Lelilef Sawai, Indonesia – Sitting deep in east Indonesia's lush jungle, Bokum, one of the country's last isolated hunter-gatherers, has a simple message for the nickel miners threatening his home: "This is our land."

Benedicte Jeannerod and Meenakshi Ganguly – French President Emmanuel Macron will soon meet in Jakarta as well as in the Borobudur temple, Central Java, with Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto to further strengthen relations between their two countries, including on energy transition, military cooperation, and enhancing a digital economy.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The government is finalizing a new wage subsidy program that will provide Rp 150,000 ($9.23) per month to workers earning less than Rp 3.5 million, including non-permanent (honorary) teachers. The scheme is part of a broader economic stimulus package set for rollout in the second quarter of 2025.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Despite Indonesia's commitment to a cleaner energy future, efforts to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy remain slow and largely symbolic, an executive at state-owned energy giant Pertamina said on Monday.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that European countries still use electricity generated from fossil energy such as coal. Bahlil said that this energy source is still widely used in European countries, including Turkey.

"During the second semester of 2024, BPK successfully saved state finances from actual losses, potential losses, and revenue shortfalls totaling Rp 43.43 trillion," BPK Chairperson Isma Yatun said on Tuesday.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The government will distribute wage subsidies (BSU) to 17 million employees and contract teachers. Susiwijono Moegiarso, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said the aid will be disbursed in June and July 2025.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia has the opportunity to wrap up a long-delayed free trade deal with the European Union after the bloc officially placed Indonesia in its "standard-risk" deforestation law category, a step seen by businesses as a signal that could boost exports of palm oil, coffee, cacao and other commodities.

Every year from May 26 to 31, the international community commemorates Enforced Disappearance Week.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – A Public Fuel Filling Station (SPBU) in Gedongtengen, Yogyakarta, caught fire with an explosion on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, around 1:11 PM WIB. The incident resulted in several injuries.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has launched an investigation into alleged corruption in the Education Ministry's Rp 10 trillion ($615 million) Chromebook procurement project, which was intended to support the digitalization of schools nationwide between 2019 and 2023.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Indonesian Mother's Voice Movement has submitted a formal letter to Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto, urging the immediate release of 16 Trisakti University students who were arrested and named as suspects following a protest that turned chaotic during the 27th anniversary commemoration of the Trisakti Tragedy at Jakarta City Hal

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has granted a judicial review filed by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), which demanded that both public and private schools provide free basic education.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police has designated 56 members of mass organizations (ormas) as suspects who were caught in the Operation to Eradicate Jaya in 2025 from May 9-23.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Labor Party and the Coalition of Labor Unions (KSP-PB) have reported a surge in mass layoffs in Indonesia, with 70,000 workers dismissed since the start of 2025. Labor Party President Said Iqbal stated that these job losses occurred within just the first four months of the year.

Fachri Hamzah, Padang – Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Tuesday morning, May 27, 2025, at 8:22 AM WIB. The volcanic ash column spewed up to a height of 1,100 meters above the peak or approximately 3,991 meters above sea level.

Ricky Juliansyah, Depok – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi confirmed that he will continue the military-style education for troubled youths, despite the pleas by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to stop sending children to military barracks.

Timor-Leste is one step closer to achieving full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a new announcement putting its accession as soon as October if requirements are fulfilled, according to multiple media reports.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry approved an import license for 21,074 tons of onions to state-owned trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI), part of food holding ID Food, on Monday, May 5, 2025. The license is suspected to have been issued without an official government mandate.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Rahayu Oktaviani revered the work of Canadian primatologist Birute Galdikas while a student in the mid-2000s, aspiring to join her hero in protecting the Bornean orangutan, which would be classified several years later as a critically endangered species.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government is launching a series of economic stimulus programs to coincide with the June-July 2025 school holiday period, aiming to support economic growth, boost consumer spending, and maintain purchasing power.

Jakarta – For the majority of people in Indonesia, street hustlers, known as preman, are an integral part of their lives.

From directing traffic to looking for parking spots, these preman, derived from the Dutch word vrijeman, are all eager to lend a hand, in exchange for petty cash or loose change in your glove compartment.

Hanifah Salsabila, Faieq Hidayat, Jakarta – Police raided a gay sex party at a hotel in the Setiabudi area of South Jakarta on Sunday May 25.

Pito Agustin Rudiana, Yogyakarta – Confusion arose over reports of an escalator being installed at Borobudur Temple to accommodate the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Indonesia plans to purchase 42 second-hand J-10 fighter aircraft from China and could also proceed with procurement of Russian Su-35 fighters, marking a dramatic shift in the country's air force modernization strategy, according to sources.

Kuala Lumpur – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Timor-Leste counterpart Xanana Gusmao in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, within the framework of his official visit to Malaysia and his attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit and related Summits.

Jakarta – Perhaps President Prabowo Subianto is making use of Winston Churchill's popular quote: history is written by the victors. Established after winning last year's presidential election, the Prabowo administration is rewriting the 'official history' of Indonesia.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating a suspected extortion scheme at the Ministry of Manpower involving the approval of foreign worker permits. The illegal practice is believed to have started in 2019 and may have generated up to Rp 53 billion (about USD 3.3 million).

Freedom of self-determination is one of the most valuable principles, higher than other values that should be enjoyed by every person in their life, especially people who live on a certain land.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Human rights organization Lokataru Foundation reported that as many as 200 protesters have been detained throughout May. The arrests took place during numerous rallies across the country, from Java to Maluku.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regrets the removal of an opinion titled "Jenderal di Jabatan Sipil: Di Mana Merit ASN?" (Military Generals in Civil Service: Where is the Merit of Civil Servants?) on Detikcom. The article was published on Thursday morning, May 22, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Culture plans to conduct a public review of its revised history manuscript. Culture Minister Fadli Zon announced that this public consultation would take place in June or July.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Indonesian Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, suggested that the opinion article on Detikcom that criticized the appointment of Djaka Budi Utama as head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry should be uploaded again.

Rizky Pradita Ananda, Jakarta – The Health Ministry has announced that natural-based medicines, including Indonesia's traditional Jamu, will become a strategic priority in the country's ongoing healthcare transformation.

Jakarta – Research by the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy has concluded that the state of freedom of religion and belief (KBB) in 2024 showed signs of regression or setbacks at the end of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo' administration and the beginning of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Bob Azam, head of labor affairs at the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), says the government must urgently strengthen public purchasing power to spur economic growth. Apindo estimates that 250,000 workers will be affected by layoffs this year.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Ayam Goreng Widuran, a legendary eatery in Solo, Central Java, is currently facing public scrutiny after declaring its non-halal status following 52 years of operation. Some particularly Muslim consumers feel deceived because the restaurant management did not previously warn Muslim consumers of its non-halal status.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Major General Kristomei Sianturi, voiced full support for West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's program to send troubled children to military barracks for character training.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – The Transportation Ministry is evaluating airline ticket prices amid mounting cost pressures, which could lead to increased airfares paid by passengers, despite the government's longstanding efforts to keep prices affordable.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) announced that the broad money supply (M2) in April 2025 increased by 5.2 percent annually. This figure decreased compared to M2 in March, which grew by 6.1 percent.

Jakarta – From Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, alias Haji Isam, 48, we can learn how to become an oligarch. After a career in the business world, then influencing a number of government policies from behind the scenes, now he is trying his luck joining a political party.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – According to the latest data from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), around 4,472 active-duty soldiers are currently serving in positions within President Prabowo Subianto's administration. The figures were disclosed by Major General Kristomei Sianturi, Head of the TNI Information Center.

Jakarta – If one reads headlines over the past couple of weeks and months, it may sound like a full-blown economic crisis is upon us, not unlike that caused by the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago.

Consumer spending is the biggest problem now, newspaper articles and TV broadcasts suggest, the common phrase being "waning purchasing power".

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Senior economist at Bright Institute, Awalil Rizky, said that Bank Indonesia's decision to cut the benchmark interest rate or BI rate to 5.50 percent is not very effective in boosting economic growth. He argued that BI's move to cut interest rates is more towards a strategy to maintain stability.

Marcus Browning – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua provisional government interim president Benny Wenda warns that since Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto took office last October his coming marks the return of "the ghost of Suharto," the brutal dictator who ruled over the nation for three decades.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Major General Kristomei Sianturi, said that the program of sending children to military barracks, initiated by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, has the potential to become a national policy.

Dika Mohammad – Reformasi – the political reform process that began in 1998 – was an important moment in Indonesian political history. It marked the end of the New Order authoritarian regime. After 27 years have passed however, it is increasingly clear that these reforms only managed to bring down the figure – former president Suharto – not the system.

Linda Lestari, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid said that 15 Trisakti University students were still being held by the police this morning, Friday, May 23, 2025. Usman said that the 15 Trisakti students were still being held even though on Thursday afternoon, May 22, 2025, there was news that the investigation would be completed.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

• After months of speculation about what a Prabowo government would be like following the ten years of the Widodo presidency, speculation is starting to subside, and policies are becoming clearer.

Jakarta – National Economic Council (DEN) chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the Jakarta – Surabaya high-speed railway (HSR) project will move forward.