Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) investigation into the management of oil imports by Pertamina increasingly confirms the fact that it involves many people and careful planning from upstream to downstream. The questioning of Adaro Minerals Indonesia Finance Director Heri Gunawan shows that losses to the state also occur in the sale of oil to industry.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Thousands of job seekers crowded the Bekasi Pasti Kerja 2025 Job Fair, organized by the Bekasi District Manpower Office at President University's Jababeka Convention Centre, Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. A viral video on social media showed applicants jostling for space.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Puan Maharani, asked Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie to clarify allegations of the involvement of the party with a bull logo in a case of online gambling at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics.

Lelilef Sawai, Indonesia – Sitting deep in east Indonesia's lush jungle, Bokum, one of the country's last isolated hunter-gatherers, has a simple message for the nickel miners threatening his home: "This is our land."

Police in Timor-Leste have re-arrested a former Philippine Congress member accused of masterminding the killing of a sitting governor and nine others back home in March 2023.

Antara, Jakarta – Manpower Minister Yassierli announced on Wednesday the issuance of a new circular prohibiting all forms of discrimination in the job recruitment process.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free meal program could balloon to hundreds of trillions of rupiah and put significant pressure on the state budget, a senior economist warned on Wednesday.

Salman Mardira, Jakarta – The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have appointed Major General Edwin Adrian Sumantha as the new commander of the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres), replacing Maj. Gen. Achiruddin, who has been promoted to lead the Diponegoro Regional Military Command.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has accused the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) of using unmanned aerial vehicles or drones to attack villages and areas considered to be the TPNPB militia's base.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Jakarta – Despite Indonesia's commitment to a cleaner energy future, efforts to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy remain slow and largely symbolic, an executive at state-owned energy giant Pertamina said on Monday.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating a suspected extortion scheme at the Ministry of Manpower involving the approval of foreign worker permits. The illegal practice is believed to have started in 2019 and may have generated up to Rp 53 billion (about USD 3.3 million).

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The government is finalizing a new wage subsidy program that will provide Rp 150,000 ($9.23) per month to workers earning less than Rp 3.5 million, including non-permanent (honorary) teachers. The scheme is part of a broader economic stimulus package set for rollout in the second quarter of 2025.

"During the second semester of 2024, BPK successfully saved state finances from actual losses, potential losses, and revenue shortfalls totaling Rp 43.43 trillion," BPK Chairperson Isma Yatun said on Tuesday.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – The government is launching a series of economic stimulus programs to coincide with the June-July 2025 school holiday period, aiming to support economic growth, boost consumer spending, and maintain purchasing power.

Ruth Dea Juwita, Jakarta – Indonesia has the opportunity to wrap up a long-delayed free trade deal with the European Union after the bloc officially placed Indonesia in its "standard-risk" deforestation law category, a step seen by businesses as a signal that could boost exports of palm oil, coffee, cacao and other commodities.

Every year from May 26 to 31, the international community commemorates Enforced Disappearance Week.

Jakarta – For the majority of people in Indonesia, street hustlers, known as preman, are an integral part of their lives.

From directing traffic to looking for parking spots, these preman, derived from the Dutch word vrijeman, are all eager to lend a hand, in exchange for petty cash or loose change in your glove compartment.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Indonesian Mother's Voice Movement has submitted a formal letter to Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto, urging the immediate release of 16 Trisakti University students who were arrested and named as suspects following a protest that turned chaotic during the 27th anniversary commemoration of the Trisakti Tragedy at Jakarta City Hal

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Human rights organization Lokataru Foundation reported that as many as 200 protesters have been detained throughout May. The arrests took place during numerous rallies across the country, from Java to Maluku.

Jakarta – Perhaps President Prabowo Subianto is making use of Winston Churchill's popular quote: history is written by the victors. Established after winning last year's presidential election, the Prabowo administration is rewriting the 'official history' of Indonesia.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Bahlil Lahadalia, stated that European countries still use electricity generated from fossil energy such as coal. Bahlil said that this energy source is still widely used in European countries, including Turkey.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police has designated 56 members of mass organizations (ormas) as suspects who were caught in the Operation to Eradicate Jaya in 2025 from May 9-23.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Labor Party and the Coalition of Labor Unions (KSP-PB) have reported a surge in mass layoffs in Indonesia, with 70,000 workers dismissed since the start of 2025. Labor Party President Said Iqbal stated that these job losses occurred within just the first four months of the year.

Pito Agustin Rudiana, Yogyakarta – Confusion arose over reports of an escalator being installed at Borobudur Temple to accommodate the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

Benedicte Jeannerod and Meenakshi Ganguly – French President Emmanuel Macron will soon meet in Jakarta as well as in the Borobudur temple, Central Java, with Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto to further strengthen relations between their two countries, including on energy transition, military cooperation, and enhancing a digital economy.

Freedom of self-determination is one of the most valuable principles, higher than other values that should be enjoyed by every person in their life, especially people who live on a certain land.

Hanifah Salsabila, Faieq Hidayat, Jakarta – Police raided a gay sex party at a hotel in the Setiabudi area of South Jakarta on Sunday May 25.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has launched an investigation into alleged corruption in the Education Ministry's Rp 10 trillion ($615 million) Chromebook procurement project, which was intended to support the digitalization of schools nationwide between 2019 and 2023.

Indonesia plans to purchase 42 second-hand J-10 fighter aircraft from China and could also proceed with procurement of Russian Su-35 fighters, marking a dramatic shift in the country's air force modernization strategy, according to sources.

Fachri Hamzah, Padang – Mount Marapi in West Sumatra erupted on Tuesday morning, May 27, 2025, at 8:22 AM WIB. The volcanic ash column spewed up to a height of 1,100 meters above the peak or approximately 3,991 meters above sea level.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The government will distribute wage subsidies (BSU) to 17 million employees and contract teachers. Susiwijono Moegiarso, Secretary of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said the aid will be disbursed in June and July 2025.

Han Revanda, Jakarta – The Trade Ministry approved an import license for 21,074 tons of onions to state-owned trading company PT Perusahaan Perdagangan Indonesia (PPI), part of food holding ID Food, on Monday, May 5, 2025. The license is suspected to have been issued without an official government mandate.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Kontributor), Yogyakarta – A Public Fuel Filling Station (SPBU) in Gedongtengen, Yogyakarta, caught fire with an explosion on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, around 1:11 PM WIB. The incident resulted in several injuries.

Kuala Lumpur – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with his Timor-Leste counterpart Xanana Gusmao in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, within the framework of his official visit to Malaysia and his attendance at the 46th ASEAN Summit and related Summits.

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Rahayu Oktaviani revered the work of Canadian primatologist Birute Galdikas while a student in the mid-2000s, aspiring to join her hero in protecting the Bornean orangutan, which would be classified several years later as a critically endangered species.

Timor-Leste is one step closer to achieving full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a new announcement putting its accession as soon as October if requirements are fulfilled, according to multiple media reports.

Ricky Juliansyah, Depok – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi confirmed that he will continue the military-style education for troubled youths, despite the pleas by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to stop sending children to military barracks.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Constitutional Court has granted a judicial review filed by the Indonesian Education Monitoring Network (JPPI), which demanded that both public and private schools provide free basic education.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Major General Kristomei Sianturi, voiced full support for West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's program to send troubled children to military barracks for character training.

Daniel Ahmad Fajri, Jakarta – The Head of the Information Center of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), Major General Kristomei Sianturi, said that the program of sending children to military barracks, initiated by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, has the potential to become a national policy.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) regrets the removal of an opinion titled "Jenderal di Jabatan Sipil: Di Mana Merit ASN?" (Military Generals in Civil Service: Where is the Merit of Civil Servants?) on Detikcom. The article was published on Thursday morning, May 22, 2025.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Senior economist at Bright Institute, Awalil Rizky, said that Bank Indonesia's decision to cut the benchmark interest rate or BI rate to 5.50 percent is not very effective in boosting economic growth. He argued that BI's move to cut interest rates is more towards a strategy to maintain stability.

Linda Lestari, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid said that 15 Trisakti University students were still being held by the police this morning, Friday, May 23, 2025. Usman said that the 15 Trisakti students were still being held even though on Thursday afternoon, May 22, 2025, there was news that the investigation would be completed.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Bob Azam, head of labor affairs at the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), says the government must urgently strengthen public purchasing power to spur economic growth. Apindo estimates that 250,000 workers will be affected by layoffs this year.

Jakarta – From Andi Syamsuddin Arsyad, alias Haji Isam, 48, we can learn how to become an oligarch. After a career in the business world, then influencing a number of government policies from behind the scenes, now he is trying his luck joining a political party.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has scheduled the examination of six witnesses in a graft case tied to the distribution of presidential social aid or bansos by the Ministry of Social Affairs during the 2020 budget year.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – The website of the Association for Elections and Democracy, Indonesia (Perludem) was hacked. The site was transformed into an advertisement for online gambling, and the organization's email communication activities were disrupted.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The Head of the Indonesian Presidential Communication Office (PCO), Hasan Nasbi, suggested that the opinion article on Detikcom that criticized the appointment of Djaka Budi Utama as head of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry should be uploaded again.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) announced that the broad money supply (M2) in April 2025 increased by 5.2 percent annually. This figure decreased compared to M2 in March, which grew by 6.1 percent.

By Max Lane

Executive summary

• After months of speculation about what a Prabowo government would be like following the ten years of the Widodo presidency, speculation is starting to subside, and policies are becoming clearer.