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.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has issued a circular letter addressing budget efficiency for 2025 and the effectiveness of its operations. Signed by Secretary General Kamaruddin Amin, the letter instructs Kemenag employees to work from home (WFH) every Friday.

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 Vatican has appointed an Augustinian priest, known as a human rights activist, as bishop of a diocese in Indonesia's conflict-ridden Christian-majority Papua region.

Father Bernardus Bowitwos Baru, 56, was named the new bishop of Timika Diocese in Papua on March 8.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's goal of setting up tens of thousands of village-level cooperatives aims to stabilize food prices by cutting the middlemen out in its distribution, according to Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman.

Iim Halimatusa'diyah and Panarat Anamwathana – Compared to young people in other Southeast Asian countries, Thai and Indonesian undergraduates are the most wary of potential military influence over their countries' politics and their own lives.

Responding to the 2-year-and-10-month prison sentence for hate speech against Christianity handed to a trans woman, Ratu Thalisa, in Indonesia's North Sumatra Province over comments made on her TikTok channel, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is urging ride-hailing companies such as Gojek and Grab to give their drivers the much-awaited Eid bonuses.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Singapore-based airline Calypte Holding Pte. Ltd., through its subsidiary PT Indonesia Airlines Group (INA), has officially received approval to operate as of March 7, 2025.

Heru Yustanto, Jakarta – The central government has shut down four villas in the Puncak resort area of Bogor, West Java, for violating land use regulations and occupying protected forest areas.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) assesses that there are imperfections in the Free Nutritious Meal program (MGB) that have the potential to open the floodgates for fraud in its implementation.

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.

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.

Rajendra Jadhav, Bernadette Christina and Ashley Tang

Rajendra Jadhav, Bernadette Christina and Ashley Tang, Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta – Prices of cooking oil could be buoyed up for years by stagnating production and a biodiesel push in top producer Indonesia that are making traditionally cheap palm oil costlier, eliminating an advantage that also curbed prices of rival oils.

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).

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.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has drawn attention for inviting a number of domestic tycoons to the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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

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.