Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Experts have lambasted Indonesia's heavy push toward natural gas, saying it risks locking the country into fossil fuel dependency under the guise of clean energy, dealing immense damage to the economy, public health and the environment.

Andika Pratama, Jakarta – A riot broke out at the Muara Beliti Narcotics Correctional Facility in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra Province, on Thursday around 9:00 a.m.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 and 15 April 2025, ethnic horizontal violence reportedly erupted in the Dogiyai Regency, Papua Tengah Province, leading to the death of one non-Papuan close to the Moanemani Terminal. The incidents sparked widespread unrest, prompting the security forces to deploy additional personnel to the region.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Roles in artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability are among the fastest-growing career paths for university graduates in Indonesia, according to LinkedIn's Grad Guide 2025.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, affirmed that the West Java Regional Government's program to send children to military barracks does not violate human rights. Pigai made this statement after meeting with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi in Jakarta on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Jakarta – The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) has uncovered a money-laundering scheme involving Rp 530 billion (US$32 million) allegedly obtained from online gambling.

Investigators named two suspects in the case, identified only as OHW and H, the commissioner and director of PT A2Z Solusindo Teknologi (AST), respectively.

Sydney, Australia – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday he will travel to Indonesia next week as a "signal" of the importance Canberra places in the region in his first overseas visit since Saturday's election victory.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The coconut processing industry is urging the government to impose at least a six-month moratorium on raw coconut exports or else local producers will have to lay off workers because of a supply crunch of the commodity as their main input.

Wahroni, Tangerang – Authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Wednesday thwarted the departure of 34 unauthorized Indonesian pilgrims and two coordinators who were attempting to travel to Mecca using work visas instead of official Hajj permits.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Trade Minister Budi Santoso on Thursday launched the "Local Thursday Movement" (Gerakan Kamis Pakai Lokal or Gaspol), a new initiative aimed at reviving public enthusiasm for Indonesian-made products. Under the new directive, civil servants at the Trade Ministry are now required to wear locally made goods every Thursday.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) insists it retains full authority to investigate and prosecute corruption cases involving board members and supervisors of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), despite new legislation that some believe narrows the agency's powers.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Microsoft cofounder and philanthropist Bill Gates has been offered a seat on the advisory board of Danantara, the country's recently established sovereign wealth fund, as he visited President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Since the implementation of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's new policy on May 1, 2025, a total of 272 high school students have been sent to military barracks as part of a disciplinary initiative.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), disclosed that the number of unemployed individuals in Indonesia has risen to 7.28 million as of February 2025.

Meanwhile, the total labor force grew by 3.67 million, reaching 153.05 million people.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 11 April 2025, farmers in Biha Village, Makimi District, Nabire Regency, Papua Tengah Province, raised urgent complaints concerning severe environmental degradation caused by gold mining activities operated by PT Kristalin.

Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – People with disabilities in Indonesia are among the lowest income groups, classified in the first decile, which represents those living at or below the poverty line. According to data from Bappenas, the poverty rate among people with disabilities is 11.42 percent, which is higher than the national poverty rate.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Since its launch, Indonesia's newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has captured national imagination with promises so grand that they border on the unbelievable.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi is confident that sending troubled children to military barracks is a viable solution to address juvenile delinquency, citing a one-hundred percent success rate of the policy.

Rizka Ardina Nugraheni, Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday underscored the media's vital role in promoting optimism during times of economic uncertainty and global tension.

The message was conveyed during a visit by the leadership of B-Universe Media Holdings to Jokowi's private residence in Solo, Central Java.

Riandy Laksono – Trump's tariffs and the uncertainty around them have put the world economy in great turmoil. Raising a prohibitive tariff barrier around the world's largest consumer will surely make global economic projections bleak. But tariff escalation by trading partners, a pause, and then rounds of exemptions have made global investors even more anxious.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The Director General of Indonesia's BPJS Employment, Anggoro Eko Cahyo, stated that although there are approximately 2 million registered online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers, only 250 thousand are currently enrolled in the BPJS program. This leaves 1.7 million drivers without protection.

Ary Hermawan – It is not clear if Indonesia's president has thought through all the implications of his offer of humanitarian shelter for injured Palestinians. Any mishandling of the issue could potentially hurt his position, domestically and geopolitically.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Inspector General Karyoto, stated that they are currently intensively uncovering the drug circulation within their jurisdiction. He claimed that the Jakarta Metropolitan Police have been apprehending over a hundred drug addicts every week.

Gayuh Satria Wicaksono, Ponorogo, East Java – A quiet market in Ngrupit Village, Ponorogo, East Java, hides a dark secret behind its unassuming food stalls. For decades, Njanti Market has served as a hub for street vendors, but beneath the surface, it has become a hotspot for transactional sex.

Michelle Gabriela, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto delivered a firm directive to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and all related parties to improve accuracy and precision in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves fell to $152.5 billion at the end of April 2025, down $4.6 billion from $157.1 billion in March, Bank Indonesia (BI) announced on Thursday.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – A total of 15 aircraft operated by the Garuda Group are temporarily out of service as they undergo heavy maintenance.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia is attracting growing interest from global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, with seven automakers expressing intent to build production facilities in the country, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said on Tuesday.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on Sunday that the government had increased the national rice reserve to a record multiyear-high of 3.5 million tonnes during the first four months of this year, Kontan.co.id reported.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 6 May 2025, an attack involving heavy weapons occurred near the Kelanungin Village, Gome District, Puncak Regency, Papua Tengah Proivince, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old civilian, Mr Deris Kogoya, and serious injuries to a 21-year-old Mr Jemi Alom.

Ilham Oktafian, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Ethics Council of the House of Representatives on Wednesday ruled that lawmaker and musician Ahmad Dhani had violated ethical standards over his racist remarks about naturalized football players and derogatory name-calling directed at fellow musician Rayen Pono.

Max Lane – Indonesia's civil society and university campuses have long been a bellwether for military overreach. The current mood among resistors is distinctly anxious.

Kukuh S. Wibowo, Jakarta – The Center for the Study and Protection of Children (Yayasan Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak, or PKPA) rejects the West Java Provincial Government's policy of sending troubled or deviant children to military barracks for rehabilitation.

Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the Forum of Retired TNI (Indonesian Military) Officers must recognize Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice president. Luhut asked them to obey the constitution. If not, there is no need to live in Indonesia.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) warned of dismissal and criminal prosecution for soldiers found participating in online gambling activities.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wants Indonesia to achieve energy self-sufficiency. He is optimistic that Indonesia will no longer need to import fuel in the future.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Overloaded trucks are not only a major safety hazard on Indonesian roads but also inflict severe damage on road infrastructure, costing the country an estimated Rp 43.45 trillion (US$2.6 billion) each year, according to a senior official.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Members of the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission V expressed surprise upon learning that the Public Works and Housing Ministry's effective budget for 2025 had quietly risen from Rp50.48 trillion to Rp73.76 trillion.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Four participants of the International Labor Day protest in Bandung have been named suspects and arrested by the West Java Regional Police. They were accused of causing unrest and acting anarchically during the demonstration.

Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said that an official project to rewrite Indonesian history would not change the history of the 1965 massacre, often referred to as the G30S/PKI (September 30 Movement/Indonesian Communist Party) or the 1st October Movement (Gestok).

Septia Ryanthie, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo denied claims that President Prabowo is under his control as a "puppet president."

"What I see is that Mr. Prabowo has strong leadership," he said when met at his residence in the Sumber Village, Banjarsari District, Solo, Central Java, on Wednesday, April 7, 2025.

Jakarta – The government must stand its ground in negotiations with the United States, which is complaining about our digital payment systems, namely the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) and the National Payment Gateway (GPN). Aside from these protests being groundless, Indonesia has full sovereignty to regulate its digital payment systems for the domestic market.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) conducted simultaneous nationwide operations with all regional police and precincts in dealing with gangsterism practices. This was stated in telegram number: STR/1081/IV/OPS.1.3/2025.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign fund Danantara plans to set up a philanthropic arm and is hoping to join hands with American billionaire Bill Gates, its CEO said on Wednesday.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto took American billionaire Bill Gates to a local elementary school to show his signature free meal program on Wednesday.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 7 April 2025, Papuan students and solidarity organisations held coordinated protests in major cities across Indonesia, such as Bandung, Bali, Lombok, Jember, Malang, Jayapura, Nabire, and Manokwari, marking the 58th anniversary of PT Freeport Indonesia's operations in the Papua Tengah Province.

Jakarta – It will be a challenge for Indonesia's economy to grow 5 per cent this year due to the global trade war and softening consumer spending, but a moderation won't put the country's ratings at risk, Fitch's head of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns said on Wednesday.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai will propose that the military education program initiated by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti.

According to Pigai, sending problematic students to the military barracks can be implemented massively in many places.

On a rainy day in Jakarta, three men coated in metallic paint known as the "manusia silver", or silvermen, brave the elements at an intersection near a mall to ask drivers for change.

It is an arresting act that comes with health risks, one some young Indonesians feel is necessary to make ends meet as the cost of living worsens and jobs dwindle after the Covid pandemic.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) believes that Indonesia's economic growth of 4.87 percent is still quite high for investors. Head of the Monetary and Securities Asset Management Department of Bank Indonesia, Erwin Gunawan Hutapea, said market players are still looking to invest in Indonesia.