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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ananda Ridho Sulistya, Jakarta – A flash flood in Puncak, Cisarua, Bogor, has damaged public infrastructure, triggered landslides, and claimed one life. Heavy rainfall since Sunday, March 2, has destroyed seven bridges, while a local resident was swept away by the floodwaters.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Rear Admiral Irvansyah said that the agency's budget has long been far from ideal for carrying out maritime surveillance functions. According to him, the efficiency policy of President Prabowo Subianto in 2025 has further burdened the agency.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia posted a 0.48 percent month-to-month deflation in February which the Central Statistics Agency or BPS attributed to the electricity bill discounts.

Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – The formation of disability service units (DSU) in Indonesia at the regional level as the forefront of empowerment at the local level for people with disabilities continues to be intensified. This effort is made to ensure inclusive and certain job placements for disabled workers.

Two men suspected of having a gay sex are canned in Aceh, the only Indonesian province with strict Sharia laws

Global rights group Amnesty International has criticized the recent flogging of two Indonesian men for having a consensual same-sex relationship as a "horrifying act of discrimination."

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia has requested to relax the criteria and requirements set for Timor-Leste in a bid to expedite the process for the country to become a full member of ASEAN by the end of this year, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The United Nations has called out Indonesia's No. 2 palm oil company for alleged human rights and environmental abuses, the first time it has singled out a company rather than the industry.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta revealed that public trust in Pertamina is dwindling due to the alleged fuel adulteration (BBM) of Pertamax.

According to data from the complaint post opened by LBH Jakarta, most complainants doubt the resolution of this case, with some even suggesting the dissolution of state-owned enterprises.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 27 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily arrested Mr Goliath Sani, 19, and a friend following an armed clash between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Mamba Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, at around 04:30 pm.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is grappling with weakening consumer demand, as two consecutive months of deflation point to declining purchasing power and rising job losses. With Ramadan approaching, spending is expected to remain subdued as many Indonesians prioritize saving over discretionary purchases.

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and his deputy Rano Karno are beginning their five-year tenure working for the city, which remains plagued by long-standing problems from traffic congestion to flooding.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently developing modern farming clusters across the country to boost domestic supplies and eventually become a global food barn.

Umelto Labetubun and Shashi Jayakumar, Jakarta/Singapore – The reverberations of United States President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 executive order on reevaluating and realigning US foreign aid are being felt worldwide, especially in countries like Indonesia that have been on the receiving end of US foreign assistance for decades.

Wira A. Swadana – Indonesia has developed several climate documents as pathways to curb climate change and adapt to its impacts. These impacts influence many elements of life, including displacement, the spread of infectious diseases, and even fatalities.

Antara, Jakarta – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo and upheld his 12-year prison sentence, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Monday.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – A plan floated by President Prabowo Subianto to place representatives of religious organizations on the advisory board of the newly launched sovereign wealth fund Danantara has garnered mixed reactions, with analysts warning it could be an attempt to dampen public criticism of the controversial fund.

Jakarta – Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono received a visit from his Timor-Leste counterpart, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure that the partnership provides concrete benefits.

Irfan Maulana, M Ambari, Jakarta/Tangerang, Indonesia – Joy was mending his nets when a reporter from Mongabay Indonesia visited him last October in the fishing village of Ketapang in Tangerang district, on the northwestern outskirts of Jakarta.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said that the government is currently handling the alleged corruption case in the management of crude oil and refinery products of PT Pertamina (Persero) for the period of 2018-2023, which caused state losses of up to Rp193.7 trillion.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Balinese architects have expressed concerns over the growing number of buildings that violate local architectural guidelines and promote illegal architectural practices, prompting the island to lose its cultural identity.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will distribute Rp 50 trillion ($3 billion) in holiday bonuses, known as THR, to civil servants ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Payments will start at least three weeks before the holiday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government's massive cuts to the beef import quota for private enterprises has sparked layoff concerns in the Indonesian meat industry.

Shinta Maharani, Amirullah, Yogyakarta – Dark Indonesia demonstrations were held by the Indonesian diaspora in the cities of Melbourne and Berlin on Saturday March 1. They were protesting the strengthening of militarism under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Yovanda Noni, East Kalimantan – The Natural Resources Conservation Center of East Kalimantan has begun efforts to rescue a Bornean rhinoceros recently detected in a protected forest area.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute or LBH Jakarta urges the government to form an independent team to investigate the alleged adulteration of Pertamax fuel that has harmed the public.

Nivell Rayda, Singaraja, Bali – Before sunrise every morning, Mangku Borden Cahyadi walks from his home to the nearby Mas Penyeti Temple in Singaraja, a waterfront city in northern Bali.

As the Hindu temple's priest, Cahyadi ensures the compound is ready to welcome worshippers looking to offer prayers to the gods before their morning commute to work.

Bill Birtles – Standing silently, a 2.4 metre tall statue of four-headed Hindu god Brahma could tell an extraordinary story of adventure and intrigue over its seven centuries of existence.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Labor Party considers the work of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Manpower incompetent for failing to prevent the layoffs of thousands of employees of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex.

Jakarta – Wearing a traditional Indonesian black hat and shirt, President Prabowo Subianto speaks to the camera in an Instagram video, asking his people how he can help them after his election in 2024.

"Who hasn't received aid from me? What are your needs right now?" he appears to ask viewers in the clip posted in November.

Putri Safira Pitaloka, Jakarta – In the past few days, fuel scarcity at several Shell Gas Stations (SPBU) has been in the spotlight. This is suspected to be the effect of alleged adulterated fuel scandal involving Pertamina.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The exchange rate of the rupiah has been consistently under pressure since the closing of trade last Friday, February 28, 2025, reaching Rp 16,520 per US dollar. Currency observer Ibrahim Assuaibi warned that if this trend continues, the rupiah has the potential to touch the level of Rp 17,000 per US dollar in the near future, at least in March.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The punk band Sukatani asserts that they never requested a police escort during the Crowd Noice concert at the Korpri Slawi Building, Tegal.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – Pecalang, Bali's traditional security guards, assisted in maintaining security around a mosque in Denpasar on Saturday, ensuring a smooth evening prayer for Muslims on the first day of Ramadan.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir announced on Saturday that he plans to transfer assets from all 47 SOEs, valued at approximately $909 billion, to the newly established sovereign wealth fund Danantara.

Teuila Fuatai – For more than 60 years, the Indigenous people of West Papua have sought independence from Indonesia. It's estimated that more than 500,000 civilians have been killed in the struggle, while thousands more have fled the region.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The President of the Labour Party, Said Iqbal, believes that the termination of employment of thousands of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex employees is illegal and in violation of the law.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Former general Prabowo Subianto won the Indonesian presidential race in February 2024 after a campaign based on his "gemoy" or cute image showing a softer side that was far removed from his stern military background. But now, just four months since he took office, there are signs that these army links are creeping into his administration.

Ali Mirin – Last week, on 26 February 2025, President Prabowo Subianto officially launched Indonesia's first bullion banks, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to gold and precious metal management.

Jordan Hirst – Human rights groups have slammed a conservative province in Indonesia for publicly flogging two men convicted of having consensual gay sex in a "horrifying act of discrimination".

Earlier in the week, the two university students in Indonesia's Aceh province for having consensual same-sex sexual relations.

Natasya Salim and Tri Ardhya – Anger over slashed government budgets, poor quality of life, career stagnation and rampant official corruption is motivating many Indonesians to fantasise about "running away" from the country of 280 million people.

Andrea Hosana, Jakarta – The prices of staple food commodities in Indonesia, including chili and cooking oil, are expected to rise during Ramadan, driven by increased demand and supply limitations, according to the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF).

Jakarta – Almost 20 cooperatives have applied to receive mineral and coal mining management permits from the government, Deputy Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono has said.

"The ministry has received applications from nearly 20 cooperatives for permits to mine tin, gold, coal and other minerals," Ferry said on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

Istiqomatul Hayati, Jakarta – The circumstances surrounding the SUKATANI band's clarification video, which had puzzled netizens, have been revealed. Through their Instagram account on Saturday, March 1, 2025, the punk band from Purbalingga, Central Java, disclosed that they have experienced intimidation since July 2024.