Deri Dahuri – On Wednesday February 5, thousands of workers who are members of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and the Labour Party held a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) offices in Jakarta.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia has just secured a fresh grant worth 14.7 million euros or $15.3 million from France and the European Union (EU) for its energy transition, not long after the government's endless complaints on the absence of international climate financing.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, responded to the rejection by students in the Papua Highlands region who refused the government's provision of free nutritious meals (MBG) program. According to her, the students may not yet understand President Prabowo Subianto's good intentions in implementing the MBG.

Jakarta – The government has handed over to French authorities a man on death row for drug offences who will start his return to his home country late on Tuesday, the latest in a series of foreign drug convicts repatriated from Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – The Finance Ministry has announced the cancellation of the 2025 Ministerial Scholarship program, following a directive to streamline the budgets for ministries and agencies.

Jakarta – Chinese firms control about 75% of Indonesia's nickel refining capacity, raising concern over supply chain control and environmental risks, Washington-based global security nonprofit C4ADS has said in a report.

Savero Aristia Wienanto, Jakarta – Deputy Executive Director of Research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Shafiah F. Muhibat, said the free and active principle is often used to shield Prabowo's foreign policies, including BRICS membership.

Sudarshan Varadhan, Dili – East Timor would prefer to work with Australia and partners Woodside Energy and Japan's Osaka Gas over Chinese firms that have expressed interest in developing the stalled Greater Sunrise natural gas field, its president said.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto signaled on Wednesday that he is prepared to reorganize his cabinet after assessing the performance of his ministers during his first 100 days in office.

Sworn into office on October 20, Prabowo officially marked his 100th day as president on January 28.

Jakarta – Indonesia's economy grew more than expected last year, the government said Wednesday, as a pick-up in trade, mining and agriculture helped offset ongoing global headwinds.

Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – The Papua People's Council (MRP) says that the people of Central Papua have openly complained about and reject the free nutritious meals (MBG) program launched by the central government.

This was conveyed by the Central Papua province MRP based on complaints and the direct opposition by the community.

Jakarta – Law enforcement in the early days of the government of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka has not given people much hope. Rather than using the first 100 days of his presidency to correct the legal abuses carried out by his predecessor, Joko Widodo, the Prabowo government has instead maintained these bad practises.

Antara, Jakarta – Based on President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to each ministry and agency to implement budget savings, the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) has to cancel the Ministerial Scholarship offer for 2025. This decision was also the result of the Leadership Meeting of the Financial Education and Training Agency (BPPK) on January 31, 2025.

Rifki Saebani, Jakarta – The National Police's counter-terrorism unit, Densus 88, arrested a man in Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Monday for his alleged involvement in terrorism activities.

European Union, Indonesia, West Papua – In 2020, the European Commission launched the European Green Deal, an ambitious policy framework targeting climate neutrality across the European Union (EU) by 2050. Central to this initiative is the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a policy designed to ensure that products entering the EU market are deforestation-free.

Jakarta – Religious mass organizations, and now universities, will be allowed to mine, thanks to the revision of the Coal and Mineral Law, which the House of Representatives has tabled as an initiative bill, although it is not listed as a priority and lacks meaningful public consultation.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Chairperson of the Association of Indonesian Private Universities (APTISI) Budi Djatmiko stated that universities need to be prioritized to obtain mining concessions. According to him, universities have superior human resources to manage mining properly.

Jakarta – Apileup at the Ciawi tollgate in Bogor, West Java, on Tuesday night has left eight people dead, a Kompas TV journalist at Ciawi Regional General Hospital (RSUD) reported on Wednesday morning.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Indonesia, one of the world's largest greenhouse gas emitters, has signaled it might follow in the footsteps of the U.S. and withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

Ratu Durotun Nafisah – In his inaugural speech on 20 October 2024, President Prabowo Subianto stressed that Indonesia's democracy must be 'uniquely Indonesian', rooted in the country's history and culture.

Teguh Suprayitno, Tebo, Indonesia – Dewita's voice cracked through tears as she read her personal statement before a court on Dec. 3 in Tebo, a landlocked district in Jambi province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

"I beg your honor to show mercy and generosity, to give me the lightest possible punishment," Dewita said.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Indonesian Transportation Workers Union (SPAI) plans to rally in front of the Ministry of Manpower on Monday, February 17, 2025, to demand religious holiday allowance (THR) for online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers as well as drivers of other online services.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued Regulation No. 44 of 2024 on Bank Secrecy (POJK 44/2024), introducing clearer procedures for disclosing confidential banking information. The regulation aligns with Law No. 4 of 2023 on Financial Sector Development and Strengthening (UU P2SK).

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia apologized on Tuesday following the death of a woman reportedly due to exhaustion while waiting in line to purchase subsidized 3-kilogram Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

Meenakshi Ganguly – The Indonesian administration of President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo is sending mixed signals about a proposed amnesty to tens of thousands of Papuans convicted or facing charges for allegedly backing the armed secessionist movement in West Papua.

Jakarta – The recent death of an Indonesian migrant at the hands of Malaysian authorities underscores the complexities of the Indonesia-Malaysia relationship.

As neighboring nations bound by deep historical, cultural and economic ties, both countries must manage their diplomatic interactions with prudence and foresight.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, S.

Jakarta – Indonesia's government will set up a state investment agency to manage holdings in some of the biggest state companies after Parliament passed a Bill on Feb 4 approving the body, which is intended to operate like Singapore's investment company Temasek.

Hanif Musyaffa, Jakarta – The Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Dadan Hindayana, has confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meals program will continue during Ramadan, with adjustments made to its distribution. Dadan assured that children would still receive nutritious meals according to their needs.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has confirmed that his administration will continue the development of the new national capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan, a project initiated by his predecessor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, a senior official said on Monday.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has revoked forest management licenses from 18 companies that collectively controlled 526,144 hectares of land, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced on Monday.

Caleb Fotheringham – The international advocacy group, Human Rights watch, has put out a plea to Indonesia's President to stop human rights abuses in West Papua.

President Prabowo Subianto has just completed 100 days in the job.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Coalition of Lecturers from Mulawarman University (Unmul) has rejected the plan to grant mining concession permits to universities. A coalition member, Herdiansyah Hamzah, stated that the plan humiliates the dignity of universities as entities of civilization. This is because universities are not business entities.

Jakarta – Calls are growing for the government to "evaluate" Bali's tourist industry after a string of crimes by foreign perpetrators, including the recent kidnapping and robbery of a Ukrainian tourist in the island province, allegedly by a group of foreign visitors.

Kurt Bayer – In February 2023, New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens was kidnapped by armed rebels in Indonesia's volatile Papua region. He would spend 594 days in captivity before he was finally released, after a fraught, behind-closed-doors diplomatic effort.

Deni Ghifari, Jakarta – Indonesia has recorded a multi-decade low inflation rate this January with experts saying the figure recorded this month is rather unusual and could be cause for concern.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – A senior lawmaker said Tuesday that President Prabowo would let retailers sell the low-cost 3-kilogram cooking gas canisters again after the restriction faced public backlash.

Mulya Hadi, Jakarta – A 62-year-old woman passed away after waiting in line to get a 3-kilogram liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) canister on Monday afternoon in the South Tangerang area.

Yonih Binti Saman was suspected to have become exhausted after waiting for an hour in line for the subsidized gas. When found, Yonih was slumped over while holding two of her gas canisters.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana revealed the main reasons why the free nutritious meal program (MBG) run by President Prabowo Subianto's government has not yet reached the Papua region.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Shell Indonesia is grappling with fuel shortages at several of its gas stations, along with BP and Vivo, due to what the company described as procurement and distribution challenges. The disruptions have led to customer complaints, with Shell assuring it is working to restore normal operations promptly.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – The Jakarta Metro Police raided a gay party held at a hotel in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta on Saturday, detaining 56 individuals. Three of them, identified as organizers, have been named suspects.

Antara, Jakarta – An analyst recently warned that the new 3-kilogram cooking gas policy could even cause the state spending allocated for energy subsidy to soar even more without stricter regulations on the eligible beneficiaries.

Bambang Ismoyo, Antara, Jakarta – The government announced Monday that Indonesia registered approximately $32.3 billion in combined investments in the energy and mineral resources sector.

According to Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, the latest figures marked 8 percent growth compared to the $29.9 billion investments recorded in 2023.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) is reported to be cutting a number of budgets following President Prabowo Subianto's Instruction Number 1 of 2025 concerning Spending Efficiency. A number of work patterns will also be adjusted in order to tighten their belts.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been alerted to the risk that copper produced at the Grasberg Mine, West Papua, Indonesia, and used in copper products traded on the London Metal Exchange, could constitute "criminal property" under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Riri Rahayu, Jakarta – The Minister of Transmigration, Muhammad Iftitah Sulaiman, said that the transmigration program during the administration of President Prabowo Subianto will be transformed. This program will be different from the transmigration program led by President Soeharto's New Order.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) along with dozens of former Indonesian migrant workers, and victims of human trafficking (TPPO) in Myanmar, held a rally in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta today, Monday, February 3, 2025, at 09:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

M. Raihan Muzzaki, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) Hariyanto Suwarno estimated that 50 percent of Indonesian migrant workers use illegal routes to work in Malaysia.

Jakarta – Indonesia's annual inflation rate slowed to its lowest in 24 years to 0.76 per cent in January, official data showed on Monday, down sharply from 1.57 per cent in December and below the lower bound of the central bank's target range for the year.

According to the country's statistics bureau, it was the lowest rate of inflation since January 2000.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Professor of Management and Public Policy at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Gabriel Lele said that the plan to grant mining concessions to universities is a new form of corporatism within the campus environment. Therefore, he affirmed that campuses should not open space to obtain mining business permits.