A final decision on Timor-Leste's full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected in May, reports the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – A number of netizens on social media platforms are asking Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to keep his promise of creating 19 million jobs. This surge in demand came after news of widespread layoffs at several companies, including textile firm PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk (Sritex).

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal responded to the possibility of a second Dark Indonesia (Indonesia Gelap) rally in the near future. He asserted that President Prabowo's government is actively addressing the concerns and demands raised by the public.

Jeff Hutton – Last November, Jakarta-based Muhamad Heychael, program director at nonprofit media organization Remotivi, began offering small grants to local journalists to report on the nickel mines and smelters proliferating in remote corners of Indonesia's far east.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The Indonesian Supreme Court has upheld a government decision to curb the expansion of a multibillion-dollar oil palm plantation project in the country's easternmost region of Papua.

Rizky Sasono – In mid-February 2025, a song titled Bayar, Bayar, Bayar (Pay, Pay, Pay) by post-punk band Sukatani sparked a nationwide call for greater freedom of expression under President Prabowo's increasingly authoritarian administration. The song, which highlights the entrenched culture of bribery in the police, reportedly ruffled the feathers of the force's top brass.

The House of Representatives (DPR) soon plans to deliberate revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI). This move was taken after President Prabowo Subianto sent a presidential letter (Surpres) to the DPR giving the go ahead for the deliberations.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has condemned remarks made by Ahmad Dhani, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Gerindra faction, calling them sexist, racist, and degrading to Indonesia's dignity.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The National Mandate Party (PAN) has confirmed its support for President Prabowo Subianto's proposal to form a permanent coalition, a concept the latter introduced last month.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI), General Agus Subiyanto, is suspected of promoting Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya from Major to Lieutenant Colonel without the required attendance at the Indonesian Army Staff and Command School (Sesko TNI AD).

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The government plans to open 4,500 outlets nationwide to sell essential food commodities at regulated price caps, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman announced on Thursday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia could stand up on its own feet as it tried to remain unfazed by the USAID freeze fiasco, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

Wahroni, Tangerang – Indonesian police have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 127 illegal migrant workers disguised as Umrah pilgrims at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, officials announced on Thursday.

During the operation, authorities arrested seven suspects – four men and three women, aged between 19 and 53 – on human trafficking charges.

Herman, Bogor – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi ordered the Hibisc Fantasy amusement park in Bogor to dismantle facilities built outside its permitted concession area, following an inspection on Thursday.

His unannounced visit led to the immediate removal of several unauthorized attractions.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday, requesting oversight of the government's major healthcare projects, which are valued at trillions of rupiah.

Serang Rasyid Ridho – Two footwear companies that produce shoes for the Nike brand in Tangerang regency, Banten, are in the process of laying off (PHK) thousands of employees.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Floods struck several regions across Indonesia, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Thursday, March 6, 2025. The agency's emergency control and operation center noted that nine regions were flooded across six provinces.

Novianti Setuningsih, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Deputy Director Hussein Ahmad says that the revisions of the Indonesian Military Law (UU TNI) on the removal of prohibitions on business activities is just a pretext for a handful of elite officers to be able to conduct business again as it was during the New Order era of former president Suharto.

Muhammad Iqbal, Jakarta – A South Tangerang Police officer's alleged arrogant behavior, including being drunk and extorting street vendors, has gone viral on social media platforms. The incident reportedly took place in the Setu District, South Tangerang.

Yohanes Sulaiman – In his 2025 Annual Press Statement, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono provided justifications for President Prabowo Subianto's decision for Indonesia to formally join BRICS.

Indonesia, West Papua – The investigation into the Molotov bomb attack on the Jubi office has seen a setback, with new developments raising concerns about the authorities' commitment to uncover the perpetrators.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry plans to relocate homes in flood-prone areas, particularly in West Java, Jakarta, and other vulnerable regions. The floods have not only disrupted daily life but also made Ramadan observances more difficult for affected communities.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The central banks of Indonesia and Australia recently renewed their bilateral currency swap arrangement by another five years.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Balikpapan – The East Kalimantan Police have arrested four men accused of hacking more than 300 Instagram accounts using email phishing attacks and extorting victims for money.

The cybercrime syndicate operated for seven months in Balikpapan, accumulating at least Rp 500 million ($30,479) from its victims, an officer said on Tuesday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Mineral and Coal Suppliers Association (Aspebindo) has urged the government to grant a six-month transition period before implementing a new regulation requiring coal exports to use the government-set benchmark price (HBA).

Jakarta – Given the plethora of corruption cases that have tainted Pertamina, it came as no surprise when the Attorney General's Office (AGO) unveiled scandalous fuel imports involving top executives of the state oil and gas company's subsidiary PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, which is believed to have inflicted Rp 193.7 trillion (US$11 billion) in losses on the state.

Jakarta – The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry launched a nationwide campaign on Wednesday to encourage parents to cut back on their time spent online and to engage in more direct interaction with their loved ones.

Muhammad Firman, Jakarta – The year 2025 has brought significant challenges to Indonesia's industrial sector, with several major companies shutting down operations and carrying out mass layoffs.

Jakarta – Indonesia is debating expanding the role of the country's vast military under President Prabowo Subianto, including by allowing active armed forces personnel to take up civilian posts in ways not seen since the dismantling of strongman Suharto's authoritarian systems decades ago.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 4 March 2025, Mr Aguni Sondegau, a 25-year-old motorcycle taxi driver was arbitrarily arrested and tortured by members of the Yonif 509 military unit at the Holomama Military Post, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province. The TNI members arrested Mr Sondegau at approximately 08:00 am without a warrant.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi broke his silence on the research results of the Indonesia's Democracy Index released by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – In the early stages of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, Indonesia's Democracy Index has declined once again. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based research and analysis organization, recorded Indonesia's democracy score at 6.44 in 2024, placing the country Indonesia in the "flawed democracy" category.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 30 December 2024, a shooting occurred at a cockfighting arena in Prafi, Manokwari Regency, Papua Barat Province. A police officer's warning shot killed a civilian named Amir Hidayat Sianturi. The officer involved, identified as Brigadier A, was reportedly breaking up a disturbance at the cockfighting venue when the projectile ricocheted, hitting Sianturi.

Indonesia, West Papua – The sexual assault of two underaged females during police custody in the Kaimana Regency, Papua Barat Province, on 16 February 2025 has again drawn public attention to the lack of professionalism among the police in West Papua.

Jakarta – Newly inaugurated Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto confirmed on Wednesday that he had left his residence for a four-star hotel in the city amid severe flooding that forced thousands of other residents to take shelter at makeshift evacuation centers.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian government raised Rp30 trillion from the auction of State Debt Securities (SUN) held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The total bids received during this auction amounted to Rp75.7 trillion.

Jakarta – Efforts to bring Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) General Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and President Prabowo Subianto together will not benefit the public. Their relationship, akin to soap opera, is personal and has nothing to do with how to repair democracy.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Research by a London-based institution, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said that Indonesia's democracy scored 6.44 in 2024, placing the country in a "flawed democracy" category.

Yanita Petriella, Yanita Petriella, Jakarta – Throughout Tuesday March 4, the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) area was paralysed by flooding. Some areas of Bogor and Bekasi regencies that are crossed by the Cikeas, Cileungsi and Bekasi rivers were even flooded with waters to a height of up to five meters.

Iim Halimatusa'diyah and Norshahril Saat – Indonesian youth are unhappy about the state of their country, even more so when compared to their counterparts in other ASEAN countries. The government should take heed of such discontent

Keun Lee and Marco Kamiya Seoul/Jakarta – Industrial policy has come back into vogue in recent years. But simply reviving old approaches will not be enough to achieve the outcomes countries are seeking, especially within an increasingly high-tech global economy. Indonesia is a case in point.

Deni Friawan – The establishment of Danantara, Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund (SWF), has sparked both optimism and scepticism. Modelled after successful SWFs like Singapore's Temasek and Malaysia's Khazanah, Danantara is expected to optimise the management of state-owned assets, drive economic growth, and enhance national welfare.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry is looking to introduce a new form of academic exams starting with high school students later this year. But experts have called for caution, saying that rushing into the new policy could instead catch students and teachers off guard.

Rino Fajar Setiawan, Jakarta – Large-scale flooding has paralyzed Bekasi, West Java, after torrential rains and water overflow from upstream areas in Bogor submerged eight out of the city's 12 districts. Government offices, public facilities, roads, and residential areas have been inundated, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

Didik Fibrianto, Malang – Pertamina Patra Niaga Jatimbalinus has tested fuel at 957 regular gas stations across East Java to verify quality amid fuel tampering concerns. Gas stations reported a 28 percent drop in sales following the scandal.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating claims that former tax official Mohamad Haniv solicited funds from companies to sponsor his daughter's fashion show.

Muhammad Asyharuddin Arbab, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi – A 21-year-old pregnant woman in a remote village of Polewali Mandar Regency had to be carried on a makeshift stretcher for 20 kilometers to reach medical help due to severely damaged infrastructure.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Malaysian plastic giant Thong Guan Industries recently inked a land purchase order to set up a production plant in Central Java's Batang integrated industrial park.

Giffar Rivana, Jakarta – The Jakarta city administration is ramping up its flood mitigation efforts as heavy flooding caused by the overflowing Ciliwung River has displaced 1,229 residents in South and East Jakarta.

Jakarta – Heavy rains over the past few days have caused the Ciliwung River to burst its banks, flooding dozens of neighborhood units (RT) in the capital's three municipalities to the east, west and south as of Tuesday morning.