Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The exchange rate of the rupiah has been consistently under pressure since the closing of trade last Friday, February 28, 2025, reaching Rp 16,520 per US dollar. Currency observer Ibrahim Assuaibi warned that if this trend continues, the rupiah has the potential to touch the level of Rp 17,000 per US dollar in the near future, at least in March.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute or LBH Jakarta urges the government to form an independent team to investigate the alleged adulteration of Pertamax fuel that has harmed the public.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The President of the Labour Party, Said Iqbal, believes that the termination of employment of thousands of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex employees is illegal and in violation of the law.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Labor Party considers the work of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Manpower incompetent for failing to prevent the layoffs of thousands of employees of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex.

Shinta Maharani, Amirullah, Yogyakarta – Dark Indonesia demonstrations were held by the Indonesian diaspora in the cities of Melbourne and Berlin on Saturday March 1. They were protesting the strengthening of militarism under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Wahroni, Tangerang – The Indonesian government has repatriated 84 of its citizens who were victims of an alleged online scam operation in Myanmar. All returnees arrived in Indonesia safely and in good health.

According to Judha Nugraha, Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, among the 84 repatriated individuals, 15 were women.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Amirullah, Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Deputy Director Husein Ahmad is asking the government to revise Law Number 31/1997 on Military Justice. He said that so far, the law has had the potential to result in impunity for TNI (Indonesian Military) members.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) believes that the public has the right to receive compensation from state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina related to the alleged mixing or adulteration of Pertamax fuel.

Istiqomatul Hayati, Jakarta – The circumstances surrounding the SUKATANI band's clarification video, which had puzzled netizens, have been revealed. Through their Instagram account on Saturday, March 1, 2025, the punk band from Purbalingga, Central Java, disclosed that they have experienced intimidation since July 2024.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Indonesian students in Melbourne, Australia, staged a "Dark Indonesia" rally protesting the policies of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka on Saturday, March 1, 2025.

Jakarta – The Ministry of Defense has inducted 787 reserve component members from within its ranks and the Indonesian Army for this year.

The inducted members include civil servants and government employees holding work agreements with the ministry and the Army.

Andrea Hosana, Jakarta – The prices of staple food commodities in Indonesia, including chili and cooking oil, are expected to rise during Ramadan, driven by increased demand and supply limitations, according to the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF).

Jakarta – Had it not been for the overeager and blundering police investigators in Central Java, the punk band Sukatani would remain somewhat unknown and their anti-cop song "Bayar Bayar Bayar" (Pay Pay Pay) might only be a curiosity item among followers of the duo.

Natasya Salim and Tri Ardhya – Anger over slashed government budgets, poor quality of life, career stagnation and rampant official corruption is motivating many Indonesians to fantasise about "running away" from the country of 280 million people.

Jordan Hirst – Human rights groups have slammed a conservative province in Indonesia for publicly flogging two men convicted of having consensual gay sex in a "horrifying act of discrimination".

Earlier in the week, the two university students in Indonesia's Aceh province for having consensual same-sex sexual relations.

Jakarta – Almost 20 cooperatives have applied to receive mineral and coal mining management permits from the government, Deputy Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono has said.

"The ministry has received applications from nearly 20 cooperatives for permits to mine tin, gold, coal and other minerals," Ferry said on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The exchange rate of the rupiah against the United States dollar experienced considerable pressure during the final week of February 2025.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has strongly condemned the intimidation of a journalist while covering an event involving the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The coalition argues that this incident adds to a troubling pattern of misconduct by national soldiers.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Chairperson of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan announced a promising prediction that 100,000 jobs are expected to be created in the textile and footwear industries. This opportunity emerged after a global apparel company expressed interest in tripling its orders from Indonesia over the next three years.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto stated that the presence of the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and the seventh President Jokowi at the regional heads' retreat shows the continuity of national leadership.

Antara, Sukoharjo – The employees of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex will stop working starting March 1, 2025, confirmed Head of the Department of Industry and Labor of Sukoharjo Regency, Sumarno. The workers are continuing their duties until Thursday, February 28, 2025.

Jakarta – The protracted bankruptcy proceedings of Sri Rejeki Isman, or Sritex, a company with 50,000 employees, are the result of government interference. The plan to save the integrated textile company through a bailout has the potential to cause financial losses to the state.

Antara, Jakarta – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Karen Agustiawan, former CEO of state-run oil company Pertamina, and extended her prison sentence from nine years to 13 years for her corruption conviction.

Indonesia is now waking up to what I said after Prabowo Subianto was elected last year: that the ghost of Suharto has returned. The New Order dictatorship was buried twenty-five years ago, but under Prabowo's rule it is being reborn.

Yustinus Paat, Antara, Jakarta – Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Wahyu Sakti Trenggono said Kohod Village Chief Arsin must pay a Rp 48 billion ($3 million) fine for constructing illegal sea barriers off the northern coast of Banten Province. The barriers, spanning over 30 kilometers, restricted fishing access and sparked concerns over unlawful territorial claims.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government is reducing the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on economy-class domestic flights to ease travel costs ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Under a new regulation, passengers will pay only 5 percent VAT instead of the standard 11 percent, as the remaining 6 percent is covered by the government.

Jakarta – New sovereign wealth fund Danantara Indonesia will focus on large-scale projects generating good returns as it prioritises sectors championed by the government to increase economic growth and create jobs, its chief investment officer told Reuters.

Jakarta – The government has announced that Ramadan will start on Saturday following an isbat (confirmation) meeting with several Islamic organizations and other parties in Jakarta on Friday.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Several activists who are part of the Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption have reported alleged corruption related to the organization of the regional heads' retreat held at the Magelang Military Academy (Akmil) in Central Java.

Jamal Abdun Nashr, Magelang – Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Central Board, Puan Maharani, commented on the absence of nine regional heads from Bali at the retreat at the Magelang Military Academy from February 21 to 28, 2025.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has floated a plan to hold a follow-up military retreat for local leaders next year, according to Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya.

Danial Donald, Kota Tinggi – Timor-Leste is confident that it has made significant progress and is on the right track to fulfil the roadmap outlined for its full membership in ASEAN.

Jakarta – The Banda Aceh Public Order Agency and Wilayatul Hisbah (Satpol PP WH), or "sharia police", plans to intensify monitoring during of Ramadan to prevent violations of Islamic law under a mandate from the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), according to the agency's duty chief.

Jakarta – Indonesian democracy faced yet another tough challenge last week. Students and members of civil society came out onto the streets to protest President Prabowo Subianto's austerity measures, but unfortunately, the voices of opposition are being silenced.

Jakarta – Growing public distrust of the newly formed sovereign wealth fund, Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara), has sparked online discussions on switching banks and cash withdrawals, leading analysts to debate the actual risks of a potential bank run or the ensuing economic crisis.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Despite little chance of lowering benchmark interest rates amid a strengthening United States dollar and highs cost of bond issuance, the Indonesian government is pushing for growth while relying on budget cuts to finance key programs like the free nutritious meal program and the new sovereign wealth fund, Danantara.

Rizka Ardina Nugraheni, Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Indonesia's textile giant Sri Rejeki Isman (Sritex) will cease all factory operations in Central Java on Saturday, following a bankruptcy ruling over its failure to repay debts. The shutdown of the country's largest textile company will affect more than 10,000 workers across the province.

Herman, Jakarta – Several Muslim groups in Indonesia have started observing the fasting month of Ramadan earlier than the official government announcement. Among them is the An-Nadzir congregation in Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi, which began fasting on Friday, despite the government not yet declaring the first day of Ramadan.

Antara, Jakarta – A number of Chinese investors are eyeing to relocate their factories to the Kendal Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Central Java, according to Deputy Industry Minister Faisol Riza.

Raden Putri Alpadillah Ginanjar, Jakarta – The alleged corruption case of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga with the modus operandi of mixing Pertamax (RON 92) fuel with Pertalite (RON 90) has left numerous people feeling dismayed.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Central Java Regional Police stated that the alleged intimidation case involving the Sukatani band is currently being handled by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) of the Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Polri).

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Corruption in the energy sector continues to be the main obstacle in the transition to renewable energy. The alleged corruption of crude oil by PT Pertamina, which produced Pertamax and Pertalite, adds to the long list of challenges for Indonesia's transition to renewable energy.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Coordinator of the Indonesian Higher Education, Science, and Technology Lecturers Alliance (Adaksi), Anggun Gunawan, stated that his group is prepared to file a legal lawsuit if the performance allowance (tukin) for previous periods cannot be backpaid.

Sukma Kanthi Nurani, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto attended the closing ceremony of the VI Congress of the Democratic Party, which took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jakarta, on Tuesday night, February 25, 2025.

As part of the agenda, Prabowo was scheduled to deliver the closing speech for the party, known for its mercy star emblem.

Jakarta – Without a radical breakthrough, there is no way the government will achieve its targets of reducing household waste by 30 percent and of processing waste by 70 percent by 2025. The handling of waste is still an indicator of failure of almost every city and regency administration in Indonesia.

Linda Lestari, Jakarta – The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) announced the recall of 91 illegal cosmetic and skincare brands containing hazardous ingredients, as quoted from Antara, Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Ni Made Sukmasari, Jakarta – Chief Economist of Permata Bank Josua Pardede assesses nominating former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Supervisory Board of Danantara Investment Management Agency as an Indonesian government strategy to enhance international credibility and attract global investors.

Andreas Harsono – In Indonesia, Islamist groups have long misused the country's blasphemy law as a political weapon to target perceived critics of Islam, discriminate against religious minorities, and carry out personal vendettas.

Kiki Siregar, Jakarta – Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto has hit back at recent "Dark Indonesia" protests in the country, depicting a bright future as he expressed confidence that the archipelago would become the world's fourth-biggest economy in 2050.

Responding to the flogging of two university students in Indonesia's Aceh province for having consensual same-sex sexual relations, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director Montse Ferrer said: