A Muslim man washes his face before attending Friday prayers at Al Ihsan Mosque, which was partially damaged by flooding, in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh on Dec. 12, 2025. Tropical storms and monsoon rains have pummelled Southeast and South Asia this month, triggering landslides and flash floods from the rainforests of Sumatra to highland plantations in Sri Lanka, with more rains are predicted.`

Nowhere to pray as logs choke flood-hit Indonesian mosque

Authorities have blamed the scale of devastation in northern Sumatra partly on uncontrolled logging.

5 hours ago

British porn star to be deported from Bali after small fine

During a raid on Dec. 4, police seized a dark blue pickup truck labeled "Bang Bus" that reportedly had been untaxed since 2023 and had allegedly been illegally repainted from white to blue without re-registration.

9 hours ago

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Four arrested for allegedly stealing radioactive scrap metal in Cikande

More than 1,130 tonnes of contaminated scrap metal were stored at the steel melting plant PT Peter Metal Technology (PMT) after the government detected widespread radioactive pollution in the area and carried out decontamination measures.

11 hours ago

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Masripah Batu Bara, 42, sits outside her heavily damaged house Dec. 7, 2025, following a deadly flash flood in Batang Toru, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

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Women bear brunt of Sumatra floods as basic needs remain unmet

The lack of privacy poses serious difficulties for women, especially breastfeeding mothers, while access to menstrual supplies remains one of the biggest challenges of the crisis.

11 hours ago

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East Java boarding school head gets 20 years, chemical castration for sexual abuse

Despite being in effect for nearly a decade, chemical castration remains a rare sentence, even for offenders who qualify under the law.

11 hours ago

Rubble and ruin: Personnel of a joint team remove debris on Saturday to search for students after a building collapsed at the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school (Pesantren) in Buduran district, Sidoarjo, East Java. The death toll from the building’s collapse rose to 40, and the search for bodies continues.

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State funding for collapsed Sidoarjo ‘pesantren’ under scrutiny

The government has begun rebuilding the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school (pesantren) in Sidoarjo, East Java, even as public criticism mounts over the use of state funds to reconstruct the privately run institution, whose prayer hall collapsed in late September, killing more than 60 students.

12 hours ago

Illustration of a child accessing social media on a smartphone.

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Govt threatens sanctions for tech firms in upcoming social media ban

The Communications and Digital Ministry is preparing a ministerial regulation that would stipulate detailed provisions on punishments for tech companies found violating a prohibition on social media for children.

12 hours ago

Police officers march during a ceremony on July 1, 2024, to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the National Police at the National Monument (Monas) Square in Central Jakarta.

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Police officers stand guard on Dec. 11, 2025, near the free-meals delivery vehicle that struck students and a teacher at SDN Kalibaru 01 Pagi state elementary school in Cilincing, North Jakarta. The incident left 20 students and one teacher injured and requiring treatment at nearby hospitals.

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Free meals under renewed scrutiny after van injures 21 at Jakarta school

Line of cracks: A man walks with his fishing rod on Dec. 6, 2025, on top of a giant seawall built to prevent flooding, in Muara Baru, North Jakarta. Several sections of the seawall appear to have cracked, allowing seawater to overflow into residential areas.

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Leaking Jakarta seawall raises concern over rising sea level, maintenance

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21 injured as car plows into students, teacher at North Jakarta elementary school

A vehicle reportedly belonging to the government’s free nutritious meals program lost control and rammed through the school’s gate, despite the gate being closed, before entering the school yard where dozens of students and staff were assembled for a literacy activity.

2 days ago

Officers from the National Police’s Forensic Laboratory (Puslabfor Bareskrim) inspect the Terra Drone Indonesia building damaged by fire, in Central Jakarta, on Dec. 9, 2025.

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Kemayoran blaze kills 22, renews citywide fire safety concerns

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Building fire kills 20 in Jakarta: Police

A fire tore through a seven-story office building in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, leaving at least 20 people dead and several others feared trapped inside.

4 days ago