Yvette Tanamal, Jakarta – After four days at sea attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and another four confined inside an overcrowded container turned prison by Israeli forces, 24-year-old activist Hendro Prasetyo said he returned with many emotions, but fear was not among them. What grew instead, he said, was outrage and determination.

James Balowski – International Labour Day was commemorated by thousands of Indonesian workers, students, and civil society activists in major cities across the country.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – The Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) on Friday warned that Indonesia's plan to build 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity will depend not only on massive investment, but also on improvements in procurement systems, land readiness, and renewable energy regulations.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is hoping to turn the weakening rupiah into a tourist magnet, as the currency continues to near Rp 18,000 against the greenback.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wants Indonesian schools to teach French, further expanding the list of new foreign languages to be included in the country's curriculum.

Indonesia, West Papua – The documentary Pesta Babi ("Pig Feast"), which examines land dispossession and the impact of resource extraction and military operations on Indigenous communities in West Papua, was officially released on JubiTV's YouTube channel on 22 May 2026 after being shown at more than 1,800 public viewings.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia is forging ahead with its plan to require its citizens to submit facial biometrics data before they can register their new phone numbers starting in July.

Maudey Khalisha, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the reactivation of Bandung's Husein Sastranegara Airport for commercial flights, alongside plans to reopen Yogyakarta's Adisutjipto Airport, according to officials in the West Java capital.

On 26 May 2026, members of the Marine Corps (TNI-AL) allegedly arrested the two Papuan pupils Atinus Payage, 16, and Aman Heluka, 17, (see photo on top, source: independent HRD) in the Paradiso area of Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands Province. The boys were taken away in a military truck.

Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The chief statistician has defended the credibility of the country's 5.61% year-on-year economic growth figure for the first quarter of 2026, responding to criticism from economists who questioned whether the data accurately reflected broader economic conditions.

A legal aid group called for dialogue and an end to Indonesia's military involvement in Papua amid an ongoing land dispute over a state-backed food and energy project that triggered intense tension and protests.

Antara, Jakarta – The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has assured the public that subsidized fuel prices will remain unchanged through the end of 2026 despite mounting pressure on the rupiah, which has weakened to as low as Rp 17,877 against the US dollar.

Jakarta – The Education and Teachers Association (P2G) has criticised President Prabowo Subianto's instruction for all schools in Indonesia to start requiring French as a subject.

Singapore – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam met with President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta in Singapore on Friday.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) activist As'ad Aras recounted one of the dark rooms where GSF activists were tortured after being captured by Israeli soldiers.

He said each GSF activist was put into the room one by one, then tortured, regardless of age or gender.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia's top Islamic clerical body has defended President Prabowo Subianto's use of state funds to purchase sacrificial cattle for the Eid al-Adha, saying the policy is permissible under Islamic law because the animals are intended for public benefit rather than personal use.

On 1 May 2026, members of Kodim 1711/Boven Digoel allegedly detained four political activists in the grounds of the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Mawan Village, Mandobo District, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua Province (see photo on top, source: independent HRD).

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The rupiah exchange rate has once again plummeted on Thursday morning, May 28, 2026, to the level of Rp17,870 per US dollar. Director of PT Traze Andalan Futures, Ibrahim Assuaibi, laid out the external and internal factors to today's rupiah depreciation.

The two elephants were found dead in the Indonesian province of Bengkulu, in an area of "production forest" in southern Sumatra. The mother and her calf were lying side by side with their tusks still intact.

Muhammad Yoppy Adhi Hernawan – Indonesian universities are more than just administrative units in the state hierarchy. Law 12 of 2012 on Higher Education protects academic freedom, freedom of academic expression, and scientific autonomy.

Singgih Wiryono, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid has condemned the forced disbandment of a congregation service held by the Prosperous Mission Church (GSM) in Bantul, Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY), on Sunday May 24.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The rupiah has entered a phase of excessive depreciation and is now trading significantly weaker than what Indonesia's long-term economic fundamentals would justify, according to an economist.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said he was "stressed" by the rupiah's sharp depreciation after the currency briefly weakened to around Rp 17,848 against the US dollar, although he insisted the government remains confident in the country's economic fundamentals.

On 19 May 2026, joint security forces apprehended Mr Ruben Kobak alias Kone Kobak, the Head of Diplomacy for the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Yahukimo Regional Branch, in Dekai Town, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province.

Tri Listiyarini, Jakarta – Indonesian sugar farmers are urging the government to ensure the country's upcoming E10 fuel-blending program uses only domestically produced molasses, arguing that a surplus of local supply could support renewable energy goals while improving farmers' incomes.

Vidya Pinandhita, Jakarta – Education watchdogs are pressing the government to immediately enforce a Constitutional Court ruling mandating free basic education at both public and private schools, a year after the decision was issued with no concrete follow-up from the state.

Adlu Raharusun, Manokwari, Jubi – Legal Aid Foundation (YLBH) Sisar Matiti has questioned the progress of a legal investigation into the alleged misuse of Rp12 billion in rehabilitation and reconstruction grant funds from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) allocated to the Teluk Wondama regency administration.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Culture Minister Fadli Zon announced that the new national history book titled 'Sejarah Indonesia: Dinamika Kebangsaan dalam Arus Global' (Indonesian History: National Dynamics in Global Currents) is slated for publication this coming August.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that he was not aware of the reported use of the state budget (APBN) to finance the purchase of sacrificial cattle for President Prabowo Subianto.

Tempo, Jakarta – The Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, stated that the consumption patterns of Indonesian society have shifted toward experience-based spending, including transportation, restaurants, hotels, and travel.

The Indonesian government responded awkwardly to the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla 2.0 humanitarian convoy by Israeli forces in international waters. Instead of immediately asserting a diplomatic position in favor of civilian protection, the government briefly fell into a narrative that normalized Israel's military action.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) reported a monthly decline in Indonesia's crude palm oil (CPO) production, domestic consumption, and exports in March 2026.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Indonesian Retail Entrepreneurs Association, Solihin, confirmed the temporary shutdown of dozens of modern retail outlets in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara. "There are a total of 25 shops, including franchise stores," Solihin said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – More than a decade after the palm oil industry embraced a pledge to not deforest, clear tropical peatlands, or use exploitative practices, policies to that end now cover most of the global palm oil trade, as major traders, refiners and consumer brands have pledged to keep deforestation-linked palm oil out of their supply chains.

Johnny Blades – A West Papuan independence activist says AI-generated fake footage of her and her words has been used to spread disinformation on social media.

Hendro D Situmorang, Depok, West Java – In classrooms across Indonesia, children still sing, joke, and tell stories in their mother tongues, but many of the country's indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing in the digital age.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – The Tourism Ministry has warned of rising accommodation scams linked to illegal villa rentals promoted through social media, as the government moves to tighten regulations on tourism businesses and online travel platforms ahead of an expected surge in foreign tourist arrivals.

Jakarta – Indonesia's parliament will soon start deliberating on a revision to state finance laws, but the focus will not be on changing rules on fiscal deficit limits, a senior lawmaker said on Monday.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is donating 1,098 cattle for Eid al-Adha celebrations across the country. Deputy Minister of State Secretariat Juri Ardiantoro said the sacrificial cattle will be delivered under two schemes.

Mei Leandha, Jakarta – The sudden two-day total blackout across the Northern Sumatra (Sumbagut) region, paralyzing Jambi, West Sumatra, Riau, North Sumatra, and Aceh on Friday night, May 22, 2026, has triggered widespread public distress and heavy financial losses for state electricity firm PLN customers.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Indonesia has postponed the rollout of its electric vehicle (EV) incentive program by one month to July 2026 as the government finalizes calculations for the subsidy scheme.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the government is still completing several fiscal and technical assessments before officially implementing the incentives.

Ajit Niranjan – An expedition to document the end days of the last tropical glaciers in Oceania has revealed sombre footage of "planetary destruction on fast-forward".

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR) are urging the government to bring the kidnapping of activists and journalists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla humanitarian mission before an international legal forum.

West Papuan leader Benny Wenda is urging Pacific leaders to strip Indonesia of its MSG and PIF roles as deadly clashes and fresh claims of violence and killings deepen tensions in the region.

Pribadi Wicaksono, Jakarta – The University of National Development Veterans in Yogyakarta (UPN Veteran Yogyakarta), Indonesia, promises to tighten its supervision system following the revelation of violence and alleged sexual harassment involving seven lecturers.

News Desk, Jayapura, Jubi – The Indonesian government's plan under President Prabowo Subianto to establish a state-owned export enterprise (BUMN Khusus Ekspor) has sparked sharp criticism from civil society groups.

How extraordinary Teddy Indra Wijaya is. He has obtained everything every man desires, as portrayed in Iwan Fals's song Bento: wealth, power, and privilege. At 37, his assets increased by nearly Rp5 billion in a year to Rp20.1 billion, his military rank rose rapidly, and with a position equivalent only to echelon II, he can direct ministers.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – A labor union leader has warned that massive layoffs may occur in the next three months on account of skyrocketing production costs due to the Middle East conflict, forcing manufacturing companies across Java to downsize or close operations permanently.

European Union, Indonesia – On 21 May 2026, the European Parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling for accountability in the attacks against human rights and environmental defenders Andrie Yunus and Muhammad Rosidi.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – The government is aiming to complete the final phase of recovery efforts in disaster-hit areas of northern Sumatra within the next three years, allocating more than US$5 billion for infrastructure-focused rehabilitation and reconstruction programs.