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Hello reader,

I’m drawing you in with something uplifting for a change. Indonesia welcomes its first giant panda cub born in the country, and it’s such a big deal that President Prabowo himself had the honor of naming the little fur ball. Scroll down to find out what it is.

Elsewhere, there’s more drama regarding aid to Sumatra, and is Indonesia’s trade deal with the US on the brink of collapse?

Let’s go.

Cheers,

Andra

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Law/Politics

• Ferry Irwandi, an activist and content creator who raised IDR 10 billion in public donations for disaster victims in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, became the center of political controversy after Gerindra lawmaker Endipat Wijaya publicly mocked him as “acting like he’s doing the most.” Endipat compared Ferry’s fundraising with what he claimed were government efforts worth trillions, arguing the public shouldn’t think the state was absent. The remark sparked backlash, prompting Ferry to respond calmly, saying he felt no anger thanks to massive public support, and that he had already shared community needs directly with Endipat. Facing criticism, the legislator later personally apologized. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming also stepped in, defending citizen-led relief efforts as genuine expressions of Indonesia’s spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation).

• Indonesia’s largest Islamic organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has plunged deeper into internal turmoil after its Syuriyah council appointed deputy chairman Zulfa Mustofa as acting chairman, effectively sidelining incumbent leader Gus Yahya. The closed-door plenary yesterday mandates Zulfa, the nephew of former Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, to steer the group toward an earlier national congress to reset NU’s leadership cycle, amid escalating tensions following a leaked memo accusing Gus Yahya of financial mismanagement and alleged ties to “international Zionist networks”—claims he has rejected. Top political figures, including Social Affairs Minister Gus Ipul and Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar, attended the plenary, while Gus Yahya himself was notably absent.

• Police are preparing to hold a case review into yesterday’s deadly fire at Terra Drone’s Central Jakarta office, which killed 22 people, as investigators await forensic findings to determine the cause. Central Jakarta Police Chief Susatyo Purnomo Condro said management and building operators are being questioned over whether they adequately assessed operational risks, stressing that the case is being closely monitored by the National Police Chief. Ten victims have been formally identified so far, while authorities continue collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses as the probe intensifies.

• President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this afternoon, as confirmed by the Kremlin, marking his third visit to Russia since taking office. The working visit will focus on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, with discussions expected to cover global developments and deeper cooperation in key sectors such as energy, defense, and food security. The meeting follows earlier reports of the planned engagement and builds on Prabowo’s recent diplomatic efforts, including a September meeting in China where both leaders reaffirmed commitments to enhance economic and investment ties.

• A viral photo showing a brown, barren streak on the slopes of Mount Slamet in Pemalang, Central Java sparked claims of illegal mining, but the Central Java Energy and Mineral Resources Agency (ESDM) clarified that the mark is not from mining activity. Officials explained that the exposed patch is actually an old access road built in 2018 for a geothermal project and has since regrown with vegetation. The confusion arose as public concern over a separate legal, but poorly executed, quarrying activity in Banyumas intensified. Authorities emphasized that the Banyumas mining site is small-scale and poses safety risks mainly to workers due to unstable slopes, but it does not threaten nearby communities.

• The Communications and Digital Ministry says two major AI-related presidential regulations, namely an AI Ethics framework and a national AI Roadmap, are nearly finalized and set to be signed by President Prabowo in early 2026. Minister Meutya Hafid explained that the government will issue only the overarching policy, while detailed sector-specific rules will be delegated to individual ministries, arguing they best understand their own needs.

Business/Economy

• Coordinating Economic Affairs Minister Airlangga Hartarto pushed back against reports that Indonesia’s trade deal with the United States is on the brink of collapse, insisting negotiations are still ongoing and progressing normally despite US claims that Jakarta has walked back key commitments made during the July 2025 tariff agreement between Presidents Trump and Prabowo. While Washington sources told Reuters that Indonesia is trying to renegotiate binding points, particularly on non-tariff barriers, agriculture, industrial access, and digital trade, Jakarta says these are routine negotiation dynamics and maintains the goal of reaching a mutually beneficial final deal, even as US officials warn the revised terms could end up less favorable than recent agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia.

• Italy’s energy giant Eni has announced a major gas discovery in East Kalimantan, estimating around 600 billion cubic feet of reserves, potentially reaching over 1 trillion cubic feet once fully confirmed. The find, made at the Konta-1 exploration well in the Muara Bakau block (which is shared between Indonesia and Malaysia), delivered strong test results of up to 31 million cubic feet of gas per day, strengthening confidence in the company’s broader drilling campaign planned for 2026. Because the site sits close to existing infrastructure, the discovery is considered ideal for fast-track development and is expected to feed into Eni and Petronas’ new regional joint venture, which aims to invest more than US$15 billion across Southeast Asia over the next five years.

• Ford is preparing a major return to Indonesia’s automotive industry, with Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza confirming that the US carmaker plans to build a factory in the country and shift part of its India operations to Indonesia. The move follows a series of meetings between Ford and the government, where the company outlined an aggressive roadmap including expanded national distribution, higher CBU imports through 2027, and the start of local assembly by 2028 supported by IDR 76 billion in investment plus dealer network upgrades. While Ford will continue its existing partnership with PT Handal until 2028, it has also requested regulatory adjustments, especially on import rules for pickup vehicles, as the government signals support for deeper industrialization and a more competitive manufacturing ecosystem.

• MRT Jakarta and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) have officially launched a naming-rights partnership that changes the name of Lebak Bulus Station to Lebak Bulus Bank Syariah Indonesia Station, ending its previous naming rights partnership with Grab. BSI President Director Anggoro Eko Cahyo highlighted that the initiative brings banking services closer to daily transit users through programs such as cashback offers, merchant discounts, and gold-installment facilities. MRT Jakarta President Director Tuhiyat added that the collaboration supports the city’s broader push to shift behavior from private vehicles to public transportation as daily passenger numbers are projected to rise significantly by 2026.

Everything Else

• The nation celebrated a conservation milestone as Taman Safari Bogor welcomed the birth of a giant panda cub on November 27, the first to be born in Indonesia and the result of an eight-year Indonesia–China breeding partnership. The newborn, named Satrio by President Prabowo on December 4, marks a rare success given the species’ highly limited fertile window and global population of only around 1,900. Experts from both countries are monitoring the cub around the clock, noting healthy early signs such as strong feeding and stable weight gain. The public can’t visit the cub yet until further notice.

• Indonesia secured its first medal at the 2025 SEA Games after downhill cyclist Rendy Varera clinched silver in the men’s MTB event in Thailand, clocking a personal-best 02:38.714, just shy of the Thai gold medalist’s time. His podium finish not only opens Indonesia’s medal tally but is also seen as a morale boost for the wider contingent, with officials hoping the early success sparks momentum across other sports. Fellow Indonesian rider Riska Amelia Agustina added to the day’s achievements with a silver in the women’s downhill event.

• Indonesia’s women’s badminton team also brought home silver from the SEA Games 2025 after falling 1–3 to host Thailand in the team final. Putri Kusuma Wardani delivered an early win, but Gregoria Mariska Tunjung and the doubles pair Rachel Allessya Rose/Febi Setianingrum were defeated in tight matches, leaving the final result hinging on Ana/Trias Puspitasari, who ultimately lost in straight games despite a strong fight.