Herdiansyah Hamzah, a researcher at Mulawarman University, suspects that this move could be an attempt by the KPK to improve its image after recent internal corruption cases, including the alleged extortion of Syahr

Yohanes Maharso Suharyoso and Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – During the Golkar Party's thanksgiving event in Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday, March 15, Golkar Party Chairman Airlangga Hartarto stated that his party played a significant role in helping Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka win the 2024 presidential election.

Pribadi Wicaksono (Contributor), Jakarta – The Faculty of Philosophy of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is currently investigating a student's confession of committing sexual violence, both verbal and physical, against eight victims. The confession was recorded in a 20-second video posted on X on Sunday, March 17.

Jakarta – Jokowi has ambitions to take control of the Golkar Party. It is his new way to stay relevant to those in power.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) of Indonesia has disclosed that micro and small-scale businesses in Jakarta are encountering challenges in disbursing Eid bonuses (THR).

Irsyan Hasyim (Contributor), Jakarta – High-intensity rains that lashed Central Java on March 16 caused six dams to burst, flooding several districts in Demak.

The Wulan River embankment, which is located on the border of Demak and Kudus Regencies, also broke again on March 17. Previously, the embankment broke after the flood in early February 2024.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) is currently probing a report from the Finance Ministry concerning alleged corruption involving the Indonesian Export Financing Agency (LPEI), also known as Indonesia Eximbank, totaling more than Rp 5 trillion ($318,5 million).

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia's capital of Jakarta is in need of long-term plans that might require 20 years of implementation for it to emerge as a world-class business metropolis, stated the Center of Reform on Economics (CORE) Indonesia.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, which lies in the West Javan regency of Karawang, will begin commercial production this April, according to Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Finance Minister Sri Mulyani met Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin at the Attorney General's Office, South Jakarta on Monday, March 18, 2024. Sri Mulyani submitted a report on alleged corruption at the Indonesian Export Financing Institution (Indonesia Eximbank) worth Rp2.5 trillion.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Arief Prasetyo Adi, the Head of the National Food Agency (Bapanas), defended his decision to raise the maximum retail price (HET) of premium rice to ensure sufficient rice stocks in the market.

Yustinus Paat, Jakarta – The Indonesian House of Representatives' Legislative Body and the government has agreed to change the rules for the Jakarta Gubernatorial election.

Instead of requiring a 50+1 majority vote, the election will now be decided in a single-round election where the candidate with the majority vote is declared the winner.

Jakarta – Two Indonesian nationals working for a South Korea-Indonesia fighter jet program in Seoul have been ordered not to leave the country as authorities investigate a suspected leak of technology from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

Dio Suhenda, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) is racing to finish its tiered vote tabulation of last month's general election after sluggish progress in several provinces, including West Java, has cast doubt over the poll body's ability to meet its March 20 deadline.

Jakarta – Indonesians will have to pay more for most goods they buy in 2025 once the government increases value-added tax (VAT) to 12 percent in 2025, from the current 11 percent.

The planned new rate will apply to the clothes you buy, the restaurants you choose to eat at, the video games you will play or the Netflix subscription you decide to pay out for, all in 2025.

Tenggara Strategics, Jakarta – Most political parties automatically extend the term of their chairman if they have performed well in a general election. Yet, this rule does not seem to apply to Golkar, which, under chairman Airlangga Hartarto, saw its tally of votes increase in last month's legislative election to come second.

Jakarta – The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry aims to attract 1.5 million tourists from China this year, around double last year's figure.

Saifulbahri Ismail, Jakarta – Indonesia's presidential election may be over, but demonstrations against the unofficial results continue.

Policemen have been deployed in front of Indonesia's General Elections Commission (KPU) to ensure that such protests do not turn violent.

Max Lane – A popular documentary about ten exiles has had an extraordinary run in Indonesia, not least because it sings a different tune from the official historical narrative about the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) and its supporters, perpetuated since the Suharto era.

Antara, Jakarta – Chairperson of the House Budget Committee Said Abdullah has urged the government to ensure that its social assistance programs can reduce people's economic pressure as the prices of several staple goods remain high.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas) stated that he is still reviewing the evaluation or revision of Minister of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 concerning the Import Policy.

Sarjan Lahay, South Kulawi, Indonesia – In a forested valley in the interior of Sulawesi Island, Elisabet Heta gathers up a clutch of farming tools used by the Moa Indigenous people and leaves home.

"I want to go to the pampa," Elisabet told Mongabay Indonesia, before the mother of four set out for the fields here in Sigi district, Central Sulawesi province.

Septia Ryanthie, Jakarta – Vice presidential candidate number 2 Gibran Rakabuming Raka ensures that his father, President Joko Widodo or Jokowi, will not interfere in Prabowo-Gibran's cabinet talks if the pair is elected. Gibran assures that the arrangement of ministerial positions will only be carried out by Prabowo Subianto.

Whisnu Bagus Prasetyo, Jakarta – The government is in the process of developing a scheme to provide soft loans for university students from low-income and middle-income families who do not receive financial assistance from the state, an official said on Monday.

Thomas Rizal, Bandung – Comedian Alfiansyah Bustami, popularly known as Komeng, was confirmed Monday as one of four elected senators from West Java, securing a remarkable 5.4 million votes in the Feb. 14 election.

His vote tally is nearly double that of presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo's count in Indonesia's most populous province.

Jakarta – A number of civil society groups have criticised the move by the government which is planning to allow active Indonesian military (TNI) and police (Polri) officers to fill state civil service (ASN) positions.

Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) Executive Director Gufron Mabruri is urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to cancel the discourse.

Jakarta – A number of groups that make up the civil society coalition consider the Indonesian government through its delegation provided contradictory information on the state of Indonesia's human rights at an International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) hearing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday March 12.

Isnaya Helmi, Jakarta – A demonstration by a number of protesters in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) offices in Menteng, Central Jakarta, has continued into the night on Monday March 18.

Jakarta – Ports across Java and Sumatra have been bustling with activity as cargo ships arrive carrying bags of milled rice from neighboring countries since the beginning of this month.

In the past week alone, two vessels from Thailand and Myanmar docked at Probolinggo Port in East Java, bringing a combined total of 8,200 tons of rice.

Johannes Nugroho – Siswanto Cokro, a grandfather of three, was surprised to hear about the declining number of registered marriages in Indonesia over the last few years, a trend which has put the government on alert for fear of "undesirable consequences" on the economy.

Yustinus Paat & Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who teamed up with the president's son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his running mate, has emerged victorious in 30 out of 32 provinces that have certified their results from the Feb. 14 election as of Sunday.

Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The criminal case files on a defendant in the 2004 murder of renowned human rights activist Munir Said Talib, former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Deputy Muchdi Purwoprandjono or Muchdi PR, are considered to be enough evidence to declare the Munir's murder as a gross human rights violation.

Antara, Jakarta – Airlangga Hartarto, the Chairman of the Golkar Party, is advocating for a minimum of five ministerial positions in the upcoming cabinet led by Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as the pair are likely to emerge victorious in the 2024 Presidential Election.

Windarto, Jakarta – The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has officially reached out to Biznet, an internet operator, seeking clarification regarding an alleged data breach compromising 380,000 records on the dark web. The leaked information encompasses personal details such as names, emails, national ID numbers, tax ID numbers, phone numbers, and addresses.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Corruption watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) urged the General Election Commission (KPU) to disclose details on the identity of donators of campaign funds listed in the Campaign Fund Income and Donation Report (LPSDK) of the 2024 election candidates.

Indah Handayani, Jakarta – Fitch Ratings has affirmed Indonesia's credit rating at 'BBB' with a stable outlook. Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI), Perry Warjiyo, stated that the rating reflects strong international stakeholders' confidence in macroeconomic stability.

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office is investigating alleged corruption over tin mining permits in Bangka Belitung. The investigation must also reveal the backers.

Monique Handa Shafira, Jakarta – The Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) has issued a stern warning to seven airlines against unjustified price hikes before Eid al-Fitr.

Muhammad Aulia, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detained 15 employees including a warden on Friday for allegedly taking bribes from inmates. The mass detention of its own employees marks an unprecedented move never happened before in KPK's history.

Antara, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City (IKN) Infrastructure Development Task Force at the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Ministry was expediting the completion of the central government's core area (KIPP) to ensure its readiness for the Independence Day ceremony on August 17, 2024.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi delivered rice aid to beneficiary households at the Huta Lombang Bulog warehouse, Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra, on Friday, March 15, 2024.

Alfida Rizky Febrianna, Jakarta – The Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) has refuted any plans to forcibly remove the indigenous community of Pamaluan, Penajam Paser Utara, East Kalimantan, from Indonesia's new capital area. Earlier reports had suggested that locals were given a 7-day notice to vacate the premises.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's trade balance in February 2024 experienced a surplus for the 46th consecutive month. However, the surplus in February 2024 amounted to only $870 million (Rp 13.6 trillion), shrinking from $2.02 billion in January.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia denies that it has imported dates from Israel, arguing that it mainly buys the fruit from Tunisia and Egypt, among others.

Antara, Jakarta – In February, Indonesia's exports of crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives experienced a significant decline, dropping by over 30 percent to $1.20 billion (Rp 18.7 trillion) compared to January's figure of $1.72 billion.

Jakarta – Beyond exercising restraint over their survival instincts by foregoing eating and drinking for the daylight hours for a month, Indonesian Muslims will face an extra challenge during this year's Ramadan: the political heat of an election year.

Jakarta – Dry season will be less severe this year in Indonesia compared to 2023, improving its chances of managing forest fires and crops, the The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency(BMKG) said on Friday.

Daniel A. Fajri, Jakarta – Stanford University has denied that it planned to build a campus in Indonesia's Nusantara Capital City (IKN), North Penajam Paser, East Kalimantan. The private research university in California, United States, also stated that it had not signed any agreement with Indonesia.

Chandra Asmara – Indonesia is beefing up security ahead of the official announcement of the result of February presidential elections, where Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has already claimed victory.

Jakarta – A number of people calling themselves the People's Challenge Coalition for Democracy (KARAM) set fire to tyres in front of the General Elections Commission (KPU) offices in Jakarta on Friday March 15.

The demonstrators were protesting against election fraud and demanding that KPU Chairperson Hasyim Asy'ari be sacked.