Political party leaders of the ruling coalition have begun solidifying support for President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal to scrap direct elections for regional heads, a major change that analysts and critics say could help the President centralize power in a way that risks reversing hard-won democratic reforms.

Fathur Rahman, head of the local search and rescue agency, said a body was found floating in waters near Rinca island, around 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from site of the accident on December 26.

Increase in enforcement did not mean that forest and land fires were getting out of hand but showed the seriousness of law enforcement in against land and forest fire perpetrators, Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Herry Heryawan said. 

With a budget nearing one-tenth of this year’s state spending, President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship free nutritious meal program faces mounting pressure to justify its cost, amid criticism over food safety incidents, weak oversight and competing policy priorities.

During his fifth visit to the disaster-hit northern Sumatra provinces, President Prabowo Subianto reasserted his administration’s commitment to “return normalcy” to the region within three months, focusing on rebuilding bridges, houses and other public facilities.

Authorities added that the recurring floods carried large amounts of mud, rocks and other debris, making rivers shallower and more prone to overflowing. They also warned that the fresh flooding has complicated search efforts for people still missing, who are believed to be trapped beneath thick debris.

Riau Islands province has a strategic location in the Malacca Strait, making it prone to trans-national crimes such as human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Several articles of the new Criminal Code (KUHP) and Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP) may erode civil liberties and freedom of expression, especially rights to criticize government policies, according to pro-democracy activists and scholars.

Indonesians ushered in the New Year with subdued celebrations, as scaled-down festivities across the country served as a gesture of solidarity with millions affected by deadly disasters in northern Sumatra.

Most regions held joint prayers for the New Year’s Eve celebration for people affected by cyclone-induced floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, but some still opted to set off fireworks in several locations across the country.

President Prabowo Subianto spent the final day of 2025 with hundreds of displaced people in South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, among the hundreds of thousands who welcomed the New Year at emergency shelters following the floods and landslides that devastated the island’s northern region.

Domestic makers can produce 151 Bailey bridges using locally produced steel in one month, negating the need to import the bridges.

The video of Elina’s forced eviction recently went viral on social media, drawing widespread public outrage. The footage also reignited concerns that members of mass organizations are often hired to intimidate or extort individuals involved in land disputes.

"It's our own legal system [...] different from other countries," said Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas.

Police have charged the juvenile suspect under the domestic violence law, as the evidence collected during the investigation indicated the crime was likely spontaneous.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi praised the regional administrations’ decisions, emphasizing the importance of national solidarity.

Siswanto Rusdi, director of the National Maritime Institute, said the recurring accidents involving tourist boats point to weak enforcement and poor oversight by maritime authorities.

Piles of plastic bags and household waste have been reported across South Tangerang since the Environment Ministry ordered a temporary shutdown of the city’s final trash disposal site, Cipeucang, on Dec. 10, citing failure to properly process waste.

Analysts argue President Prabowo Subianto and his administration have been using the Indonesian Military (TNI) as a tool to push for not only political consolidation and flagship programs, but long-term political and electoral interests.

From 24-hour city parks to libraries extending their evening hours, Jakarta closed the year with a series of public space initiatives. Yet these expansions remain concentrated around economic hubs, reinforcing the spatial inequality that has long shaped the capital. 

As 2025 draws to a close, Indonesia faces the outcomes of President Prabowo Subianto’s first year in office, marked by rapid political consolidation that delivered stability for the elites but exposed weaknesses in the government’s coordination and policy execution.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chair Yahya Cholil Staquf asserted there are no changes to the organizational structure, while asserting that the group’s upcoming congress (Muktamar) in 2026 will become a forum to settle all differences between the conflicting parties.

After years of closure, the Jakarta Planetarium and Observatory has reopened to massive crowds, with thousands of visitors eager to experience immersive views of celestial objects projected across the dome-shaped building.

While boasting in front of the international community of a commitment to grant 1.4 million hectares of customary forest in the next five years, the government was met with criticism of conflicting policies and increasing repression that put indigenous communities in a more vulnerable position.

Since its launch in January, more than 11,000 children nationwide have been affected by food poisoning, according to data from the agency overseeing the free nutritious meals program.

Zulhendri said local opposition is rooted in the disputed status of the land designated for resettlement. Although PTPN holds official land-use rights (HGU), villagers claim the land is customary territory passed down from their ancestors.

In one of the country’s most internationally visible stretches in years, Indonesia’s exposure more than doubled, with President Prabowo making 35 overseas visits to 29 countries in 12 months, nearly triple the average annual pace of the previous decade.