Indonesia Regional News: from Sumatra, Java, Bali, to Papua

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Jakarta Post
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Three PNG nationals among seven inmates on the run after Papua jailbreak

Chronic overcrowding and staff shortages have contributed to repeated prison escapes across Indonesia with at least six successful prison escapes having been reported across the country so far this year.

9 hours ago
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Lightning strike kills two fishermen in North Sumatra

A third fisherman, Abdul Rahim, 21, was found unconscious and is still receiving treatment at his house. ...

12 hours ago
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Wild elephant threat forces 11 schools to close in Aceh

Human-elephant encounters in Bener Meriah have resulted in multiple fatalities over the past decade. The most recent fatal incident occurred in February, when a farmer was trampled to death by an elephant while trying to drive it away from his farmland. ...

15 hours ago

The Latest

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Violent protests in Yogyakarta spark backlash against mass organizations

A demonstration outside the Yogyakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building turned violent after sunset, when groups of unidentified individuals reportedly arrived carrying sharp weapons, sticks, stones and firecrackers, according to eyewitness accounts and videos circulating online.

1 day ago
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Farmer gets four-year jail term for Tesso Nilo deforestation

Panel of judges also slapped defendant Manuturi Butar-butar with an environment restoration cost of Rp 600 million (US$33,227), which must be paid within one month with an extension of another month after which the verdict becomes legally binding.

1 day ago
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Govt promises full investigation into Aceh shooting

The government said it would launch an investigation into the fatal shooting in Pidie regency, Aceh, where a civilian was reportedly shot dead in a clash with soldiers after the hoisting of the crescent and star flag resembling those of the past separatist movement.

1 day ago
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Three dead as Army helicopter crashes during water bombing ops

Two officers, one noncommissioned officer (NCO) receive posthumous promotions because they were killed in the line of duty. 

1 day ago
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Wiretap scandal threatens Prabowo-Jokowi alliance

The arrest of a senior official with close ties to former president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo over alleged wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto has put their political alliance under growing strain, raising the prospect of a wider confrontation between the two figures.

1 day ago
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Dozens of homes damaged as rare hailstorms hit West Java, Lampung

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) attributed the hailstorms in West Java and Lampung to the development of mature cumulonimbus clouds, powerful storm systems capable of producing intense rainfall, strong winds and hail.

2 days ago
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PLN Batam provides compensation for blackout, reshuffles management

In addition to announcing compesnation schemes, PLN Batam is also reshuffling its managerial structure at the Public Relations and Corporate Secretary division.

2 days ago
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Five customs officers held by residents after inspection dispute

Detained officers released after mediation, with customs officials agreeing to a Rp 655 million customary settlement.

2 days ago
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Water-bombing helicopter crash kills one in Central Kalimantan

An Indonesian military helicopter carrying eight people on a firefighting mission crashed in waters off Borneo island on Wednesday, killing a crew member.

3 days ago
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Police ban officers from using vapes over drugs abuse concerns

A ban on vapes highlights a shift in the drug trade from drugs sold in a solid form to those in a liquid form, often masked by the addition of fruity scents.

3 days ago
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BNPB steps up cloud seeding as wildfires persist in South Papua

Data from the Forestry Ministry's SiPongi monitoring system showed that South Papua recorded 103 high-confidence hot spots on Monday afternoon, the highest number among Indonesian provinces that day. The province remains under a wildfire emergency status until Nov. 28, even as conditions improve in other fire-prone areas.

3 days ago
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Fire-ravaged regions face rising flood threat

After months of battling forest and peatland fires, parts of Indonesia now face another threat as damaged landscapes leave communities increasingly vulnerable to flooding ahead of the rainy season.

3 days ago
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Sukoharjo Police chief removed amid outcry over boarding school raid

Police accused of using excessive force against underage female students during a nighttime raid on a local Islamic boarding school as part of an investigation into an arson case, including pointing firearms at them and forcing some to uncover their hair.

3 days ago
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Australia starts repatriation of 13 detained Indonesian fishermen

13 fishermen from Raas Island in Sumenep regency, East Java were arrested by Australian authorities in October for allegedly fishing illegally in Australian waters.

4 days ago
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North Sumatra teacher arrested over alleged sexual abuse of eight students

The case comes amid broader concerns over sexual violence against children in Indonesia. According to data from the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, Some 21,352 children experienced violence in 2025, including 12,338 cases of sexual abuse.

4 days ago
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473 Indonesians deported from Malaysia in October

The high number of illegal migrant workers being deported is the proof that the legal departure process in Indonesia is complicated and expensive.

4 days ago
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Village head in Riau nabbed in forest sale for oil palm plantation

The Pesajian village head, identified as M, allegedly issued land documents which were used to claim land in the forest area.

4 days ago
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Blazes engulf two landfills in Central and East Java

The continued reliance on open dumping has been linked to a series of environmental and safety incidents in recent years. At least 43 landfills across Indonesia experienced major fires between January and early October. 

4 days ago
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Criticism mounts over plan to turn Red and White Cooperatives clinics into BPJS providers

Critics argued that utilizing the cooperatives' clinics as BPJS Kesehatan's primary facilities would require a large fiscal expenditure and divert funds from more pressing healthcare needs.

5 days ago
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Two more companies named suspects in wildfire probes

More local and foreign companies have been named suspects in wildfire investigations launched across Kalimantan and Sumatra over the past week, as calls to hold haze-causing polluters accountable grow louder.

5 days ago
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Rare Javan banteng calf born at conservation center in West Java

The Javan banteng is the second-largest indigenous mammal remaining on Java after the Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus). The species is legally protected and classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. 

1 week ago
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Medan man arrested for allegedly insulting Jesus during TikTok livestream

The video of RDL's remarks circulated widely on social media, drawing angry reactions from viewers.

1 week ago
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China, Indonesia arrest 18 in international drug trafficking crackdown

National Police chief Suyudi Ario Seto said Indonesia would strengthen cooperation with international law enforcement agencies to dismantle transnational drug trafficking networks, including by targeting those who finance and coordinate their operations.

1 week ago
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11 Yogyakarta daycare workers jailed for 2-3 years for child abuse

Parents of children abused at the Little Aresha daycare center expressed disappointment over the court’s ruling, saying the sentences handed down to 11 caregivers failed to reflect the harm suffered by their children.

1 week ago
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Interpol, Riau Islands Police to up supervision on dangerous chemicals

Interpol and Riau Islands Police discussed efforts to strengthen the supervision of dangerous chemicals in the border area and conduct Operation Chemical anti-Smuggling Enforcement (CHASE).

1 week ago
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Rains bring relief to Indonesian provinces weary of fire haze

Light to heavy rains have recently fallen in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sumatra, encouraged by its cloud seeding operations, said Indonesia's climatology agency.

1 week ago
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Two female athletes die at Central Java provincial games

Syabilla Rizkia Putri Raharja, 22, a finswimmer representing Jepara regency, died on Sunday after collapsing near the finish of the women’s 3,000-meter open-water finswimming event while Ayudiah Rivana Tridiandinita, 19, a pencak silat athlete representing Semarang city, died early Wednesday after undergoing surgery for a finger injury sustained during a match.

1 week ago

Today's ePost

Sat, November 7, 2026

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