Jakarta – It has been revealed that a number of sea areas in Indonesia are recorded has having right to build (HGB) permits and land ownership certificates (SHM) after the polemic over the sea fence of the coast of Tangerang regency surfaced and came into the public spotlight.

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.

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.

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."

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

Bioantika and Hernandi Albeto Octaviano – Over 20 years ago, then Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri banned the export of sea sand from her archipelago nation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Victor Mambor, Kurinbin, Papua, Indonesia – On a hilltop accessible only by hours traversing dense jungle on foot, the influential Kimko Jinipjo clan in Indonesia's Papua region gathered for a rare ceremony called "Awon Atatbon" earlier this month.

Liz Kimbrough, Central Sulawesi – Over the course of just eight years, the forests surrounding Indonesia's Lake Poso, an ecological and evolutionary "gem" on the island of Sulawesi, have been whittled away, satellite data and imagery show, while flooding has intensified, and traditional livelihoods suffer.

Pizaro Gozali Idrus, Jakarta – Indonesia's new government is considering seeking a key Bali bombing suspect's return from Guantanamo Bay because, its law minister said, Jakarta is as concerned about its citizens imprisoned abroad as it is in repatriating some foreign convicts.

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.

Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto posted on Tuesday a message of congratulations to Donald Trump for his inauguration as the United States president, and affirmed that Indonesia was eager to continue working with the US under the new Republican administration.

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.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Ahmad Muzani, Secretary-General of the Gerindra Party, responded to rumors about a potential cabinet reshuffle in President Prabowo Subianto's administration as the 100-day mark approaches.

"That [reshuffle] is entirely the president's prerogative. I haven't asked, and I haven't met with him," Muzani said on Tuesday.

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.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – The government has updated the regulations regarding Export Proceeds from Natural Resources (DHE SDA) to strengthen national economic resilience and stability amid global geopolitical challenges.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ombudsman Chair, Mokhammad Najih, has revealed that fishermen in Tangerang Regency have suffered losses amounting to approximately Rp9 billion due to the construction of a sea fence in the region. This figure, he said, was determined based on an investigation conducted by the Ombudsman team.

Irsyan Hasyim, Erwin Prima, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said flooding damaged several bridges in Batang Regency, Central Java Province. Data from the Central Java BPBD on Tuesday night, January 21, 2025, at 22:49 WIB recorded that six connecting facilities were cut off, while the floods were observed to have receded.

Reuters, Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto is considering pardons for prisoners linked to armed organizations in the restive easternmost province of Papua, including separatists, providing they renounce violence and abandon secessionist agendas, a senior minister said on Wednesday.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will evaluate the National Strategic Projects (PSN) to ensure that the projects are running according to plan.