Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Jakarta – Indonesia, an archipelago blessed with abundant natural resources, including oil and natural gas, remains an importer of oil. This paradox often raises the question, why does a country brimming with oil reserves need fuel imports? Here are seven reasons behind this phenomenon.

1. Limited capacity of oil refineries

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto plans to gather elected regional heads to attend a briefing or retreat. Yusril said the briefing will resemble the retreat of the Red and White cabinet in Magelang, Central Java, October 24-27, 2024.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN) is still awaiting President Prabowo Subianto's availability to conduct the groundbreaking ceremony for the ninth phase of the IKN project. IKN Authority Spokesperson Troy Pantouw confirmed that his team and the Ministry of Public Works have submitted a request for the inauguration to the Presidential Palace.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 10 December 2024, a group of students from the Walter Post School of Theology (STT) in Jayapura were arbitrarily stopped by police while they were driving to a public commemoration worship for the Human Rights Day, organised by the Papuan Council of Churches and Indigenous Pastors.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Prominent Indonesian environmental forensic expert Bambang Hero Saharjo faces yet another potential lawsuit for serving as a state witness against alleged violators, this time in a high-profile tin laundering case.

Euis Rita Hartarti, Jakarta – The Saudi Arabian government has greenlit a Hajj quota of 221,000 people for the world's largest Muslim-majority country Indonesia this pilgrimage season.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday rejected a request by high-profile graft suspect Hasto Kristiyanto to delay his investigation until a court ruling is issued on his pre-trial motion.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – The discovery of a mysterious 30.16-kilometre-long bamboo fence in the Java Sea, north of Tangerang, has left Indonesians disconcerted. A group of fishermen raised the alarm last week, expressing their concerns on social media.

Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) has reported the alleged doxing of ICW researcher Diky Anandya to the National Police (Polri) Criminal Investigations Directorate (Bareskrim) Cyber Crimes Unit.

Indonesia, West Papua – Protests by Papuan students in the cities of Yogyakarta, Java Tengah Province, and Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan Province) were forcefully dispersed by police officers on 1 and 2 December 2024 in commemoration of the 1st December 1961.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), together with the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), reported a doxing incident experienced by one of its researchers to the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police on Monday morning, January 13, 2025.

Jakarta – The results of a Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) survey show that the majority of people agree with the removal of the electoral threshold that was required to nominate a presidential candidate or the presidential threshold, which was abolished by a Constitutional Court (MK) ruling earlier this month.

Jakarta – The coin-hunting craze through the Jagat application has hit the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK) in Senayan, Central Jakarta, as coin hunters reportedly crowded the area over the past week.

Antara, Jakarta – Six former executives of state-owned mining company Antam (IDX: ANTM) have been charged with corruption, allegedly causing a loss of Rp3.31 trillion ($203.19 million) to the state. The charges relate to mismanagement and fraudulent activities involving 109 tons of gold from Antam between 2010 and 2022.

BeritaBali.com, Badung, Bali – Indonesian authorities have dismantled an international online prostitution network, arresting two Russian nationals involved in the operation.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – Indonesia is preparing to follow in Australia's footsteps in restricting social media access for children. Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced that the government is drafting regulations to set a minimum age limit for accessing social media. However, she did not disclose the specific age under consideration.

Jakarta – Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid has appointed model and celebrity Raline Shah as an official at the ministry, serving as a personal staffer advising the minister on global partnership and digital education.

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has expressed concerns that the recent visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Indonesia may signal a revival of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) program, which has been criticized for its potential negative environmental impacts.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The government allotted Rp13 billion for the construction of a memorial living park in Pidie Regency, Aceh, as part of the reparation for the victims of gross human rights violations in the region, said the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Diana Kusumastuti.

Jakarta – Police are intensifying security patrols in Yalimo regency, Papua Highlands, following the shooting of two civilians last week, as they seek to stabilize the situation and capture the shooter.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto plans to hold another military-style retreat for all the regional heads who were elected into office in the November 2024 regional election.

Jakarta – One of the highlights of Foreign Minister Sugiono's first foreign policy speech late last week was the prominent display of images of Indonesia's first president Sukarno as a backdrop for the event.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – After enduring a prolonged dry season due to El Nino, a large part of Indonesia endured hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and landslides for most of last year, a trend likely to continue in the next few months, the country's disaster agency has warned.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Hasto Kristiyanto, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), was interrogated as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday but was not detained following the session.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Ninis Chairunnisa, Jakarta – Democracy activists and academics have criticised President Prabowo Subianto's plan to send elected regional heads on a retreat similar to the one that ministers went to at the start of his term in office.

Chesa Andini Saputra, Antara, Jakarta – Indonesians are urged to stay vigilant to the potential outbreak of flu-like Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) that could spread faster during the cooler period.

Andika Pratama, Palembang – Prosecutors have arrested Deliar Marzoeki, head of the South Sumatra Manpower and Transmigration Department, and his second wife, Hesti, 30, in connection with corruption allegations.

Jakarta – Mount Ibu in North Maluku erupted on Saturday, spewing hot lava and releasing a column of smoke and ash four kilometers, an official said.

The volcano, located on Halmahera Island, erupted at 7:45 p.m. eastern Indonesia time, sending a tall flaming column soaring into the sky.

Didik Fibrianto, Batu – The East Java government has launched a large-scale vaccination campaign following the infection of 11,317 cows by foot and mouth disease (FMD), making the province the epicenter of the outbreak.

Muhammad Iqbal Ikromi, Chandra Adi Nurwidya, Yogyakarta – Several members of the Yogyakarta Metropolitan Police are alleged to have tortured a Semarang resident, who later died from his wounds in September last year.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Shinta Kamdani discussed the impact of increasing the retirement age for workers in 2025. The retirement age for workers this year has increased to 59 years from the previous 58 years.

Angelina Tiara Puspitalova, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto proposed expanding oil palm plantations to increase palm oil exports. However, this idea has drawn criticism because it is considered to trigger deforestation.

Padang, W Sumatra – Manpower Minister Yassierli emphasized that the first half of 2025 is crucial for determining Indonesia's success in realizing its Golden Indonesia 2045 vision, which aims to transform the nation into an advanced country.

Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim, Bogor, Indonesia – Japan and Indonesia pledged on Saturday to deepen economic and defense ties during a visit by the Japanese prime minister, seen as promoting regional cooperation as China flexes its muscle and Donald Trump prepares to take over as the next U.S. president.

Jakarta – In 1996 Tommy Suharto, the youngest, son of Indonesia's dictator, set out to build the Timor, a national car. The plan was to import models manufactured by Kia Motors, a South Korean carmaker, and rebrand them. Kia would teach Indonesians carmaking; strict local-content requirements would ensure the economy benefited.

Catherine Thorbecke, Tokyo – Indonesia isn't taking a step back from its hardball approach to Apple. The showdown has turned into quite a spectacle, but it's unlikely the wins will be sustainable.

Bogor, West Java – Japan will give Indonesia two high-speed patrol boats, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Saturday, as Tokyo seeks to boost regional maritime security cooperation in the face of competing territorial claims with China.

Ishiba made the pledge during a visit to Jakarta, where he held talks with President Prabowo Subianto on a range of bilateral issues.

Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta Provincial Health Office recorded 214 cases of acute respiratory infection, or ISPA, caused by human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in data collection until January 2025.

Jakarta – The South Jakarta District Court received on Friday a pretrial motion from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for naming him a suspect in a bribery case.

Geneva, Switzerland – World Trade Organization experts on Friday largely upheld European Union restrictions on use of palm oil in biofuels following a complaint by Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's leading producer of palm oil, in 2019 requested an expert panel review of the EU restrictions.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Saturday. The state visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and explore various cooperation opportunities between the two nations.

Karunia Putri, Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan or Zulhas has revealed that the current Rp71 trillion budget allocated for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program is only sufficient to sustain operations until June 2025. Furthermore, the available funds are inadequate to cover all school-aged children across Indonesia.

Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday congratulated the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on its 52nd anniversary, nearly a month after he was ousted by the party over irrecoverable differences.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is reminding Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and President Prabowo Subianto about the Forestry Ministry's plan to open 20 million hectares of land under the pretext of supporting food and energy security.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Samarinda – The East Kalimantan government has turned a former mining area in the provincial capital Samarinda into agricultural land for rice cultivation. Acting Governor Akmal Malik said this initiative supports food self-sufficiency and the free nutritious meals program introduced by President Prabowo Subianto.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Southeast Asia's largest economy Indonesia has included a "fairer international trade" as part of its foreign policy agenda, its top diplomat revealed Friday.

Antara, Jakarta – Farmers participating in the government's inter-island migration program can earn around Rp 20 million per family per month, Transmigration Minister Iftitah Sulaiman Suryanegara said on Thursday.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has picked Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia to lead the task force dedicated to expediting Indonesia's downstream industry development and national energy security.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto intends to bring an end to the long-drawn-out Russia-Ukraine war, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono.

Jakarta – The Religious Affairs Ministry is targeting to send one thousand da'i (Islamic preachers) to underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas during Ramadan 2025 to bolster religious literacy in regions with limited access to spiritual guidance.