The Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry is working to ensure that this year's Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) program for university students will be unaffected by President Prabowo Subianto's budget efficiency policy under Presidential Instruction No. 1/2025, issued on Jan. 23.

Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has seized cars, cash and other evidence during a raid on Tuesday at the South Jakarta residence of Pancasila Youth (PP) chairman Japto Soerjosoemarno, in connection with a graft case involving former Kutai Kertanegara regent Rita Widyasari.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has warned all government officials to avoid corruption and fraud after the public gave mixed reviews on the performance of his administration in its first 100 days.

The President said during the first 100 days of his administration he had warned every ministry to "clean up" their act, otherwise they "will be cleaned out".

Jakarta – Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf, known as Gus Yahya, has affirmed the readiness of Indonesia's largest Islamic organization to support President Prabowo Subianto's administration in implementing its programs.

Jakarta – Overloaded and oversized trucks continue to operate on Indonesia's highways and toll roads, increasing the risk of accidents and causing economic and environmental damage. Meanwhile, the implementation of the long-discussed zero Over Dimension Overload (ODOL) policy has yet to materialize.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Carrying their signature black-and-white flags and chanting slogans for an Islamic caliphate, thousands of supporters of a banned, ultra-conservative Muslim organisation marched through cities and towns in 22 Indonesian provinces on Feb 2, alarming security officials and observers.

Grace Sihombing and Claire Jiao – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is banking on a raft of populist measures in his first months in office to energize consumers in Southeast Asia's largest economy, part of his goals to boost growth to levels not seen in nearly three decades.

Maria Monica Wihardja and Arianto Patunru – President Prabowo's universal free school lunch programme is well-intentioned, but it would be more effective if done in coordination with other complementary programmes.

Rabul Sawal, Lelilef Sawai, Indonesia – Hernemus Takuling's life in this coastal village has changed ever since construction began on the Weda Bay Industrial Park, which borders Lelilef Sawai, home to around 5,000 people, on Indonesia's Halmahera Island.

"Everything's filthy," Hernemus told Mongabay Indonesia. "You need to wear a mask just to go out onto the road."

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is targeting protected forest areas as part of its plan to convert 20 million hectares (50 million acres) of forest into "food and energy estates," a move that could result in the largest deforestation project in the country's history.

Jayapura – In order to manage the armed conflict that has plagued the Indonesian region of West Papua for decades, the Indonesian government, led by the new President Prabowo Subianto, is considering an amnesty for the independence rebels in Papua.

Rafiqa Qurrata A'yun – The controversy over the government's refusal to pay civil servant lecturers their overdue performance allowance (tunjangan kinerja, or tukin) – which they are legally entitled to – certainly highlights the vulnerability of academic jobs in Indonesia.

David Hutt – A rare legal effort to secure rights for atheists and nonbelievers was quashed last month by Indonesia's Constitutional Court, which ruled that a citizen must profess a faith, even a minority one, on official documents, and that marriage must conform to religion.