President Prabowo Subianto (left) disembarks from the Garuda Indonesia-1 aircraft upon arriving at Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Dec. 12, 2025. After completing a series of state visits to Pakistan and Russia, President Prabowo immediately returned to disaster-affected areas in Sumatra. `

Prabowo returns to flood-hit Sumatra after Pakistan-Russia trip

The President said he hoped conditions would stabilize soon so children could return to school, while reminding local people to protect the environment and avoid deforestation.

4 hours ago

Archipelago premium

Use of elephants in post-flood cleanup in Aceh draws criticism

“Elephants are a protected species. Involving them in heavy post-disaster work puts their safety at risk. Deploying elephants also contradicts conservation principles, which place animal welfare as a priority,” Daniel Johan, a member of House of Representatives Commission IV overseeing agriculture, forestry and fisheries, said.

9 hours ago

Politics premium

Golkar’s proposal for permanent coalition backfires

A proposal to make the coalition supporting President Prabowo Subianto’s administration permanent has backfired on Golkar Party, with coalition members calling it inappropriate while thousands of people are still displaced after deadly floods wreaked havoc on Sumatra.

11 hours ago

The Latest

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.

Jakarta premium

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

The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute said the crash was not merely an accident, nor an event that can be attributed to individual error. It reflects chaotic and unprofessional program management that neglects public safety, especially the safety of children.

11 hours ago

Medan Immigration Office head Uray Avian (second left, seated) speaks on Dec. 9, 2025, during a press conference on the arrest of four Sri Lankan nationals suspected of being involved in a human trafficking syndicate in Medan. The suspects promised victims a job in France at a cost of US$5,000.

Archipelago premium

Medan Immigration nabs four Sri Lankans in alleged human trafficking syndicate

The suspects promised victims a job in France at a cost of US$5,000.

11 hours ago

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi (center right) embraces a student from northern Sumatra affected by natural disasters on Dec. 8 at Aceh Students' Dormitory on Jl. Iwenisari in Tembalang district, Semarang, Central Java. The provincial administration will pay for boarding fees and daily necessities for three months and provide tuition fee assistance for students from Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.

Archipelago premium

Central Java, Yogyakarta give assistance to students affected by Sumatra disasters

Yogyakarta provided Rp 1 billion each to the three affected provinces in the northern part of Sumatra.

12 hours ago

An officer with the Batam Customs and Excise Office inspects luggage containing used clothing on Dec. 10, 2025, in Batam, Riau Islands. As of Dec. 8, the Batam Customs had confiscated 682 packages of used clothing.

Archipelago premium

Batam Customs Office uncovers new way to smuggle used clothing

For a fee, packages containing used clothing can be taken by passengers as carry on luggage or registered as checked baggage.

12 hours ago

Deforestation is seen May 18, 2024, in East Kalimantan. Deforestation caused by pulpwood plantation expansion is shifting from Sumatra to Kalimantan.

Society premium

Rising forest loss puts Kalimantan at higher disaster risk

Around 90 percent of 13,000 hectares of natural forests cleared by activities from the pulpwood industry were found in Kalimantan, according to a new report issued by environmental groups, raising alarms of looming ecological crisis that may hit the island in the coming years.

12 hours ago

politics

Police fire tear gas to disperse demonstrators on Aug. 29, 2025, during a protest against the Jakarta Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) in front of the East Java gubernatorial residence in Surabaya, East Java, after 21-year-old ojol (online motorcycle transportation) driver Affan Kurniawan was killed after being struck by a police tactical vehicle amid a protest against lavish allowances for lawmakers in Jakarta on Aug. 28.

premium

politics premium

Police accused of using ‘excessive force’ in August protests

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) acting chairman Zulfa Mustofa (center) addresses the press on Nov. 12, 2025, after he is appointed by NU supreme council as the organization’s caretaker despite opposition from current chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf.

premium

politics premium

Leadership crisis at NU deepens

Former Central Jakarta District Court deputy head and graft defendant Muhammad Arif Nuryanta attends the verdict hearing against him on Dec. 3 at the Jakarta Corruption Court in Jakarta. The judges sentenced Arif to a 12.5-year imprisonment and a Rp 500 million fine for accepting bribes to influence the verdict against three companies in a corruption case pertaining to crude palm oil exports.

premium

politics premium

‘Light’ sentencing stunts Indonesia’s corruption fight

Yahya Cholil Staquf, chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama's (NU) central board, delivers a speech on Sept. 4, 2023, during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Jakarta.

premium

politics premium

NU in deadlock over Yahya chairmanship

A poll administrator counts votes for the Denpasar mayoral election on Nov. 27, 2024, at a polling station in Denpasar, Bali.

premium

politics premium

Prabowo signals support for Golkar’s push to end direct regional elections

politics

Military steps up relief efforts for flood-hit Sumatra; death toll above 860

The military has erected at least 10 portable bridges, called "Bailey bridges", in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces to help with the distribution of food and aid supplies to isolated residents, Major General Freddy Ardianzah told reporters on Friday.

1 week ago

Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan visits houses impacted by floods on Sunday in Lubuk Minturun, Padang, West Sumatra.

premium

politics premium

Decade-old video casts food minister as ‘villain’ in Sumatra flood

jakarta

premium

jakarta premium

Leaking Jakarta seawall raises concern over rising sea level, maintenance

jakarta

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.

1 day 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.

premium

jakarta premium

Kemayoran blaze kills 22, renews citywide fire safety concerns

jakarta

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.

3 days ago