Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa is facing mounting expectations as the government prepares to channel Rp 200 trillion ($12.09 billion) into state-owned banks (Himbara).

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesian activist Syahdan Husein, a spokesperson for the Gejayan Memanggil movement, has been on a hunger strike for a week while detained at Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya). He is protesting the arrest of several activists and demanding their release.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Food poisoning incidents continue to plague the Indonesian government's free nutritious meal (MBG) program.

The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) reported that at least 4,000 students have fallen ill after consuming meals from the program in the past eight months.

Surabaya – The East Java Regional Police and its officers have confiscated 11 books from protesters involved in demonstrations that turned violent in Surabaya and Sidoarjo on August 29-31.

Several of these books have been linked to the riots that occurred during the wave of demonstrations in Indonesia last August, including several areas in East Java.

Jakarta – The National Police have submitted a request to Interpol headquarters in France to issue a Red Notice for business tycoon Mohammad Riza Chalid, who remains at large after he was named as a suspect in a high-profile corruption case linked to state-owned oil and gas holding company Pertamina.

Hanif Musyaffa, Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – Erick Thohir has been officially sworn in as youth and sports minister (Menpora), replacing Dito Ariotedjo, marking his departure from the post of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister. The reshuffle has sparked debate, particularly as it leaves the SOEs Ministry seat vacant.

Denny Gunawan, Ari Pasek, James Christian and Wibawa Hendra Saputera – The year 2025 begins with persistent global geopolitical tensions. The war between Ukraine and Russia drags on, conflict in the Middle East is heating up, and the United States-China trade war continues. All of this could send shockwaves through the global energy market – including in Indonesia.

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Amid rising anti-refugee sentiment in various regions across Indonesia, the Medan city administration has reaffirmed its commitment to a humanitarian approach by continuing to allow asylum seekers to temporarily reside in the city while they await resettlement in third countries.

Reynas Abdila, Jakarta – A number of activists being detained at the Jakarta Metro Jaya Regional Police (Polda) detention centre have launched a joint hunger strike. One of those on the hunger strike is Syahdan Husein, the administrator of Gejayan Memanggil (Gejayan Calling).

Ahmad Syarif Syechbubakr – The protests across Indonesia that began on August 25 and peaked on August 31 resulted in ten deaths, at least three people reported missing, hundreds of cars destroyed, and several government buildings burned. Current discussions largely focus on the aftermath of the violence and the demands of the protesters.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Indonesia's West Java Regional Police have revealed the involvement of a group with anarchist leanings in the wave of demonstrations that erupted at the end of August, which escalated into riots and caused widespread damage.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has responded to the alleged smuggling of firearms by Australian citizens supplied to the combatants of the Free Papua Movement-National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM).

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of the Information Bureau of the Secretariat General at the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Frega Wenas, stated that the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) in securing the House of Representatives (DPR) building is part of their assistance task to the police.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir said Wednesday he remains chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) for now, but his future in the role will be determined by FIFA.

Jakarta – The Central Java Police have pledged to involve the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) in their investigation of the suspicious death of Iko Juliant Junior, a University of Semarang (Unnes) law student who died after participating in an anti-government protest last month.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) reported that bank lending grew 7.56 percent year-on-year in August 2025, marking a slight pickup from July's 7.03 percent. However, the central bank said credit expansion remains insufficient to power stronger economic growth.

Antara, Surabaya – The East Java Police secured 997 individuals suspected of being involved in violent demonstrations within the province from August 29 to September 16.

Antara, Jakarta – The General Election Commission (KPU) has reversed its decision that shielded key registration documents of presidential and vice-presidential candidates from public access, following mounting criticism from lawmakers and civil society.

Indonesia, West Papua – The World Council of Churches will host a UN Human Rights Council side event, "Human Rights in Indonesia – One Year into the New Administration," to be held in Geneva on 22 September.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Seven workers from major mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) remain trapped underground, one week after a landslide struck the Grasberg Block Cave (GBC) mine in Tembagapura, Mimika, Central Papua.

Fahri Ali, Antara, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia has scaled back operations at several of its gas stations in Greater Jakarta as gasoline shortages persist, forcing the company to shorten operating hours, reduce workdays, and place some employees on temporary leave.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Civil Society Coalition slams Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin's backing for the deployment of military personnel to safeguard the House of Representatives (DPR) complex.

Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday appointed a former rival as the new security minister following deadly protests that have been viewed as one of the toughest tests for his presidency.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has rejected one legal challenge and dismissed four others filed by civic groups against the revised Indonesian Military (TNI) Law passed in March, which prompted widespread backlash over several contentious provisions.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto announced another round of cabinet shake-up on Wednesday, just a week after his first major reshuffle, appointing both new and familiar faces to fill vacant and newly established posts.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is banking on the recent Rp 200 trillion or $12 billion injection in commercial banks to create jobs and boost exports, as the banks' top executives face pressure to disburse the loan as soon as possible.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers associated with the Online Ojek Drivers Association Garda Indonesia will hold a protest in Jakarta, Indonesia, today.

Jakarta – For many Indonesian motorists, filling up the tank can feel like a chore. State-owned Pertamina still dominates the downstream fuel market, and its stations often come with one guarantee: long queues.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Parliament (DPR/MPR) Complex in Jakarta's Senayan remains under the guard of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel following the massive demonstrations that erupted in late August.

Deputy Chair of Commission XIII DPR, Andreas Hugo Pareira, explained that the deployment of TNI troops was based on security assessments.

Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – An Indonesian court ruled on Wednesday that parliament had followed proper process in passing contentious revisions to the country's military law, rejecting legal challenges to legislation that had sparked protests and condemnation.

Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste's parliament has bowed to public pressure and dropped a plan to buy SUVs for lawmakers in one of southeast Asia's poorest nations, but sceptical protesters returned to the streets on Wednesday.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – The Bali provincial government has officially lifted its flood emergency status and shifted to a recovery phase running from Sept. 17 to Dec. 17, following weeks of heavy flooding that left 18 people dead and four missing.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Central Jakarta Commercial Court has officially declared bankruptcy against PT Sejahtera Bintang Abadi Textile Tbk (SBAT), Indonesian textile company based in Cicalengka, Majalaya, and Cikancung, West Java, Bandung.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – Thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers are set to protest in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. The Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police will deploy 6,118 joint personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and the Jakarta administration to secure the rally.

Bernard Loesi – Terrorism remains a persistent threat to nations around the world. Indeed, the Global Terrorism Index, an annual chronicle of terrorism trends, found in its latest report that the number of countries that experienced attacks rose to 66 in 2024 – the most since 2018.

Jakarta – The threat of environmental damage hangs over Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara. Palma Hijau Cemerlang tourism company has constructed a number of buildings on Padar Island, part of the national park. Other surrounding islands are also threatened with damage.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Norway's $1.6 trillion state pension fund has dropped French miner Eramet from its investment portfolio over its role in a vast Indonesian nickel mine accused of destroying rainforest and threatening one of the world's few remaining uncontacted Indigenous groups.

Antara, Jakarta – Mental health problems among Indonesian teenagers are rising sharply, with new data showing millions of cases recorded in recent years. The state health insurer BPJS Kesehatan reported that between 2020 and 2024, spending on mental health treatment reached Rp 6.77 trillion ($411.45 million), covering 18.9 million cases.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Jakarta – A school student in Magelang, DRP, claims to have been a victim of mistaken arrest by the police. Authorities apprehended dozens of people after a riot erupted in Magelang on August 29, 2025.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Nahdlatul Ulama's wing, Rabithah Ma'ahid Islamiyah (RMI-NU) DKI Jakarta, is urging the Trade Ministry to impose a moratorium on the import of food trays used for the government's free nutritious meal (MBG) project due to the suspected use of pork grease or lard.

Sukarjito, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto reshuffled his cabinet for the second time this month, appointing new ministers and senior officials on Wednesday as he consolidates his administration one year into office.

Max Lane, Singapore – Jakarta police released 156 high school students detained during an August 25 protest outside the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Senayan. Platform motor bike drivers (ojol), a growing segment of Jakarta's urban poor, also demonstrated. The demonstration flared in a number of sites around Jakarta but focused finally at the Indonesian parliament.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The massive flood that struck Bali on September 10, 2025, was not just a natural disaster. According to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the tragedy was closely tied to unchecked land use changes driven by rapid development.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has decided against forming an independent government investigative team to look into the riots that occurred in the last week of August 2025. This announcement was made by Yusril Ihza, the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Security Affairs.

Agencies, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court was scheduled to rule on Wednesday on challenges to the revision the Indonesian Military (TNI) law allowing a greater armed forces role in civilian affairs, among the sources of anger that have stoked widespread anti-government protests.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has revised the 2025 economic growth target to 5.3 percent. This is stipulated in Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 79 of 2025 concerning the Update of the 2025 Government Work Plan (RKP). This regulation is an update from Perpres Number 109 of 2024, set in October 2024 under President Joko Widodo.

Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Jakarta – Indonesia's plan to centralize all fuel imports under state-owned Pertamina could drive foreign operators like Shell and BP out of the market, an energy expert warned Tuesday.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) recorded positive performance in the metal, machinery, transportation equipment, and electronics (ILMATE) industry sector in the first half of 2025. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in this sector reached 5.19 percent annually, higher than the 4.89 percent growth in the same period the previous year.

Ebed de Rosary, Lembata Island, Indonesia – A horde of children from Tapobali village rush out of Wulandoni 4 Junior High School to the sorghum field clasping blades and gathering starchy panicles into woven baskets.

When it comes to describing Indonesia's economic trajectory since the recovery from the Asian Financial Crisis, it's been a case of 'pick your own narrative'. Indonesia has supplied the storylines for either being an exemplar of the rise of the Global South in the global economy and middle-income dynamism, or a poster child of the middle-income trap.