Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Nearly half of Indonesia's peatlands are vulnerable to flooding due to degradation caused by unchecked exploitation, with 6 million hectares (15 million acres) – an area twice the size of Belgium – classified as highly vulnerable, according to a new report.

Jakarta – Indonesia wants a fair and equal relationship with the United States, and will pursue diplomacy to address a 32 per cent tariff rate imposed by the Trump administration, President Prabowo Subianto said on April 7, while his ministers are working to finalise its negotiation proposal.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is considering replacing some ministers in his Cabinet in the coming months due to their unsatisfactory performance and amid political pressure from his coalition partners. This comes as Indonesia is set to record lower-than-expected economic growth for the first three months of 2025.

Fuad Iqbal Abdullah, Penajam Paser Utara – Nusantara, Indonesia's future capital, is grappling with a rat infestation, prompting authorities to deploy hundreds of traps across the core government area to address the issue.

Firda Janati, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Chairperson Nani Afrida believes that the increasing number of cases of violence against journalists in Indonesia is due to the widespread impunity afforded to perpetrators. Impunity is an exemption from punishment given to perpetrators of violations, including perpetrators of violence.

Intan Setiawanty, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has stated that it will investigate the alleged intimidation and violence against journalists by the aide of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police during coverage at Tawang Station, Semarang on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Indonesian crude palm oil (CPO) exports to the United States could face stagnation after US President Donald Trump imposed a 32 percent tariff on goods imported from the country, Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) chairman Eddy Martono said on Friday.

April 4, 2003 was a dark day for the Papuan people, especially in Wamena.

Jakarta – Situr Wijaya, a 33-year-old journalist from Palu, Central Sulawesi, and the founder of local media outlet iN Sulteng was found dead in a hotel room in West Jakarta on Friday, with his body bearing visible signs of violence including bruises on his face.

The victim's family has subsequently filed a report with the Jakarta Police for alleged murder.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Majalengka – President Prabowo Subianto has promised to provide 1,000 owls to farmers as a natural solution to combat rat infestations in agricultural areas. The announcement was made during a harvest event attended by representatives from 14 provinces in Majalengka, West Java, on Monday.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – A new National Police regulation outlining procedures surrounding permits for foreign journalists has sparked criticism from press and law organizations, which say the policies could harm press freedom and restrict foreign media coverage of the country.

Jakarta – Hundreds of doctors and health workers (Nakes) from various professional organisations and humanitarian institutions held a peaceful action in Jakarta on Monday April 7. The action was a form of solidarity with health workers and humanitarian volunteers who have fallen victim to the violence in Gaza, Palestine.

Ayman Falak Medina – On April 2, 2025, the United States introduced sweeping new tariffs on several key trading partners, including a 32 percent tariff on goods imported from Indonesia. This development is part of a broader move by the U.S. administration to address longstanding trade imbalances and perceived unfair tariff structures.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Another incident of violence against journalists has occurred. This time, the violence was committed by a member of the security team of the Chief of the Indonesian National Police.

Victoria Milko, Jakarta – Indonesia plans to clear forests about the size of Belgium to produce sugarcane-derived bioethanol, rice and other food crops, potentially displacing Indigenous groups who rely on the land to survive.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah slumped to its weakest level in more than two decades on Monday, weighed down by escalating global trade tensions, safe-haven demand for the US dollar, and rising geopolitical risks.

Agencies, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia said on Monday it would "intervene aggressively" in domestic foreign exchange markets when they re-open on Tuesday for the first time since new US tariffs were announced.

Azifah Astrina – In early 2025, Indonesia enacted amendments to its National Armed Forces Law that expanded the domestic and bureaucratic roles of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), raising alarm among civil society actors, scholars, and democracy advocates. At first glance, the move appears technical – a response to evolving security challenges such as cyber threats and terrorism.

Shinta Maharani, Yogyakarta – Dozens of alleged victims of sexual harassment by a professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Edy Meiyanto, have urged the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Technology to take firm action by revoking the perpetrator's status as a civil servant.

Rahel Narda Chaterine, Ardito Ramadhan, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has asked all parties to be objective in viewing demonstrations criticising government policies.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) confirmed there will be no troop reinforcements in response to the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) declaring nine regencies in Papua as war zones.

Indonesia, West Papua – Christian Solidarity International (CSI) delivered a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 28 March 2025, warning of Indonesian Government plans to expand its military presence and exploit natural resources in West Papua. CSI highlighted growing threats undermining the land rights of indigenous Papuans.

Jakarta – Global condemnation has descended on the United States for its accelerating shift toward protectionist policies on trade and investment, with a sweeping 10-percent "baseline" tariff slapped on all US imports except for select exceptions based on strategic considerations.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto recently met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the latter's Putrajaya residence as ASEAN chair Kuala Lumpur tries to coordinate a unified bloc response to the US' tariff blitz.

Hanif Musyaffa, Widy Wicaksono, Jakarta – Jakarta's post-Eid al-Fitr travel surge continues to climb sharply as of Saturday, six days after the holiday. Authorities report that approximately 2.2 million people have returned to the Greater Jakarta area via toll roads in Central Java alone.

Dede Adhitama, Cirebon – The abrupt shutdown of Yihong Novatex Indonesia has left 1,126 workers jobless just days before Eid al-Fitr, highlighting a growing crisis in Indonesia's labor-intensive manufacturing sector.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Association of Motor and Auto Parts Industries (GIAMM) has urged the government to consider imposing reciprocal tariffs on the United States following Washington's recent decision to raise import duties on products from several countries, including Indonesia.

Nandito Putra, Jakarta – The Head of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani, stated that the conflict between two factions supporting regional head candidates in the Puncak Jaya regional election in Central Papua has left 12 people dead. The fatalities occurred during several clashes over the past three months.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with 7 journalists from 7 different media outlets in Hambalang, West Java on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The seven journalists interviewed Prabowo together.

Agencies, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia said on Saturday it was committed to keeping the rupiah currency stable after US and Chinese tariff announcements resulted in market uncertainties.

The central bank said in a statement it would optimise interventions in the spot, domestic non-deliverable forward and bond markets to ensure adequate foreign exchange liquidity.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) recorded that 60,000 workers had experienced layoffs from January to early March 2025. The data is based on the Research and Development (Litbang) of KSPI and the Labor Party, which differs from the data released by the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker).

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has urged the government to thoroughly review and clarify five domestic policies that the United States claims are harmful to American interests, prompting Washington to impose a 32 percent tariff on Indonesian goods.

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Amirullah, Jakarta – The Udayana University (Unud) in Bali has established cooperation with the Indonesian Army's (TNI AD) Udayana/IX Regional Military Command (Kodam). This cooperation is contained in agreement document number B/2134/UN14.IV/HK.07.00/2025.

Marina Ika Sari – The establishment of a National Defence Council (NDC) is a significant development in the early months of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's administration. The NDC represents a good first step towards better defence policymaking, but Indonesia's broader defence strategy is in increasingly urgent need of revitalisation.

Taranaki, New Zealand – Greenpeace Aotearoa activists have stopped an Indonesian ship offloading 30 thousand tonnes of palm kernel expeller (PKE), destined for use as animal feed by the country's biggest environmental polluter, dairy giant Fonterra.

Ahmad Rifqi Danwanus, Jakarta – Mount Semeru in Lumajang, East Java, erupted with volcanic ash reaching a height of 900 meters on Saturday. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has urged people living around the slopes of the mountain to stay alert and maintain a safe distance.

Mathias Hariyadi, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto personally attended the funeral of Mgr Petrus Turang, Archbishop Emeritus of Kupang, in Jakarta Cathedral. He died yesterday at the age of 78.

Jakarta – The initiatives of a number of pesantren, or Islamic boarding schools, in implementing circular economy practices need to serve as an example for other educational institutions.

Jakarta – There has been a new trend in the House of Representatives (DPR) in the last three years: the Legislation Body has been gaining strength as a producer of laws. The DPR's auxiliary body is both an entrance and an exit for bills put forward by the government or on the initiative of the lawmakers.

Jakarta – For Erick Thohir, the chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), the national team qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is nonnegotiable. This explains why under his watch, the PSSI has been relentless in its hunt for naturalized players who can make the country's long-held dream come true.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Spokesperson for the XVII/Cendrawasih Military Command, Candra Kurniawan, has stated that the institution will not designate a "war zone" in managing conflicts in Papua.

Yovanda Noni, Nusantara – The number of visitors to Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, has seen a significant uptick during the Eid al-Fitr holiday season. Daily visitor numbers rose from around 8,000 on the first day of Eid (April 1) to over 14,100 by April 3.

Tatang Guritno, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – Musician Baskara Putra has revealed the reasons behind the making of a song in collaboration with Maria Sumarsih, the mother of the Benardinus Realino Norma Irawan, or Wawan as he was known by friends, a student who was killed in the Semanggi I tragedy in 1998.

Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati visited former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at his residence in Surakarta, Central Java, on Thursday in celebration of Idul Fitri.

Zac Gillies-Palmer – In September 1974, socialists in Dili founded the Revolutionary Front for the Independence of Timor-Leste, better known as FRETILIN. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, FRETILIN grew from a small group of left-wing intellectuals into East Timor's main independence party and armed resistance movement.

Joseph Rachman – Students are protesting across Indonesia – chanting slogans; skirmishing with police; and in one city, even throwing Molotov cocktails. The protesters are demanding the repeal of a law passed on March 20 that they say threatens to bring Indonesia back to the days of the military dictatorship that lasted from 1965 to 1998.

Jakarta – There's only a thin line separating good communication strategy with bad public relations. When the government is backed up by a well-planned communication strategy, an effective messaging campaign and a team of professionals, even a crisis can be an opportunity to score a win.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Senior journalist Najwa Shihab has denied claims that she was offered the position to lead the Indonesia's Head of Presidential Communication Office (PCO) as a replacement for Hasan Nasbi.

Jakarta – Indonesian activists on Thursday (Apr 3) decried a new regulation allowing police to monitor foreign journalists and researchers working in the country, a move they say would limit press freedom.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) announced that President Prabowo Subianto has formulated mitigation strategies in response to the import tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Indonesia.