The government is still studying the financing mechanism for the establishment of 70,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives as envisioned by President Prabowo Subianto, Home Minister Tito Karnavian said on Tuesday.

President Prabowo Subianto held a four-hour discussion on Thursday with hundreds of leaders of public and private universities at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta.

Fachri Hamzah, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has logged approximately 114 reports of human rights violations related to the National Strategic Projects (PSN) from 2020 to 2023.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), remained defiant as his corruption trial commenced on Friday, claiming he was a political detainee targeted for his outspoken criticism of the government.

Muhammad Rifki Saebani, Tasikmalaya – Four villages in Tanjungsari Village, Sukaresik Subdistrict, Tasikmalaya Regency, were flooded following the overflow of the Cikidang and Citanduy Rivers due to heavy rainfall from Thursday to Friday.

Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has no plans to resign from the Red and White Cabinet, a close confidant of President Prabowo Subianto said on Friday, adding that a cabinet reshuffle was not in the pipeline.

House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said he had confirmed with Prabowo himself that no cabinet shake-up was imminent.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday named five suspects in its ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving advertisement spending by the Bank of West Java and Banten (BJB).

Yogi Eka Sahputra, Jakarta – Fishers in the coastal city of Batam lodged a complaint against the Ocarina reclamation project, which damaged the sea where they hinged their livelihood. They filed the complaint to the Riau Islands regional police after efforts to gain government support went unanswered.

Saepul Jaenudin, Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Bogor – The government has announced plans to construct 200 boarding schools nationwide to provide free education for students from low-income families, Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said on Thursday.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Inactive Ngada Police Chief AKBP Fajar Widyadharma Lukman Sumaatmaja has been transferred to the Headquarters Service Unit (Yanma) Indonesian National Police. This reassignment order was issued after Fajar was accused of drug use, sexually abusing a minor, and selling explicit videos to an Australian pornographic website.

Wawan Kurniawan, Tangerang – Police have seized 13 tons of Minyakita cooking oil from a packaging facility in Tangerang and arrested the owner on fraud charges, an officer announced on Wednesday.

The raid was part of a nationwide crackdown on Minyakita producers and distributors suspected of underfilling and inflating prices, sparking public outrage.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Microsoft is set to launch a cloud region in Indonesia in the second quarter of this year. Microsoft Indonesia's President Director, Dharma Simorangkir, stated that the launch of the cloud region is part of the company's efforts to strengthen Indonesia's digital infrastructure and support the country's digital economy.

Andika Pratama, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has allocated land in 326 regencies to support the establishment of 500 new battalions under the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) while also ensuring food security, Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning Minister Nusron Wahid confirmed Wednesday.

Indonesia, West Papua – As of mid-March 2025, more than 77,886 people in West Papua [1] remain internally displaced as a result of armed conflict between Indonesian security forces and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).

Jakarta – Vietnam's VinFast plans to build 100,000 electric vehicle charging stations across Indonesia, Jakarta's investment minister said, as the EV manufacturer pushes into the burgeoning industry in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The head of House Commission I, Utut Adianto, believes that the TNI Law revision will not bring back the military dual function similar to that of the New Order regime, as it can be anticipated through changes in regulation.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – Indonesia's tax revenue tumbled 41.86 percent year-on-year in January to Rp 88.89 trillion ($5.42 billion), as businesses and taxpayers struggled with the rollout of the government's new Core Tax Administration System (Coretax).

Toto Sudiarjo, Sleman, Indonesia – A decade ago, Suyono's neighbors found his antics collecting the goat and quail droppings outside his home verging on the strange. Today, it's become the norm in many households in Minggir, a Javanese village producing its own gas.

Antara, Balikpapan – A viral video circulating on social media falsely depicts severe flooding in Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, in Sepaku, East Kalimantan. The footage, which appears to show the Garuda Palace and Swissotel Nusantara submerged in water, was revealed to be AI-generated misinformation aimed at provoking public concern.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government announced Thursday that it had already spent Rp 710.5 billion or approximately $43 million to roll out free meals to millions of Indonesian students as of March 12.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia's (UI) decision regarding the dissertation of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia has sparked criticism from various groups, including alumni of the "yellow campus."

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Maruli Simanjuntak dismisses the concerns over the New Order (Orde Baru) resurgence following the TNI Bill discussion as naive, claiming the issue is raised to attack the military institution.

Jakarta – The Bali administration is planning to resume the operation of Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) next month, after the provincial bus service was halted earlier this year due to lack of funding from the central government.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – A renewed plan by the Indonesian government to turn coal into gas or liquid fuel forms has received mounting backlash from climate experts who say it will be ecologically and economically disastrous.

Matthew Kish – Workers at two Indonesian factories that make products for Fanatics and Nike have reached a "groundbreaking" deal to address sexual violence in the workplace.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Pantau Gambut, a non-governmental organization networked across 9 provinces, which focuses on research as well as advocacy and campaigns for the protection and sustainability of peatlands in Indonesia, stated that forest and land fires (karhutla) are not the only singular disaster caused by the damage to the peat ecosystem.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – A group of Indonesian migrant fishermen filed a lawsuit against the American company named Bumble Bee Foods for alleged forced labor and human trafficking on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

Dio Suhenda, Andi Hajramurni, and Yulia Savitri, Jakarta/Makassar/Palembang – President Prabowo Subianto's free birthday health screening program has seen low participation nationwide one month after its official launch on Feb. 10, raising questions about its target of reaching 100 million people by the end of the year.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) is pushing to finalize the revision of Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (TNI) before the legislative recess on March 21. However, the proposed changes have sparked concerns over a potential revival of the dual-function role of the military, reminiscent of the New Order era.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's state budget (APBN) recorded a deficit of Rp 31.2 trillion ($1.9 billion) as of Feb. 28, 2025, or 0.13 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP), the Finance Ministry reported Thursday. The deficit was attributed to state revenue of Rp 316.9 trillion and government spending of Rp 348.1 trillion.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – A series of high-profile corruption cases in Indonesia has reignited calls for the death penalty for corrupt officials, with supporters arguing it would deter future crimes and curb rising corruption levels.

Antara, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has proposed amending the 2004 law on the Indonesian military to allow active-duty officers to serve in certain government positions that are currently reserved exclusively for civilians, an aide said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – It is as if intervention by high-level officials in elections has become the new normal. In last year's presidential election, there were indications that President Joko Widodo used civil servants to bring about the victory of Prabowo Subianto, who was running with his son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Jaka Hendra Baittri, Lake Singkarak, Indonesia – Mardianis recalls reading the Quran with his parents and two children here on the western shore of Lake Singkarak before the desperate cries of galodoh.

Indonesia, West Papua – Since President Prabowo Subianto assumed office, concerns have surged regarding Indonesia's accelerating militarisation, particularly with the expanding occupation of civilian government positions by active members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

Salman Mardira, Heru Andriyanto, Ogan Komering Ulu – Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak on Wednesday criticized what he described as an overreaction to the government's plan to assign active military officers to civilian positions.

Antara, Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The government has allocated Rp 49.4 trillion or approximately $3 billion to pay for Indonesian civil servants' Eid bonuses this year.

Theressia Silalahi, Jakarta – Indonesia must not fall behind in artificial intelligence (AI) development, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka said on Wednesday as he judged an AI competition at SMA 66 Jakarta High School. The event, hosted by Indonesia's largest AI community, AICO, is part of a broader effort to integrate AI education among students.

Yakub Pryatama Wijayaatmaja, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid has highlighted several points that are being changed in the revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI). Included among these points is the assignment of soldiers to civilian positions.

Jakarta – The government has established a special team to identify and evaluate regulations that hinder investment growth, a senior official announced on Wednesday.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie Setiadi announced that Red and White Village Cooperatives, established by President Prabowo Subianto, will be permitted to manage mining operations in areas where mining sites exist. This provision is included in the recently enacted revision of the Mineral and Coal Mining Law, passed in mid-February 2025.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – House of Representatives Commission IV Chairperson Siti Hediati Hariyadi, better known as Titiek Soeharto, has raised concerns over last year's imported rice stockpiled in a Bulog warehouse in Yogyakarta, stating that it is now unfit for consumption due to pest infestation.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (C24) decided that the 2025 C24 Pacific Regional Conference will be held in Dili, Timor-Leste, from 21 to 23 May 2025.

Apriadi Gunawan, Jakarta – Medan District Court in North Sumatra has sentenced Ratu Thalisa, a trans influencer who is widely known as Ratu Entok, to two years and 10 months in prison for blasphemy.

Presiding Judge Achmad Ukayat said that Ratu was found guilty of violating Article 45A of the 2024 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – A recent spate of accusations of nepotism and cronyism under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto has caused a public outcry, as experts warn of the potential impact on the government's effectiveness and accountability.

Jaya Barends, Gebe Island, Indonesia – Abdul Manan Magtiblo watched the excavator dump a piece of Gebe Island into the back of a truck. Barely a thicket remained on the buzz-cut upland above Umera village as the vehicle drove off to the nearby port.

"That's the PT Bartra Putra Mulia [BPM] nickel mine," Manan, the village chief, told Mongabay Indonesia.

Jakarta – Indonesia and Vietnam agreed on Monday to upgrade ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership as the Southeast Asian allies' leaders met in Jakarta to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations.

Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary To Lam held talks with President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta to boost economic and defence cooperation.

Medan – Acourt in North Sumatra sentenced a transgender woman to more than two years in prison Monday for a remark online about Jesus' hair, a local official said, in a case condemned by rights groups as excessive.

Jakarta – Indonesia's car sales in February rose 2.2 per cent year-on-year, the first growth recorded since June 2023, data from the country's car association showed on Tuesday, amid growing adoption of electric vehicles (EV) driven mostly by Chinese brands.

Jakarta – Women workers from a variety of sectors have come together to urge the government to implement stronger legal protections against oppression, discrimination and violence in conjunction with International Women's Day on March 8.