Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto received a courtesy visit from the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday as both countries seek to strengthen economic ties amid global trade turmoil triggered by the US sweeping tariff hikes. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka also attended the meeting.

Yohanes Seo, Kupang – Suratmi Hamida, head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP3MI) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), revealed that between January and April this year, 49 Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from NTT were repatriated deceased.

Jakarta – If he were still alive, the father of cooperatives, Mohammad Hatta, would be unhappy seeing the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives. Without the principles of togetherness, fairness, and collective endeavor, President Prabowo Subianto's 80,000 cooperatives have been established from the top down.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army – Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has alleged that Indonesian military forces recently carried out an airstrike involving bomb drops. The incident reportedly took place on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Puncak Regency, Papua.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – In a surprising move, the previously quiet Forum of Retired Indonesian Military (TNI) Members has formally requested the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to replace Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Vice President.

Jakarta – Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, received the Order of Timor-Leste, the highest honor granted by the government of Timor-Leste, at the country's embassy in Jakarta on Monday.

Jakarta – Amonitor lizard statue built by the Wonosobo administration in Central Java recently went viral for its striking realism and surprisingly low construction budget, sparking widespread online debate over other city monuments many netizens consider "ugly" and overpriced.

Paulus Pulo, Sorong – The police have named four people suspects on charges of alleged makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) who have admitted to be leading members of the Federal Republic of West Papua (NRFPB) after they visited a number of government offices and police stations in Sorong City, Southwest Papua province.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reported that the banking sector's risk profile remains relatively stable as of March 2025, despite challenges in the broader economy. While non-performing loans (NPL) have decreased, the Loan at Risk (LAR) ratio continues its upward trend, and capital adequacy has weakened.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has approved the formation of three new task forces to tackle economic challenges faced by Indonesia in the wake of global uncertainties. The task forces will focus on addressing the impact of global economic turbulence, including the United States' tariff policies and rising layoffs across various sectors.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN), Zudan Arif Fakhrulloh, has disclosed the five primary reasons behind the withdrawals of over a thousand Civil Servant Candidates (CASN) who had successfully passed the selection process. The BKN noted that a total of 1,967 CPNS applicants withdrew due to the optimization policy.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Indonesian government provided a grant of US$6 million, approximately Rp100 billion, to the government of Fiji in April 2025. Agus Pambagio, a public policy observer from the PH&H Public Policy Interest Group, assessed that this grant was likely President Prabowo's effort to seek diplomatic support from Fiji regarding the Papua issue.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The CEO of Indonesia's Daya Anagata Nusantara, or Danantara, Rosan Roeslani, said the agency now manages 844 state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The number was revealed during a town hall meeting attended by SOE leaders and President Prabowo Subianto.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Rear Admiral Muhammad Ali, said the Navy has yet to acquire tools to detect foreign submarines. These tools, he said, are essential for underwater surveillance.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo has been awarded the Order of Timor-Leste, the country's highest honor, by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto revealed that he criticized directors of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) during the Danantara Town Hall Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Monday, April 28, 2025. He refrained from disclosing the identities of those criticized or the specific nature of his reprimands.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Scorching hot weather has affected various regions throughout Indonesia over the past week. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded the highest daily maximum temperature during this period at 37 degrees Celsius. This was observed in Tanah Merah, South Papua, on April 21st.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) has addressed concerns that the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in academic activities on campuses could stifle students' freedom of expression, dismissing these fears as an exaggeration.Togar Mangihut Simatupang, Secretary General of Kemendiktisaintek, argu

Fannesa Adisty Laksmita – Indonesia's presidents keep trying to make food estates work but the scheme will fall short without engaging the true stakeholders and honestly assessing the project's merits.

Jakarta – The government has been quick to play down the news that LG Energy Solution is withdrawing from an US$8.45 billion electric vehicle battery (EVB) project that formed a central part of its plan to develop an integrated EVB production chain.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), attended as the representative of President Prabowo Subianto at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican. They conveyed Prabowo's message of condolences on the passing of Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Bali, Indonesia – Indonesia's government on Wednesday defended the country's plan to hike mineral royalties, arguing the policy that has attracted widespread criticism from industry will "benefit" Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Elan Suherlan, Purwakarta – Ceramics producers in Purwakarta, West Java, have reported a halt in orders from the United States this year, despite multiple successful exports to the market in 2024.

Local officials suspect that protectionist trade policies under US President Donald Trump's administration have led American buyers to postpone or cancel their orders.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – The decision by South Korean company LG to exit a US$8.45 billion (S$11.1 billion) plan to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain in Indonesia has sparked debate over Jakarta's inconsistent policies and slow decision-making.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Deputy Head of the Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Agency (BPJPH), Afriansyah Noor, affirmed that the agency has imposed strict sanctions on producers of halal-certified snacks that were found to contain pork. He stated that these sanctions are in accordance with existing regulations.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – A Jakarta councilor from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) collapsed while delivering a speech on Sunday and was later confirmed dead at the age of 47.

Fahri Ali, Depok – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has proposed a military-style discipline program for troubled youth in Depok, West Java, citing growing concern among parents over a rise in juvenile delinquency, including drug use and student brawls.

Singgih Wiryono, Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Human rights activist Usman Hamid and the band The Blackstones commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) at an event held by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Central Leadership Board (DPP) History Agency in Jakarta on Saturday April 26.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo has urged residents to switch off their lights for one hour today, Saturday, April 26, 2025. He explained that this initiative is part of Earth Day observances, which fell on April 22.

Pramono called for the lights-off to take place simultaneously tonight.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Economist from the Indonesian Political Economy Association (AEPI), Khudori, confirmed that rice production in the past few months has experienced a surplus compared to the previous year.

However, Khudori disagreed with President Prabowo Subianto's decision to use the current situation as a justification for exporting rice.

Jakarta – Much of North Jakarta was paralyzed for two days due to traffic snarl-ups on the roads leading to Tanjung Priok Port last week. The port authority should be held responsible for the gridlock, which was a result of its poor operations and planning.

Jakarta – For years now, the media industry has been in a slump, first a downturn and now a crisis, which comes mostly from disruption ushered in by information technology. The internet and social media have rendered obsolete the old ways of delivering the news and that predicament has taken its toll on media companies' bottom line.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) is calling for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meals (MBG) program be stopped following a series of poisoning cases involving students in various regions. There have been more than 200 students who have been victims of poisoning due to eating the MBG menu.

Koh Ewe and Hanna Samosir – Indonesia is on an ambitious mission to offer free meals to 80 million school children – but that hasn't exactly gone according to plan.

Nearly 80 students across two high schools in Cianjur, south of the capital Jakarta, fell ill after eating the meals this week. Most of those who ended up in hospital have since been discharged.

Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Jakarta – Seventy years ago this month, the world witnessed a historic assertion of post-colonial agency. In April 1955, leaders from 29 newly independent Asian and African nations gathered in Bandung, West Java, to declare that the future would no longer be dictated by colonial empires, but on solidarity, justice and dignity.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has authorized rice exports to countries in need, reversing an earlier statement by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, who had insisted on prioritizing domestic reserves.

Jakarta – The naming of the Chief of South Jakarta District Court Muhammad Arif Nuryanta as a corruption suspect is a slap in the face for our judicial system. Arif is alleged to have taken a bribe of Rp60 billion from attorneys for three major palm oil corporations embroiled in a crude palm oil export case: Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group and Musim Mas Group.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani calls on the government to evaluate and make improvements to the free nutritious meal (MBG) program. She pointed out several issues in the program implementation, such as mass student food poisoning incidents and alleged misappropriation of the funds.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Piero Pioppo's car could not leave the parking lot of Jakarta Cathedral. The incident occurred when the Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia finished leading the Requiem Mass for Pope Francis on Thursday night, April 24, 2025.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast has secured a syndicated loan worth Rp 1.84 trillion ($109 million) to fund the construction of an EV assembly plant in Indonesia.

Jakarta – Member of Commission I DPR RI, By Soleh, strongly condemns the actions of a group of individuals calling for the independence of Papua, Aceh, and Maluku in the United Nations (UN) official forum in New York, United States.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo has implemented a policy requiring all civil servants in the capital to utilize public transportation. Specifically, he has directed government employees to commute via public transit every Wednesday.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The rupiah closes stronger at Rp16,829 per United States dollar in today's afternoon trade on Friday, April 25, 2025. The rupiah strengthens by 43 points from the previous close at Rp16,872.

Meanwhile, currency analyst Ibrahim Assuaibi predicts that the rupiah will fluctuate but close stronger in the range of Rp16,780-Rp16,830 next Monday.

Jakarta – Separatist movements from Papua, Aceh and Maluku have returned to the spotlight after the slogans "Free Maluku", "Free Papua" and "Free Aceh" appeared at a United Nations (PBB) forum recently.

[The following is a translation of a statement by the Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) welcoming International Labour Day, National Education Day, Marsinah Day and 27 Years of Reformasi 1998.]

Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) Student Community Association (IKM UI) has explicitly rejected all forms of degradation and commercialisation of the student movement. This position was asserted in the results of the 6th UI Student Congress plenary meeting that was held on Wednesday April 23.

President Prabowo Subianto has invited Fiji to conduct a joint military exercise in Indonesia as part of the bilateral defence cooperation.

"We are also open to carrying out joint exercises in the military field, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. We welcome the Fijian military to exercise alongside us in

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The number of Indonesians getting caught in US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown continues to grow, with Jakarta accusing Washington of ignoring the "due process of law" when detaining one of its citizens.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Two major electric vehicle (EV) projects in Indonesia – by Vietnam's VinFast and China's BYD – are facing disruptions allegedly caused by local civic groups, or ormas, raising red flags over the country's investment climate.

Antara, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani clarified on Wednesday that South Korea's LG Energy Solution did not pull out voluntarily from its $7.7 billion battery ecosystem project in Indonesia, but that the government requested the consortium's withdrawal after five years of stalled negotiations.