Iim Halimatusa'diyah and Norshahril Saat – Indonesian youth are unhappy about the state of their country, even more so when compared to their counterparts in other ASEAN countries. The government should take heed of such discontent

Keun Lee and Marco Kamiya Seoul/Jakarta – Industrial policy has come back into vogue in recent years. But simply reviving old approaches will not be enough to achieve the outcomes countries are seeking, especially within an increasingly high-tech global economy. Indonesia is a case in point.

Deni Friawan – The establishment of Danantara, Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund (SWF), has sparked both optimism and scepticism. Modelled after successful SWFs like Singapore's Temasek and Malaysia's Khazanah, Danantara is expected to optimise the management of state-owned assets, drive economic growth, and enhance national welfare.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara will take part in a coal gasification project that aims to slash the country's imports of liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, according to a minister.

Ananda Ridho Sulistya, Jakarta – A flash flood in Puncak, Cisarua, Bogor, has damaged public infrastructure, triggered landslides, and claimed one life. Heavy rainfall since Sunday, March 2, has destroyed seven bridges, while a local resident was swept away by the floodwaters.

Tempo.co, Jakarta – Twenty-two Indonesian civil society organizations have sent a letter to European Union Commissioners to express their concerns over the worsening condition of Papua's rainforests. The region faces the threat of the deforestation of 2 million hectares of forest, alongside increasing risks to the Indigenous Malind and Yei communities.

Yovanda Noni, North Penajam Paser – All staff members of the Nusantara Authority have been fully relocated to the future national capital in North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan.

The relocation was announced Tuesday on the authority's social media posts, effectively ending the frequent back-and-forth trips between Nusantara and Jakarta.

Rino Fajar Setiawan, Andi Maulana, Jakarta – Heavy flooding across Jakarta and its surrounding cities brought Bekasi City to a standstill on Tuesday, forcing the cancellation of a major football match and displacing thousands of residents after torrential rains pounded the region overnight.

Andika Pratama, Heru Andriyanto, Palembang – Former Bengkulu Governor Ridwan Mukti was arrested on Tuesday on corruption charges, less than three years after completing his prison sentence for a separate graft conviction.

Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) senior researcher Al Araf has revealed that there are around 2,500 active TNI (Indonesian Military) soldiers holding civilian positions based on information from the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) in 2023.

Ahmad Arif, Jakarta – Civil society organisations in Indonesia are asking the European Commission to consider deforestation and threats to the rights of indigenous peoples in Papua in assessing country and regional risks within the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) benchmarking scheme.

The top education officials in Catholic-majority Timor-Leste have warned of stern punitive action against teachers if students face sexual abuse from them in schools.

Following two recent abuse scandals in schools, Education Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares said the government will not tolerate sexual abuses committed in schools.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 14 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily detained and tortured Mr Abner Karet, 23, in Sorong City, Papua Barat Daya Province. The incident arose from a personal dispute between a TNI member and residents but escalated as around 40 TNI personnel arrived at the scene.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia stated that 21 downstreaming projects will be accelerated. Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara) will fund the downstreaming projects.

Hendrik Khoirul Muhid, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) stated that the investigation into the case of the Tangerang sea fence in Banten has been completed.

Jakarta – This is what happens if corporate crime is forgiven through fines. As opposed to criminally sanctioning companies that encroach on forests and destroy the environment, the government instead negotiates fines, allowing corruption to happen. The value of fines is viewed as a bargaining chip between businesses and those in power.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the Covid-19 pandemic first spread across the globe. The virus was detected in Indonesia for the first time in March 2020, and the government launched various efforts to curb its transmission, which spread rapidly across the country.

Sapto Yunus, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said that the government is currently handling the alleged corruption case in the management of crude oil and refinery products of PT Pertamina (Persero) for the period of 2018-2023, which caused state losses of up to Rp193.7 trillion.

Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – The United Nations has called out Indonesia's No. 2 palm oil company for alleged human rights and environmental abuses, the first time it has singled out a company rather than the industry.

Antara, Jakarta – The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by former Agriculture Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo and upheld his 12-year prison sentence, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Monday.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Jakarta revealed that public trust in Pertamina is dwindling due to the alleged fuel adulteration (BBM) of Pertamax.

According to data from the complaint post opened by LBH Jakarta, most complainants doubt the resolution of this case, with some even suggesting the dissolution of state-owned enterprises.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is currently developing modern farming clusters across the country to boost domestic supplies and eventually become a global food barn.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia posted a 0.48 percent month-to-month deflation in February which the Central Statistics Agency or BPS attributed to the electricity bill discounts.

Yerica Lai, Jakarta – A plan floated by President Prabowo Subianto to place representatives of religious organizations on the advisory board of the newly launched sovereign wealth fund Danantara has garnered mixed reactions, with analysts warning it could be an attempt to dampen public criticism of the controversial fund.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Balinese architects have expressed concerns over the growing number of buildings that violate local architectural guidelines and promote illegal architectural practices, prompting the island to lose its cultural identity.

Umelto Labetubun and Shashi Jayakumar, Jakarta/Singapore – The reverberations of United States President Donald Trump's Jan. 20 executive order on reevaluating and realigning US foreign aid are being felt worldwide, especially in countries like Indonesia that have been on the receiving end of US foreign assistance for decades.

Two men suspected of having a gay sex are canned in Aceh, the only Indonesian province with strict Sharia laws

Global rights group Amnesty International has criticized the recent flogging of two Indonesian men for having a consensual same-sex relationship as a "horrifying act of discrimination."

Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung and his deputy Rano Karno are beginning their five-year tenure working for the city, which remains plagued by long-standing problems from traffic congestion to flooding.

Wira A. Swadana – Indonesia has developed several climate documents as pathways to curb climate change and adapt to its impacts. These impacts influence many elements of life, including displacement, the spread of infectious diseases, and even fatalities.

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia has requested to relax the criteria and requirements set for Timor-Leste in a bid to expedite the process for the country to become a full member of ASEAN by the end of this year, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – The formation of disability service units (DSU) in Indonesia at the regional level as the forefront of empowerment at the local level for people with disabilities continues to be intensified. This effort is made to ensure inclusive and certain job placements for disabled workers.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 27 February 2025, members of the Indonesian National Army (TNI) arbitrarily arrested Mr Goliath Sani, 19, and a friend following an armed clash between the military and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in the Mamba Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Tengah Province, at around 04:30 pm.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy is grappling with weakening consumer demand, as two consecutive months of deflation point to declining purchasing power and rising job losses. With Ramadan approaching, spending is expected to remain subdued as many Indonesians prioritize saving over discretionary purchases.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The government's massive cuts to the beef import quota for private enterprises has sparked layoff concerns in the Indonesian meat industry.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will distribute Rp 50 trillion ($3 billion) in holiday bonuses, known as THR, to civil servants ahead of Eid al-Fitr. Payments will start at least three weeks before the holiday.

Irfan Maulana, M Ambari, Jakarta/Tangerang, Indonesia – Joy was mending his nets when a reporter from Mongabay Indonesia visited him last October in the fishing village of Ketapang in Tangerang district, on the northwestern outskirts of Jakarta.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Head of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Rear Admiral Irvansyah said that the agency's budget has long been far from ideal for carrying out maritime surveillance functions. According to him, the efficiency policy of President Prabowo Subianto in 2025 has further burdened the agency.

Jakarta – Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono received a visit from his Timor-Leste counterpart, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure that the partnership provides concrete benefits.

Teuila Fuatai – For more than 60 years, the Indigenous people of West Papua have sought independence from Indonesia. It's estimated that more than 500,000 civilians have been killed in the struggle, while thousands more have fled the region.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Labor Party considers the work of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Manpower incompetent for failing to prevent the layoffs of thousands of employees of PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk or Sritex.

Putri Safira Pitaloka, Jakarta – In the past few days, fuel scarcity at several Shell Gas Stations (SPBU) has been in the spotlight. This is suspected to be the effect of alleged adulterated fuel scandal involving Pertamina.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – The punk band Sukatani asserts that they never requested a police escort during the Crowd Noice concert at the Korpri Slawi Building, Tegal.

Sopian Hadi, Denpasar – Pecalang, Bali's traditional security guards, assisted in maintaining security around a mosque in Denpasar on Saturday, ensuring a smooth evening prayer for Muslims on the first day of Ramadan.

Juan Ardya Guardiola, Jakarta – State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir announced on Saturday that he plans to transfer assets from all 47 SOEs, valued at approximately $909 billion, to the newly established sovereign wealth fund Danantara.

Nivell Rayda, Singaraja, Bali – Before sunrise every morning, Mangku Borden Cahyadi walks from his home to the nearby Mas Penyeti Temple in Singaraja, a waterfront city in northern Bali.

As the Hindu temple's priest, Cahyadi ensures the compound is ready to welcome worshippers looking to offer prayers to the gods before their morning commute to work.

Ali Mirin – Last week, on 26 February 2025, President Prabowo Subianto officially launched Indonesia's first bullion banks, marking a significant shift in the country's approach to gold and precious metal management.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – Former general Prabowo Subianto won the Indonesian presidential race in February 2024 after a campaign based on his "gemoy" or cute image showing a softer side that was far removed from his stern military background. But now, just four months since he took office, there are signs that these army links are creeping into his administration.

Jakarta – Wearing a traditional Indonesian black hat and shirt, President Prabowo Subianto speaks to the camera in an Instagram video, asking his people how he can help them after his election in 2024.

"Who hasn't received aid from me? What are your needs right now?" he appears to ask viewers in the clip posted in November.

Shinta Maharani, Amirullah, Yogyakarta – Dark Indonesia demonstrations were held by the Indonesian diaspora in the cities of Melbourne and Berlin on Saturday March 1. They were protesting the strengthening of militarism under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

Bill Birtles – Standing silently, a 2.4 metre tall statue of four-headed Hindu god Brahma could tell an extraordinary story of adventure and intrigue over its seven centuries of existence.