Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin visited the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday, requesting oversight of the government's major healthcare projects, which are valued at trillions of rupiah.

Rizky Sasono – In mid-February 2025, a song titled Bayar, Bayar, Bayar (Pay, Pay, Pay) by post-punk band Sukatani sparked a nationwide call for greater freedom of expression under President Prabowo's increasingly authoritarian administration. The song, which highlights the entrenched culture of bribery in the police, reportedly ruffled the feathers of the force's top brass.

Shinta Maharani, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has condemned remarks made by Ahmad Dhani, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Gerindra faction, calling them sexist, racist, and degrading to Indonesia's dignity.

Jakarta – The Forestry Ministry's plan to hand out concessions on conservation areas confirms the false orientation of environmental policies. Business and economic interests seem to be prioritized over real commitment to forest restoration.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The government plans to open 4,500 outlets nationwide to sell essential food commodities at regulated price caps, Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman announced on Thursday.

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.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia could stand up on its own feet as it tried to remain unfazed by the USAID freeze fiasco, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – Musician and politician Ahmad Dhani has suggested that Indonesia could naturalize football players by arranging marriages between retired foreign footballers and Indonesian women.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – A number of netizens on social media platforms are asking Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to keep his promise of creating 19 million jobs. This surge in demand came after news of widespread layoffs at several companies, including textile firm PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk (Sritex).

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has condemned constructing a military post in Yuguru village, Mebarok District, Nduga Regency, Highland Papua.

On February 19, journalist Sasmito Madrim of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), filed a lawsuit against the Voice of America (VOA) Indonesia for his termination at the Industrial Relations Court of the Central Jakarta District Court.

Jakarta – The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry launched a nationwide campaign on Wednesday to encourage parents to cut back on their time spent online and to engage in more direct interaction with their loved ones.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Research by a London-based institution, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), said that Indonesia's democracy scored 6.44 in 2024, placing the country in a "flawed democracy" category.

Jakarta – Efforts to bring Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) General Chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri and President Prabowo Subianto together will not benefit the public. Their relationship, akin to soap opera, is personal and has nothing to do with how to repair democracy.

Jakarta – Indonesia is debating expanding the role of the country's vast military under President Prabowo Subianto, including by allowing active armed forces personnel to take up civilian posts in ways not seen since the dismantling of strongman Suharto's authoritarian systems decades ago.

Yanita Petriella, Yanita Petriella, Jakarta – Throughout Tuesday March 4, the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) area was paralysed by flooding. Some areas of Bogor and Bekasi regencies that are crossed by the Cikeas, Cileungsi and Bekasi rivers were even flooded with waters to a height of up to five meters.

Jakarta – Newly inaugurated Bekasi Mayor Tri Adhianto confirmed on Wednesday that he had left his residence for a four-star hotel in the city amid severe flooding that forced thousands of other residents to take shelter at makeshift evacuation centers.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi broke his silence on the research results of the Indonesia's Democracy Index released by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian government raised Rp30 trillion from the auction of State Debt Securities (SUN) held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The total bids received during this auction amounted to Rp75.7 trillion.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 4 March 2025, Mr Aguni Sondegau, a 25-year-old motorcycle taxi driver was arbitrarily arrested and tortured by members of the Yonif 509 military unit at the Holomama Military Post, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province. The TNI members arrested Mr Sondegau at approximately 08:00 am without a warrant.

Muhammad Firman, Jakarta – The year 2025 has brought significant challenges to Indonesia's industrial sector, with several major companies shutting down operations and carrying out mass layoffs.

Indonesia, West Papua – The sexual assault of two underaged females during police custody in the Kaimana Regency, Papua Barat Province, on 16 February 2025 has again drawn public attention to the lack of professionalism among the police in West Papua.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – In the early stages of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, Indonesia's Democracy Index has declined once again. The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a London-based research and analysis organization, recorded Indonesia's democracy score at 6.44 in 2024, placing the country Indonesia in the "flawed democracy" category.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian Mineral and Coal Suppliers Association (Aspebindo) has urged the government to grant a six-month transition period before implementing a new regulation requiring coal exports to use the government-set benchmark price (HBA).

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – The Public Works Ministry plans to relocate homes in flood-prone areas, particularly in West Java, Jakarta, and other vulnerable regions. The floods have not only disrupted daily life but also made Ramadan observances more difficult for affected communities.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Balikpapan – The East Kalimantan Police have arrested four men accused of hacking more than 300 Instagram accounts using email phishing attacks and extorting victims for money.

The cybercrime syndicate operated for seven months in Balikpapan, accumulating at least Rp 500 million ($30,479) from its victims, an officer said on Tuesday.

Jakarta – Given the plethora of corruption cases that have tainted Pertamina, it came as no surprise when the Attorney General's Office (AGO) unveiled scandalous fuel imports involving top executives of the state oil and gas company's subsidiary PT Pertamina Patra Niaga, which is believed to have inflicted Rp 193.7 trillion (US$11 billion) in losses on the state.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The central banks of Indonesia and Australia recently renewed their bilateral currency swap arrangement by another five years.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 30 December 2024, a shooting occurred at a cockfighting arena in Prafi, Manokwari Regency, Papua Barat Province. A police officer's warning shot killed a civilian named Amir Hidayat Sianturi. The officer involved, identified as Brigadier A, was reportedly breaking up a disturbance at the cockfighting venue when the projectile ricocheted, hitting Sianturi.

Yovanda Noni, Jakarta – Heavy flooding triggered by the overflowing Ciliwung River has forced 1,229 residents in South and East Jakarta to evacuate, according to the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

Thousands of evacuees have been relocated across several sub-districts, including Kampung Melayu, Bidaracina, Cawang, and East Pejaten, BPBD reported.

Jakarta – This is what happens if corporate crime is forgiven through fines. As opposed to criminally sanctioning companies that encroach on forests and destroy the environment, the government instead negotiates fines, allowing corruption to happen. The value of fines is viewed as a bargaining chip between businesses and those in power.

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The Elementary and Secondary Education Ministry is looking to introduce a new form of academic exams starting with high school students later this year. But experts have called for caution, saying that rushing into the new policy could instead catch students and teachers off guard.

Didik Fibrianto, Malang – Pertamina Patra Niaga Jatimbalinus has tested fuel at 957 regular gas stations across East Java to verify quality amid fuel tampering concerns. Gas stations reported a 28 percent drop in sales following the scandal.

Giffar Rivana, Jakarta – The Jakarta city administration is ramping up its flood mitigation efforts as heavy flooding caused by the overflowing Ciliwung River has displaced 1,229 residents in South and East Jakarta.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) stated that the investigation into the case of the Tangerang sea fence in Banten has been completed.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – Manufacturing activity in Indonesia surged last month to its highest level in nearly a year, driven by an increase in new orders and jobs ahead of Ramadan, but analysts say the long-term outlook is less than rosy.

Consumer demand typically peaks during the Muslim fasting month, which falls in March this year.

Ahmad Arif, Jakarta – Civil society organisations in Indonesia are asking the European Commission to consider deforestation and threats to the rights of indigenous peoples in Papua in assessing country and regional risks within the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) benchmarking scheme.

Muhammad Asyharuddin Arbab, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi – A 21-year-old pregnant woman in a remote village of Polewali Mandar Regency had to be carried on a makeshift stretcher for 20 kilometers to reach medical help due to severely damaged infrastructure.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the Covid-19 pandemic first spread across the globe. The virus was detected in Indonesia for the first time in March 2020, and the government launched various efforts to curb its transmission, which spread rapidly across the country.

Deni Friawan – The establishment of Danantara, Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund (SWF), has sparked both optimism and scepticism. Modelled after successful SWFs like Singapore's Temasek and Malaysia's Khazanah, Danantara is expected to optimise the management of state-owned assets, drive economic growth, and enhance national welfare.

Jakarta – Heavy rains over the past few days have caused the Ciliwung River to burst its banks, flooding dozens of neighborhood units (RT) in the capital's three municipalities to the east, west and south as of Tuesday morning.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily detained and tortured Mr Abner Karet, 23, in Sorong City, Papua Barat Daya Province. The incident arose from a personal dispute between a TNI member and residents but escalated as around 40 TNI personnel arrived at the scene.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating claims that former tax official Mohamad Haniv solicited funds from companies to sponsor his daughter's fashion show.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Malaysian plastic giant Thong Guan Industries recently inked a land purchase order to set up a production plant in Central Java's Batang integrated industrial park.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia stated that 21 downstreaming projects will be accelerated. Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara) will fund the downstreaming projects.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – Twenty-two Indonesian civil society organizations have sent a letter to European Union Commissioners to express their concerns over the worsening condition of Papua's rainforests. The region faces the threat of the deforestation of 2 million hectares of forest, alongside increasing risks to the Indigenous Malind and Yei communities.

Keun Lee and Marco Kamiya Seoul/Jakarta – Industrial policy has come back into vogue in recent years. But simply reviving old approaches will not be enough to achieve the outcomes countries are seeking, especially within an increasingly high-tech global economy. Indonesia is a case in point.

Iim Halimatusa'diyah and Norshahril Saat – Indonesian youth are unhappy about the state of their country, even more so when compared to their counterparts in other ASEAN countries. The government should take heed of such discontent

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara will take part in a coal gasification project that aims to slash the country's imports of liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, according to a minister.

Rino Fajar Setiawan, Jakarta – Large-scale flooding has paralyzed Bekasi, West Java, after torrential rains and water overflow from upstream areas in Bogor submerged eight out of the city's 12 districts. Government offices, public facilities, roads, and residential areas have been inundated, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.