Jakarta – Indonesia is rightfully concerned about the domestic textile industry. The bankruptcy of Central Java-based garment maker PT Sri Rejeki Isman, better known as Sritex, is a particularly large case in point for a much wider problem.

The following is a translation of a speech given by Sunarno, the president of the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI), at a meeting of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council in Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 4-5, 2025.

Greetings to all comrades.

Aep, Bandung – Former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil confirmed that his residence was searched by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in connection with an alleged markup in advertising funds at Bank Jabar Banten (BJB).

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is set to launch 50 community schools with a total budget of up to Rp 5 trillion ($306 million), aiming to provide free education for children from poor families.

Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – American pop icon Lady Gaga is set to perform in Singapore in May 2025 as part of her world tour promoting her latest album, Mayhem.

The Bad Romance singer announced on Instagram on Monday that she will hold a four-day concert at the National Stadium on May 18, 19, 21, and 24.

Jayapura – The Women's and People's Resistance Alliance, which is made of activists from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP), the Malang Student Struggle Centre for National Liberation (Pembebasan) and the Malang Kamisan (Thursday) Action, held a peaceful demonstration to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD) on Saturday March 8.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah urges Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to assert the national strategic project (PSN), that is the Rempang Eco City project, not to be continued by his government. Previously, Prabowo issued the latest PSN list through Presidential Regulation Number 12 of 2025 which was issued on February 10, 2025.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force, together with the Papua Regional Police, arrested former TNI (Indonesian Military) soldier Yuni Enumbi (YE) while smuggling weapons and ammunition for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM).

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB-OPM) Sebby Sambom stated that the firearms confiscated by the Papua Regional Police were ordered from the Indonesian military. Previously, the police seized six units of firearms produced by PT Pindad from Yuni Enumbi, 29, in Keerom Regency on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman found that the content of MinyaKita cooking oil did not match the measurements listed on the packaging. The finding was made by Amran during a surprise inspection at Pasar Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The National Secretariat of the Indonesia Forum for Budget Transparency (Seknas Fitra) urges Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to return the budget to the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) to the initia

Despite being rained on since mid-day, protesters from various different civil society organisations continued hold an action commemorating International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 at the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Saturday March 8.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Spokesperson of the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement or TPNPB-OPM, Sebby Sambom, said that their group buys weapons through the black market.

Yovanda Noni, East Kutai – The sound of coal mining machinery echoes along the Bengalon-Muara Wahau main road in East Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. Few trees remain, providing limited shade for the workers.

Jakarta – We deplore President Prabowo Subianto's recent utterance of ndhasmu as much as the next Javanese guy. The Javanese phrase, literally meaning "your head" is highly derogatory as the head is considered sacred. For the Javanese people, it would be jarring to hear the phrase in any formal setting, let alone coming from a president.

Jakarta – Indonesia approved local certificates for more than a dozen Apple products on Friday, the Industry Ministry said, moving the tech giant a step closer to having a ban lifted on iPhone sales in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a crucial source of funding for Indonesia's development programs, disbursing more than $800 million since 2020.

Riza, Sukabumi – Rescuers have recovered the body of one of five people who went missing in a landslide that struck Sukabumi, West Java, on Thursday, officials said on Saturday.

The victim, identified as 50-year-old Yayar, was found buried under the landslide debris in Kampung Cijangkar, Kertajaya village, Simpenan district.

Wawan Kurniawan, Tangerang – Two major footwear factories in Tangerang, Banten, which supply global sportswear brands like Nike and Adidas, have been forced to lay off thousands of workers as they struggle to survive amid sharply declining orders, a government official confirmed on Friday.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Friday that Indra Iskandar, Secretary-General of the House of Representatives, has been named a suspect in a year-long corruption investigation related to a housing project for lawmakers.

Jakarta – The government has said it is considering designating flood mitigation in Greater Jakarta a national strategic project (PSN) this year, following massive flooding in the region earlier this week that killed at least two people and displaced tens of thousands of others.

Eka Jaya Saputra, Bekasi – President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday ordered his aides to improve the drainage system and landscape design in Bekasi following severe flooding that devastated the area earlier this week.

During a visit to flood-affected areas in Bekasi Regency, Prabowo spoke with residents and local officials to assess the situation firsthand.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, confirmed that there were no budget cuts for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program. The differences in the price ceiling for raw materials are adjusted to the prices in different regions.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Policy Strategist of Cerah Indonesia Foundation, Sartika Nur Shalati, stated that calling nuclear energy renewable is still a subject of debate, especially when it is claimed to be the cleanest energy.

Aida Ulim, Jayapura – The Women's Coalition for the Defence of Human Rights in the Land of Papua held a silent action at the Cenderawasih University Monument in Abepura, Jayapura city, Papua province, on March 8.

The action was held to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD) and took up the theme "Respect, Protect and Fulfil Women's Human Rights in the Land of Papua".

Rumondang Naibaho, Jakarta – A number of civil society organisations under the Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) held a protest action in the Arjuna Wijaya or Horse Statue area of Central Jakarta on March 8. The action was to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD).

Ichsan Ali, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto gathered Indonesian tycoons, including real estate magnates Sugianto "Aguan" Kusuma and James Riady, at the palace for talks on the newly minted Danantara on Thursday evening.

Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Jakarta – Women's rights activists have condemned musician-turned-lawmaker Ahmad Dhani for his controversial remarks suggesting that foreign footballers should marry Indonesian women to produce homegrown talents, eliminating the need for naturalization procedures in the national football team.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is taking the military further into civilian affairs. His move to place hundreds of active officers in the management of state-owned-enterprises (SOEs) and region-owned enterprises (BUMDs) is in violation of the constitution and the Reformasi era's military doctrine.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 5 March 2025, a police officer reportedly stabbed Mr Elinus Walianggen during police detention in the town of Elelim Yalimo Regency. Mr Walianggen was stopped by the police while riding a motorcycle with his friend, Mr Roni Kepno, in the back. Both men were intoxicated.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta -The spokesperson for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Guntur Romli, said the drop in the country's democracy index rank was due to former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's arrogance.

BeritaSatu, Sukabumi – Heavy rain poured over the Sukabumi area in West Java on Thursday, causing floods in several neighborhoods.

One of the affected areas was the Pratama Indah Residence housing complex, Bojong Village, Cikembar Subdistrict, Sukabumi. Hundreds of homes have been submerged since the evening, forcing 116 families to evacuate to safer places.

Divya Kariza, Jakarta – Indonesia wants its domestic coal price benchmark to inform international pricing for thermal coal, but as importers appear reluctant to go along, the move causes uncertainty for export deals.

Jakarta – The torrential rains that swept across Greater Jakarta this past week have left in their wake devastating consequences, claiming several lives, including a toddler in South Jakarta, and forcing thousands of others to flee their homes for safety.

Surakarta – Former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday morning held a closed-door meeting with the brother of incumbent President Prabowo Subianto, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, at the former's private residence in Surakarta, Central Java.

Local media outlets in Central Java reported that Hashim arrived at 8:45 a.m. and was personally greeted by Jokowi at the gate.

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra, Jakarta – Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard has concluded her visit to Indonesia, during which she assessed the nation's human rights situation and the ongoing prevalence of authoritarian practices.

Her five-day visit, from March 4th to 7th, 2025, provided her with an opportunity to evaluate these critical issues.

Muhammad Fajar – Can the current president, who seems politically stronger than his predecessor, sustain the big-tent coalition that brought him power?

Irfan Maulana, Jakarta – The relocation site for families forced to make way for an upscale Jakarta property development was hit by a major flood this year, as extreme rain triggered fatal floods and landslides across Indonesia's main central island of Java.

"This flooding is terrible," said Ina, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.

Riang Karunianidi and Dipo Negoro – The first one hundred days of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has already given us a picture of how this regime will run in the future.

Natalia Santi – Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard visited Indonesia on March 4-7. The visit was part of a global campaign against authoritarian practices that have been increasing in a number of countries, including Indonesia.

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – A freeze on foreign aid funding from U.S. government agencies, including USAID, has delayed several marine conservation programs in Indonesia, according to senior officials in the world's largest archipelagic country.

Arie Firdaus, Jakarta – What began as a small fabric shop in Central Java nearly 60 years ago grew into one of Southeast Asia's biggest textile manufacturers, outfitting military forces and supplying clothing to major global retailers. But on March 1, the Sritex factory floors in Solo (Surakarta) fell silent.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) has mandated Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia to revise his dissertation. This decision was announced during a press conference at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Salemba, on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Emily Chow and Fransiska Nangoy (Reuters), Jakarta – After a decade of false starts, Indonesia is rolling out a $1.5 billion project to distribute liquefied natural gas (LNG) on a small scale to feed dozens of power plants now running on diesel via a unique hub-and-spoke model across its vast archipelago.

A proposed law to check online crimes and misuse of social media in Timor-Leste has sparked concern that the government could exploit it to muzzle dissent and suppress free speech.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detected potential irregularities in the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program, citing reports of reduced food portions despite full budget allocations.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia recently tried to convince France to strike a technology transfer deal aimed at making its industries greener as Europe will start slapping carbon taxes on imported fertilizers and aluminum starting next year.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – Former Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong has been indicted for alleged corruption in a sugar import scheme that caused an estimated state loss of Rp 578 billion ($35.4 million) between 2015 and 2016.

According to prosecutors, Lembong's actions benefited 10 private entities that have also been named suspects in the case.

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.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – The government seeks to revamp coal gasification projects and build what is to be the country's largest oil refineries among the dozens of megaprojects worth a combined US$618 billion set to start this year, financed by the newly established Danantara sovereign wealth fund (SWF), a minister has said.