Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Nutrition expert and public health activist, Tan Shot Yen, assessed that several new policies to be implemented by the Indonesian National Nutrition Agency (BGN) have yet to address fundamental issues in the implementation of the free nutritious meal program or MBG.

While the government's free nutritious meal (MBG) program has become a debacle from top to bottom, its design was flawed from the start. This populist project lacked prior studies and planning, and lacks adequate evaluation and oversight. Everything has fallen apart in the implementation phase.

An 18-year-old Papuan girl named Mrs Penti Weya, was reportedly killed by a suspected drone-delivered explosive in Wunapunggu Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency, on the morning of Sunday, 7 June 2026. According to various sources, the explosion occurred in a civilian residential area.

Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesia's financial markets are facing a deeper challenge than a conventional market correction, according to political economy analyst Kusfiardi, who warned that investors are increasingly reassessing the country's overall risk profile as stocks and the currency remain under pressure.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – Speculation over a possible broader cabinet reshuffle has resurfaced as President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to swear in new appointees to his government on Monday following corruption-related dismissals and amid growing concerns over the economy.

Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesian security forces have arrested a 52-year-old man suspected of acting as an intermediary in the supply of firearms and ammunition to an armed separatist network operating in Papua, authorities said, as investigators continue efforts to dismantle illegal weapons distribution channels in the region.

Jakarta – Indonesia's next presidential election is not due until 2029, but it seems the fight may have started early in 2026.

President Prabowo Subianto is facing sustained scrutiny over the economy, state spending, the cost of living and declining foreign investor confidence – a moment some rivals appear eager to seize.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – Public trust has emerged as a central theme in responses from several of Indonesia's prominent political figures as the rupiah continues to weaken and market volatility raises concerns over the country's economic outlook.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves declined by $1.3 billion to $144.9 billion at the end of May 2026 from $146.2 billion a month earlier, according to Bank Indonesia.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto shared a personal story about what he considers his two lucky numbers during a visit to SRMP 17 Tabanan, one of the government's People's Schools, in Bali on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto urged students at Indonesia's People's Schools not to be discouraged when facing mockery or bullying from others, saying even a president is not spared from criticism.

He shared the message during a visit to SRMP 17 Tabanan, a junior high school under the People's School program, in Bali on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Rahmat Hidayat – Indonesia's Free Nutritious Meals program has come under renewed public scrutiny after anti-corruption activists called for an audit of 41 nutrition service facilities operated by a foundation linked to the daughter of a regional legislator, following reports surrounding a corruption investigation involving former National Nutrition Agency head Dadan Hindayana.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya has defended President Prabowo Subianto's frequent overseas trips, arguing that the visits have helped attract trillions of rupiah in investment to Indonesia.

However, a review of official investment data shows that the figure cited by Teddy includes both foreign and domestic investment.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the Indonesian government's plan to involve the military in tackling street crime, including violent robberies known locally as begal, arguing that law enforcement in civilian settings should remain the responsibility of the police.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has rejected the growing "sell Indonesia" narrative circulating among some global investors, arguing that the country's economic fundamentals remain solid despite recent market turbulence.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa inspected 3,100 containers that were piling up at Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta on Saturday, June 6, 2026. He discovered several reasons why the imported goods were detained at Tanjung Priok.

Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Finance has announced optimistic dynamic macroeconomic assumptions. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa predicts that Indonesia's economy will grow by 5.4 percent in 2026.

As of the first quarter of 2026, economic growth was recorded at 5.61 percent, higher than last year's growth of 5.11 percent year-on-year.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax collections reach Rp 834.4 trillion ($46.3 billion) as of the end of May, rising 22.1% from a year earlier, the Finance Ministry says.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the performance marked a significant turnaround from 2025, when tax revenue growth remained in negative territory.

Silpester Kasipka, Jayapura, Jubi – Members of the Tuarek Natkime Foundation blocked the access road leading to PT Freeport Indonesia's operational area at Check Point 430 in Kuala Kencana, Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on Thursday morning.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – A coalition of Indonesian civil society organizations has urged the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately revise the country's Military Judiciary Law, arguing that the current system has failed to deliver justice and continues to foster impunity for members of the armed forces.

Johnny Blades – The family of a West Papuan woman alleged to have been forcibly taken to Indonesia's capital after appearing in a new documentary film, wants her safely returned home.

Nadira Rahmadini – United Nations human rights experts have criticized Indonesia's decision to prosecute four military personnel accused in the acid attack against human rights defender Andrie Yunus through a military court, warning that the process risks undermining accountability and transparency.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Economists have warned that Indonesia's surplus can shrink further – even to the point of being in the red – as the world faces its worst oil supply shocks.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The rupiah slid to a new record low of Rp 18,000 per United States dollar on Thursday, extending its losses this year to more than 7 percent and making it Asia's worst-performing currency as rising oil prices and deteriorating trade dynamics rattled investors.

Freddie Daley and Charlie Lawrie (The Conversation) – In December 2025, Indonesia quietly abandoned plans to close the Cirebon-1 coal power plant.

This was no ordinary power plant. Cirebon-1 was supposed to be the centerpiece of a US$21.4 billion international deal backed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and the European Union to help Indonesia end coal use.

On 10 May 2026, members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Police arbitrarily detained four indigenous Papuans at the residence of local parliament member Mr Danton Giban, located on Jalan Kurima in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Deputy Immigration and Corrections Minister Silmy Karim a suspect in an alleged extortion case relating to foreigner stay permits, marking the second arrest of a top government official for corruption this week.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Victims of a sexual violence case involving students at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Law (FH UI) have expressed disappointment after the university imposed suspensions on the perpetrators instead of expelling them.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's weakening rupiah is changing travel patterns on both sides of its borders. Foreign tourists are taking advantage of favorable exchange rates, while Indonesians are opting to stay closer to home as overseas vacations become more expensive.

Andrew Mathieson – The family of a prominent West Papua activist has lost contact with its matriarch who has been missing in the occupied territory for almost two weeks.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Survey agency Poltracking Indonesia has released its latest public opinion poll, featuring data on public satisfaction regarding the government's free nutritious meal program (MBG).

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The President of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), also the Labour Party President, Said Iqbal, responded to the news of his potential appointment to President Prabowo Subianto's administration. This news was previously discussed by the State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg), Prasetyo Hadi.

Antara, Jakarta – Reforming Indonesia's energy subsidies would strengthen fiscal credibility, ease pressure on the state budget, and support President Prabowo Subianto's energy transition agenda, according to policy experts.

Jakarta – Dozens of students from the Student Executive Councils (BEM) of State Islamic Religious Universities throughout Indonesia held a demonstration in front of the gates to the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday June 5.

Jauhari Mahardhika, Jakarta – The "sell Indonesia" trade gathers pace on Friday as foreign investors dump another Rp 3.7 trillion ($204 million) worth of Indonesian equities, extending a retreat from the country's financial markets that leaves its stocks and currency among Asia's worst performers this year.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah has weakened past the psychological level of Rp18,000 per US dollar, prompting calls for broader policy coordination beyond monetary tightening. On Friday morning, June 5, 2026, the rupiah traded at Rp18,031 per US dollar.

Dylan Duan, Gayatri Suroyo and Melanie Burton, Shanghai, China/Jakarta/Melbourne, Australia – Chinese companies that helped build Indonesia's nickel industry into the world's dominant producer are looking as far afield as Africa for longer-term alternatives as rising policy pressure tests the investment model that reshaped global supply.

Antara, Jakarta – Sovereign wealth fund Danantara has denied reports that rich Indonesians with savings of over Rp 3 billion ($166,242) are required to purchase Patriot Bonds and Merah Putih Bonds.

"That's not true. There is no such plan," Danantara chief operating officer Dony Oskaria was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.

Eka Permadhi, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition that is part of MBG Watch has called the corruption case involving the leadership of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) an urgent warning for the government to immediately halt and completely overhaul the Free Nutritional Meals (MBG) program.

Sontry Napitupulu – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has officially launched an internal consolidation effort, with a primary focus on maximizing budget efficiency for the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – A total of 301 senior professors at the University of Indonesia (UI) are submitting an amicus curiae, or friend of the court brief, to the Supreme Court regarding a pending cassation case. This submission contests the judicial cancellation of ethical sanctions against the dissertation mentors of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

News Desk, Jayapura, Jubi – Thousands of residents in Tolikara Regency, Papua Highlands, including elders, youth, and children, gathered at Karubaga Airfield on Wednesday to watch the documentary Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time and participate in a public discussion following the screening.

Jakarta – Indonesian authorities should immediately rescind new policies to counter street crime that would result in the unlawful use of force by security personnel, Human Rights Watch said today.

Ardan Pratama, Jakarta – International attention has been directed at Indonesia after United Nations (UN) experts said they believe that the "personal vendetta" narrative in the acid attack on human rights activist Andrie Yunus has the potential to obscure the search for the mastermind behind the attack, which they described as a premeditated act.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Poltracking survey agency has released the latest results of the Indonesian government survey conducted in May 2026. One of the topics included the public trust level towards President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) continued its sharp correction on Thursday, falling more than 4 percent. This morning, the JCI fell 246.14 points, or 4.14 percent, to 5,694.91.

Capital market observer and Founder of Republik Investor, Hendra Wardana, believes the JCI's sharp correction indicates the market is facing a serious crisis of confidence.

Emanuel Kure, Jakarta – Indonesia's data center industry is attracting fresh capital as global operators race to expand infrastructure to meet rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – UN experts have expressed dismay over the use of military court proceedings in the acid attack case targeting Indonesian human rights defender Andrie Yunus, calling instead for a public trial under the civilian justice system.

Dayat, Jakarta – Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Court on Thursday sentenced former Deputy Manpower Minister Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan to four years and six months in prison for his role in a corruption scheme involving the issuance of occupational safety and health certificates.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has instructed central kitchens operating the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program to refrain from serving omelets. According to him, omelets risk falling short on nutritional value, as they are often padded out with more flour than actual eggs.