Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Since its launch, Indonesia's newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara, has captured national imagination with promises so grand that they border on the unbelievable.

Gayuh Satria Wicaksono, Ponorogo, East Java – A quiet market in Ngrupit Village, Ponorogo, East Java, hides a dark secret behind its unassuming food stalls. For decades, Njanti Market has served as a hub for street vendors, but beneath the surface, it has become a hotspot for transactional sex.

Sydney, Australia – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday he will travel to Indonesia next week as a "signal" of the importance Canberra places in the region in his first overseas visit since Saturday's election victory.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – The coconut processing industry is urging the government to impose at least a six-month moratorium on raw coconut exports or else local producers will have to lay off workers because of a supply crunch of the commodity as their main input.

Andika Pratama, Jakarta – A riot broke out at the Muara Beliti Narcotics Correctional Facility in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra Province, on Thursday around 9:00 a.m.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has begun to experience a sharp decline in dividend revenue from state-owned enterprises (SOEs), with the Finance Ministry confirming on Thursday that tens of trillions of rupiah in expected payouts are now being redirected to the newly established sovereign wealth fund, Danantara.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Trade Minister Budi Santoso on Thursday launched the "Local Thursday Movement" (Gerakan Kamis Pakai Lokal or Gaspol), a new initiative aimed at reviving public enthusiasm for Indonesian-made products. Under the new directive, civil servants at the Trade Ministry are now required to wear locally made goods every Thursday.

Rizka Ardina Nugraheni, Wijayanti Putri, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday underscored the media's vital role in promoting optimism during times of economic uncertainty and global tension.

The message was conveyed during a visit by the leadership of B-Universe Media Holdings to Jokowi's private residence in Solo, Central Java.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Since the implementation of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's new policy on May 1, 2025, a total of 272 high school students have been sent to military barracks as part of a disciplinary initiative.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai, affirmed that the West Java Regional Government's program to send children to military barracks does not violate human rights. Pigai made this statement after meeting with West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi in Jakarta on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Oyuk Ivani Siagian, Jakarta – The Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Inspector General Karyoto, stated that they are currently intensively uncovering the drug circulation within their jurisdiction. He claimed that the Jakarta Metropolitan Police have been apprehending over a hundred drug addicts every week.

Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – People with disabilities in Indonesia are among the lowest income groups, classified in the first decile, which represents those living at or below the poverty line. According to data from Bappenas, the poverty rate among people with disabilities is 11.42 percent, which is higher than the national poverty rate.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi is confident that sending troubled children to military barracks is a viable solution to address juvenile delinquency, citing a one-hundred percent success rate of the policy.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), disclosed that the number of unemployed individuals in Indonesia has risen to 7.28 million as of February 2025.

Meanwhile, the total labor force grew by 3.67 million, reaching 153.05 million people.

Michelle Gabriela, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto delivered a firm directive to the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and all related parties to improve accuracy and precision in the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal program.

Jakarta – The government must stand its ground in negotiations with the United States, which is complaining about our digital payment systems, namely the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) and the National Payment Gateway (GPN). Aside from these protests being groundless, Indonesia has full sovereignty to regulate its digital payment systems for the domestic market.

Bella Evanglista Mikaputri, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto took American billionaire Bill Gates to a local elementary school to show his signature free meal program on Wednesday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign fund Danantara plans to set up a philanthropic arm and is hoping to join hands with American billionaire Bill Gates, its CEO said on Wednesday.

Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said that an official project to rewrite Indonesian history would not change the history of the 1965 massacre, often referred to as the G30S/PKI (September 30 Movement/Indonesian Communist Party) or the 1st October Movement (Gestok).

Jakarta – National University (Unnas) historian Andi Achdian is questioning the government's decision through the Ministry of Culture to revise the history of the Republic of Indonesia.

Singgih Wiryono, Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform has alluded to West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi's policy of sending troublesome students to Indonesian Military (TNI) barracks for guidance.

Kukuh S. Wibowo, Jakarta – The Center for the Study and Protection of Children (Yayasan Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak, or PKPA) rejects the West Java Provincial Government's policy of sending troubled or deviant children to military barracks for rehabilitation.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) warned of dismissal and criminal prosecution for soldiers found participating in online gambling activities.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) believes that Indonesia's economic growth of 4.87 percent is still quite high for investors. Head of the Monetary and Securities Asset Management Department of Bank Indonesia, Erwin Gunawan Hutapea, said market players are still looking to invest in Indonesia.

Alif Ilham Fajriadi, Jakarta – Members of the House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission V expressed surprise upon learning that the Public Works and Housing Ministry's effective budget for 2025 had quietly risen from Rp50.48 trillion to Rp73.76 trillion.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Senior Researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Deni Friawan, has described the Indonesian economy as being "overcast," as economic growth slipped under 5 percent in the first quarter of 2025, with only 4.87 percent year-on-year.

Septia Ryanthie, Solo – Former President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo denied claims that President Prabowo is under his control as a "puppet president."

"What I see is that Mr. Prabowo has strong leadership," he said when met at his residence in the Sumber Village, Banjarsari District, Solo, Central Java, on Wednesday, April 7, 2025.

Annisa Febiola, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) has highlighted the concerning slowdown in the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) credit.

Melynda Dwi Puspita, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has addressed a series of food poisoning incidents affecting students who are beneficiaries of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program. He argued that, compared to the program's overall success, the instances of poisoning are statistically very low.

Linda Lestari, Jakarta – Several institutions have projected Indonesia's economic growth in 2025. Some estimate Indonesia's economic growth to be below 5 percent in 2025.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai will propose that the military education program initiated by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education (Mendikdasmen) Abdul Mu'ti.

According to Pigai, sending problematic students to the military barracks can be implemented massively in many places.

Max Lane – Indonesia's civil society and university campuses have long been a bellwether for military overreach. The current mood among resistors is distinctly anxious.

On a rainy day in Jakarta, three men coated in metallic paint known as the "manusia silver", or silvermen, brave the elements at an intersection near a mall to ask drivers for change.

It is an arresting act that comes with health risks, one some young Indonesians feel is necessary to make ends meet as the cost of living worsens and jobs dwindle after the Covid pandemic.

Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Online gambling is becoming increasingly prevalent within the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), according to the Military Police Center. The commander of the TNI Military Police, Major General Yusri Yunarto, said the issue has reached a concerning scale, prompting the military to take preventive measures across its ranks.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia is attracting growing interest from global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, with seven automakers expressing intent to build production facilities in the country, Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani said on Tuesday.

Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – The Indonesian National Police (Polri) conducted simultaneous nationwide operations with all regional police and precincts in dealing with gangsterism practices. This was stated in telegram number: STR/1081/IV/OPS.1.3/2025.

Ni Made Tasyarani, Jakarta – Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said on Sunday that the government had increased the national rice reserve to a record multiyear-high of 3.5 million tonnes during the first four months of this year, Kontan.co.id reported.

Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the Forum of Retired TNI (Indonesian Military) Officers must recognize Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice president. Luhut asked them to obey the constitution. If not, there is no need to live in Indonesia.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Four participants of the International Labor Day protest in Bandung have been named suspects and arrested by the West Java Regional Police. They were accused of causing unrest and acting anarchically during the demonstration.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wants Indonesia to achieve energy self-sufficiency. He is optimistic that Indonesia will no longer need to import fuel in the future.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 6 May 2025, an attack involving heavy weapons occurred near the Kelanungin Village, Gome District, Puncak Regency, Papua Tengah Proivince, resulting in the death of an 18-year-old civilian, Mr Deris Kogoya, and serious injuries to a 21-year-old Mr Jemi Alom.

Indonesia, West Papua – On 7 April 2025, Papuan students and solidarity organisations held coordinated protests in major cities across Indonesia, such as Bandung, Bali, Lombok, Jember, Malang, Jayapura, Nabire, and Manokwari, marking the 58th anniversary of PT Freeport Indonesia's operations in the Papua Tengah Province.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – A total of 15 aircraft operated by the Garuda Group are temporarily out of service as they undergo heavy maintenance.

Erfan Maruf, Jakarta – Overloaded trucks are not only a major safety hazard on Indonesian roads but also inflict severe damage on road infrastructure, costing the country an estimated Rp 43.45 trillion (US$2.6 billion) each year, according to a senior official.

Jakarta – It will be a challenge for Indonesia's economy to grow 5 per cent this year due to the global trade war and softening consumer spending, but a moderation won't put the country's ratings at risk, Fitch's head of Asia-Pacific Sovereigns said on Wednesday.

Ilham Oktafian, Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Ethics Council of the House of Representatives on Wednesday ruled that lawmaker and musician Ahmad Dhani had violated ethical standards over his racist remarks about naturalized football players and derogatory name-calling directed at fellow musician Rayen Pono.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Hasan Nasbi confirmed that he was asked to continue serving as Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) by Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, a request he accepted, hence he canceled his resignation.

Ahmad Fikri (Kontributor), Bandung – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has confirmed that his administration has allocated Rp6 billion to fund a program that sends troubled youths to military barracks for character education.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto wants government-owned banks to have smaller board of commissioners, according to State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir.

Jakarta – The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) plans to launch a formal study into the potential medical use of cannabis, in collaboration with the Health Ministry and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), as the government responds to growing public pressure and a Constitutional Court mandate.