Lizkimbrough – When a young boy went missing near his mother's rice field in Indonesian Borneo, the entire village searched for him. After nearly a day, he was found near a large strangler fig tree. The boy insisted he hadn't been hiding.

Jakarta – Several families of detainees involved in the August 2025 protests from North Jakarta filed a complaint over alleged criminalisation by the authorities with the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

Surabaya – A "Reset Indonesia" book discussion and review that was to be held in Madiun, East Java, was closed down by the authorities on Saturday night December 20. The organisers said that the closure occurred despite having previously notified police of the event.

Banda Aceh, Aceh – The Aceh provincial government stated that humanitarian assistance from the international community for the Sumatra disaster, particularly Aceh, has been allowed to enter, but only on a non-governmental basis.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – A group of women from the Suara Ibu Yogyakarta movement is preparing to hold a demonstration to protest the Indonesian government's delay in declaring a national disaster status due to flooding in several districts and cities in Sumatra.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The release of the Indonesian National History Book by the Ministry of Culture has raised concerns among history teachers, who fear that the state-backed publication could standardize historical narratives and narrow space for critical thinking in classrooms.

Medan, Indonesia – As recovery efforts continue to overwhelm local administrations' capacities, regional leaders in the hardest-hit areas have been placed in a difficult position, forced to turn away offers of assistance from overseas while humanitarian support remains limited for more than one million people affected by the floods.

Philip Jacobson, Padang, Indonesia – At low tide along Padang's coastline, fishing boats sit idle, not because of rough seas, but because the water is clogged with timber.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia plans to cut production of both nickel and coal next year as the world's biggest supplier of the two commodities moves to curb oversupply that has dragged prices lower, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto inaugurated the mass signing of 50,030 subsidized housing units through home loan (KPR) under the Housing Financing Liquidity Facility (FLPP) program, which are distributed across 33 provinces in Indonesia on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia sees the latest developments in the Hajj Village development as a reflection of its close links with Saudi Arabia, but this megaproject comes with what ulemas call "exclusivity risks" if Jakarta is not careful.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia is as vast as Europe, from London in the west to Moscow in the east.

Zacharias Wuragil, Jakarta – The Jakarta Provincial Government, in collaboration with PT Morego Green Indonesia, officially inaugurated the plastic waste collection and recycling center in Ciracas on Friday, December 19, 2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is keeping its fingers crossed that it will win the bid to lead the UN Human Rights Council next year.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's push to attract foreign investment risks losing momentum as the country falls behind Southeast Asian peers in deploying 5G networks that multinational manufacturers increasingly view as critical infrastructure.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The government recently said that any assistance sent by Indonesian diaspora to the Sumatra flood victims would be tax-free as long as they follow the right procedures.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Employers and labor unions have both voiced dissatisfaction with the government's new formula for setting minimum wages in 2026, with businesses warning that the proposed increases are too high and could push up prices, while unions say they still fall short of meeting living standards.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Premium – The state budget deficit widened in November amid declining revenue and a year-end spending push.

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Friday swore in six new Indonesian ambassadors to various countries, including Nurmala Kartini Pandjaitan Sjahrir, who was appointed ambassador to Japan.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has accused a prosecutor from the Banten Provincial Prosecutor's Office of extorting a South Korean national who was standing trial in Indonesia, the agency said on Friday.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's planned minimum wage increase in 2026 is unlikely to sway foreign investors, who continue to favor other Southeast Asian countries due to economic inefficiencies, an economist said Tuesday.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is building temporary and permanent housing for residents affected by floods and landslides in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh. But this undertaking raises a crucial question: how to ensure these houses are built in disaster-safe locations.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) is concerned about the impact of the 2026 Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) formula on the sustainability of labor-intensive industries. This comes after the government set the minimum wage with an alpha range of 0.5-0.9.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) have indicted four activists arrested after the August nationwide unrest, accusing them of spreading social media campaigns that incite hostility toward the government and encouraging students, including minors, to take part in riots.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax revenue reached Rp 1.63 quadrillion as of Nov. 30, equivalent to 78.7% of the full-year outlook of Rp 2.07 quadrillion, leaving a remaining Rp 442.5 trillion to be collected to meet this year's target.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Dian Aprilianingrum, Ifan Ahmad, Jakarta – Cities across Indonesia will not ring in the New Year with their usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in Sumatra that have killed more than 1,000 people.

Philip Jacobson, Pidie Jaya, Indonesia – A group of specialist Sumatran elephants have joined recovery operations in Aceh following the catastrophic landfall of Cyclone Senyar in late November – two decades after the veteran responders supported rescuers after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – One of the world's biggest pulp and paper companies has acknowledged to Mongabay a potential breach of its no-deforestation commitment in its supply chain, raising questions about the company's attempt to regain sustainability certification under the Forest Stewardship Council.

In recent days, restrictions on reporting on the disaster in Sumatra have been widespread and systematic. The pattern is clear and dangerous.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – As development of Indonesia's future capital continues, nearly 150,000 people are now living in the Nusantara area, according to data released by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Jakarta – The government must not be complacent regarding the offer from a Russian company to construct a nuclear power plant (PLTN). There must be thorough preparation and careful calculations to ensure that the hope of clean and cheap electricity does not end in disaster.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the death toll from the Sumatra disaster has reached 1,068. This data was recorded as of Friday, December 19, 2025, at 09:30 a.m. The latest figures were accessed directly from the BNPB Disaster Data Geoportal.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture (PMK) Pratikno stated that several regencies/cities have declared an emergency transition status following the Sumatra post-disaster. The determination of the transition status is based on the conditions of each region. However, Pratikno did not specify the areas.

Agnes Valentina Christa, Jakarta – The Government has allowed timber debris left behind by recent floods and landslides in Sumatra to be used for disaster recovery, including the construction of temporary and permanent housing.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Business circles assess the plan to increase the Regional Minimum Wage (UMP 2026), valued at 0.5-0.9 alpha, as incongruent with the actual state of the business world. According to the Chair of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo), Shinta W.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Police Reform Commission has proposed an omnibus law covering the revised National Police Law, government regulations, and other regulations related to police affairs. Commission head Jimly Asshiddiqie said the idea is being floated due to the abundant cross-institutional police-related regulations.

Nivell Rayda, Jakarta – A suggestion by President Prabowo Subianto that regional Indonesian leaders be appointed and not elected by the people has sparked debate among political parties, with analysts saying it would be a setback for democracy that would not address corruption risk.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Remittances sent by Indonesian migrant workers reached Rp 212 trillion, or about $12.7 billion, by the end of the third quarter of 2025, highlighting their increasingly important contribution to the national economy, Migrant Worker Protection Minister Mukhtarudin said on Thursday.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has authorized the revision of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) to become Law No. 20 of 2025. The inauguration took place on December 17, 2025.

Jakarta – From the outset, it has been difficult to accept the conclusion that the death of diplomat Arya Daru Pangayunan was the result of suicide. There are too many irregularities that strongly indicate a murder and cover-up.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Labor Party and the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) are taking to the streets on Friday, December 19, to reject the formula for calculating the 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP). The protest is set to take place scheduled to take place around the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Labor Party has rejected the formula for calculating the 2026 provincial minimum wage (UMP) proposed by President Prabowo Subianto's cabinet, arguing that it fails to meet workers' basic needs.

Anwar Siswadi (Kontributor), Jakarta – The Geological Agency has identified several regions across Java currently experiencing land subsidence exceeding five centimeters per year. While often associated with coastal areas, the phenomenon is also affecting highland regions like Bandung.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has reported a surge in hydrometeorological disasters over the last 48 hours, with East Java, Riau, and South Kalimantan emerging as the hardest-hit regions.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has confirmed that its investigation into alleged corruption in Bank BJB's advertising procurement will continue uninterrupted, despite the ongoing divorce between former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, a witness in the case, and her wife, Golkar Party lawmaker Atalia Praratya.

Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Jakarta – Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) halted trading in shares of Toba Pulp Lestari on Thursday afternoon, citing uncertainty over the company's business continuity following a government-ordered suspension of its operations.

Romora Edward Sitorus and A. Prasetyantoko – Indonesia's first high-speed train project is historic but its government now has to prevent it going off the rails as costs spiral and boomerang onto the state and taxpayers.

Singapore – Recent landmark Indonesia-Singapore agreements did not materialise overnight but were the payoff from decades of groundwork and trust-building, panellists said at the launch of a book on the "next chapter" of bilateral ties.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has signed a new government regulation on wages that will serve as the basis for setting minimum wage increases in 2026, the Manpower Ministry revealed, just before the turn of the year.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Manpower Yassierli said the government will apply an adjustable index, with an alpha range of 0.5 to 0.9, to calculate the increase in Provincial Minimum Wages (UMP) for 2026.

He said the approach is intended to reduce regional disparities, as previous policies relied on a single uniform figure for all provinces.