Muhammad Awaludin, Mataram – State-owned energy company Pertamina revealed on Wednesday that several hotels and upscale restaurants have been using subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) despite government restrictions.

Yovanda Noni, Nusantara – The Nusantara Capital Authority and the Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation plan to develop a cluster of islands in the Balikpapan Bay area into a sanctuary for orangutans in Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan, where Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara, is being built.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia said Wednesday that it would "strongly reject" any attempts to displace Palestinians as US President Donald Trump announced his plans to take over Gaza.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Indonesia's rupiah opened weaker against the US dollar on Thursday morning, pressured by slowing economic growth. The currency depreciated by 16 points, or 0.1 percent, to Rp 16,308 per dollar at 9:07 a.m. Jakarta time, according to Bloomberg data. On Wednesday, the rupiah had strengthened 58 points against the greenback.

Antara, Jakarta – Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin recently said that his ministry had to cut Rp 19 trillion (around $1.2 billion) this year after President Prabowo Subianto instructed massive state budget cuts across the government.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – An expert recently said that Indonesia needed to fix its driving license issuance system following the deadly pileup at the Ciawi tollgate earlier this week.

Herman, Jakarta – Reports have surfaced online alleging that customer data from Bank Central Asia (BCA) was leaked following a cyberattack by an individual claiming to be the notorious hacker Bjorka. The claims were shared via the X account @bjorkanesiaaa.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Industrial Estates Association (HKI) has reported potential losses totaling trillions of rupiah, driven by canceled investments and businesses pulling out of industrial zones. These losses are largely attributed to extortion practices by certain civic organizations.

Bella Evangelista, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani remains upbeat about attracting hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investments throughout this year despite having to cut its spending within the ministry.

Jakarta – Five police officers across the country have taken their own lives since the start of the year, raising the alarm about inadequate mental health support within the National Police.

On Monday night, a police officer, identified only as Chief Brig. HS, was found dead in his home in Langkapura subdistrict, Bandar Lampung City, Lampung.

Fajar Fitrianto – Indonesia's reform of its state-owned enterprises (SOEs) marks a bold step toward modernization – or so it is claimed. By introducing the Business Judgment Rule (BJR) and establishing Danantara, a superholding entity overseeing assets worth US$570 billion, the government aims to transform its SOEs into agile, competitive enterprises.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has warned all government officials to avoid corruption and fraud after the public gave mixed reviews on the performance of his administration in its first 100 days.

The President said during the first 100 days of his administration he had warned every ministry to "clean up" their act, otherwise they "will be cleaned out".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ombudsman's Banten office estimates that fishermen suffered at least Rp 24 billion (US$1.4 million) in income losses after their access to the sea was hindered by a bamboo fence installed illegally off the coast of Tangerang regency.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy grew 5.03 percent in 2024, slightly below the government's 5.2 percent target and last year's growth of 5.05 percent, according to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

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.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, S.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 – 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.