Jakarta – If he were still alive, the father of cooperatives, Mohammad Hatta, would be unhappy seeing the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives. Without the principles of togetherness, fairness, and collective endeavor, President Prabowo Subianto's 80,000 cooperatives have been established from the top down.

Yudono Yanuar, Jakarta – In a surprising move, the previously quiet Forum of Retired Indonesian Military (TNI) Members has formally requested the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to replace Gibran Rakabuming Raka as Vice President.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – As many as 95 percent of Indonesian workers are claimed to support President Prabowo Subianto's policies on International Labour Day or May Day on May 1. The claim was made by the president of the Labour Party, who is also the president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Rear Admiral Muhammad Ali, said the Navy has yet to acquire tools to detect foreign submarines. These tools, he said, are essential for underwater surveillance.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto revealed that he criticized directors of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) during the Danantara Town Hall Meeting at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) on Monday, April 28, 2025. He refrained from disclosing the identities of those criticized or the specific nature of his reprimands.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – Scorching hot weather has affected various regions throughout Indonesia over the past week. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded the highest daily maximum temperature during this period at 37 degrees Celsius. This was observed in Tanah Merah, South Papua, on April 21st.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek) has addressed concerns that the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in academic activities on campuses could stifle students' freedom of expression, dismissing these fears as an exaggeration.Togar Mangihut Simatupang, Secretary General of Kemendiktisaintek, argu

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The CEO of Indonesia's Daya Anagata Nusantara, or Danantara, Rosan Roeslani, said the agency now manages 844 state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The number was revealed during a town hall meeting attended by SOE leaders and President Prabowo Subianto.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Head of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN), Zudan Arif Fakhrulloh, has disclosed the five primary reasons behind the withdrawals of over a thousand Civil Servant Candidates (CASN) who had successfully passed the selection process. The BKN noted that a total of 1,967 CPNS applicants withdrew due to the optimization policy.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has approved the formation of three new task forces to tackle economic challenges faced by Indonesia in the wake of global uncertainties. The task forces will focus on addressing the impact of global economic turbulence, including the United States' tariff policies and rising layoffs across various sectors.

Prisma Ardianto, Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reported that the banking sector's risk profile remains relatively stable as of March 2025, despite challenges in the broader economy. While non-performing loans (NPL) have decreased, the Loan at Risk (LAR) ratio continues its upward trend, and capital adequacy has weakened.

Stefani Wijaya, Jakarta – A Jakarta councilor from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) collapsed while delivering a speech on Sunday and was later confirmed dead at the age of 47.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – The Deputy Head of the Halal Product Guarantee Organizing Agency (BPJPH), Afriansyah Noor, affirmed that the agency has imposed strict sanctions on producers of halal-certified snacks that were found to contain pork. He stated that these sanctions are in accordance with existing regulations.

Bali, Indonesia – Indonesia's government on Wednesday defended the country's plan to hike mineral royalties, arguing the policy that has attracted widespread criticism from industry will "benefit" Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Elan Suherlan, Purwakarta – Ceramics producers in Purwakarta, West Java, have reported a halt in orders from the United States this year, despite multiple successful exports to the market in 2024.

Local officials suspect that protectionist trade policies under US President Donald Trump's administration have led American buyers to postpone or cancel their orders.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The 7th President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi), attended as the representative of President Prabowo Subianto at the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican. They conveyed Prabowo's message of condolences on the passing of Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja, Jakarta – The decision by South Korean company LG to exit a US$8.45 billion (S$11.1 billion) plan to build an electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain in Indonesia has sparked debate over Jakarta's inconsistent policies and slow decision-making.

Alfitria Nefi P, Jakarta – Economist from the Indonesian Political Economy Association (AEPI), Khudori, confirmed that rice production in the past few months has experienced a surplus compared to the previous year.

However, Khudori disagreed with President Prabowo Subianto's decision to use the current situation as a justification for exporting rice.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo has urged residents to switch off their lights for one hour today, Saturday, April 26, 2025. He explained that this initiative is part of Earth Day observances, which fell on April 22.

Pramono called for the lights-off to take place simultaneously tonight.

Fahri Ali, Depok – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has proposed a military-style discipline program for troubled youth in Depok, West Java, citing growing concern among parents over a rise in juvenile delinquency, including drug use and student brawls.

Jakarta – Much of North Jakarta was paralyzed for two days due to traffic snarl-ups on the roads leading to Tanjung Priok Port last week. The port authority should be held responsible for the gridlock, which was a result of its poor operations and planning.

Singgih Wiryono, Danu Damarjati, Jakarta – Human rights activist Usman Hamid and the band The Blackstones commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) at an event held by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Central Leadership Board (DPP) History Agency in Jakarta on Saturday April 26.

Investor Daily, Jakarta – Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer VinFast has secured a syndicated loan worth Rp 1.84 trillion ($109 million) to fund the construction of an EV assembly plant in Indonesia.

Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Jakarta – Seventy years ago this month, the world witnessed a historic assertion of post-colonial agency. In April 1955, leaders from 29 newly independent Asian and African nations gathered in Bandung, West Java, to declare that the future would no longer be dictated by colonial empires, but on solidarity, justice and dignity.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Piero Pioppo's car could not leave the parking lot of Jakarta Cathedral. The incident occurred when the Vatican Ambassador to Indonesia finished leading the Requiem Mass for Pope Francis on Thursday night, April 24, 2025.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani calls on the government to evaluate and make improvements to the free nutritious meal (MBG) program. She pointed out several issues in the program implementation, such as mass student food poisoning incidents and alleged misappropriation of the funds.

Koh Ewe and Hanna Samosir – Indonesia is on an ambitious mission to offer free meals to 80 million school children – but that hasn't exactly gone according to plan.

Nearly 80 students across two high schools in Cianjur, south of the capital Jakarta, fell ill after eating the meals this week. Most of those who ended up in hospital have since been discharged.

Jakarta – Member of Commission I DPR RI, By Soleh, strongly condemns the actions of a group of individuals calling for the independence of Papua, Aceh, and Maluku in the United Nations (UN) official forum in New York, United States.

Jakarta – The naming of the Chief of South Jakarta District Court Muhammad Arif Nuryanta as a corruption suspect is a slap in the face for our judicial system. Arif is alleged to have taken a bribe of Rp60 billion from attorneys for three major palm oil corporations embroiled in a crude palm oil export case: Wilmar Group, Permata Hijau Group and Musim Mas Group.

Aditya Hadi, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has authorized rice exports to countries in need, reversing an earlier statement by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman, who had insisted on prioritizing domestic reserves.

Jakarta – For years now, the media industry has been in a slump, first a downturn and now a crisis, which comes mostly from disruption ushered in by information technology. The internet and social media have rendered obsolete the old ways of delivering the news and that predicament has taken its toll on media companies' bottom line.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo has implemented a policy requiring all civil servants in the capital to utilize public transportation. Specifically, he has directed government employees to commute via public transit every Wednesday.

Anastasya Lavenia Y, Jakarta – The rupiah closes stronger at Rp16,829 per United States dollar in today's afternoon trade on Friday, April 25, 2025. The rupiah strengthens by 43 points from the previous close at Rp16,872.

Meanwhile, currency analyst Ibrahim Assuaibi predicts that the rupiah will fluctuate but close stronger in the range of Rp16,780-Rp16,830 next Monday.

Jakarta – Separatist movements from Papua, Aceh and Maluku have returned to the spotlight after the slogans "Free Maluku", "Free Papua" and "Free Aceh" appeared at a United Nations (PBB) forum recently.

[The following is a translation of a statement by the Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) welcoming International Labour Day, National Education Day, Marsinah Day and 27 Years of Reformasi 1998.]

Kiki Safitri, Robertus Belarminus, Jakarta – The University of Indonesia (UI) Student Community Association (IKM UI) has explicitly rejected all forms of degradation and commercialisation of the student movement. This position was asserted in the results of the 6th UI Student Congress plenary meeting that was held on Wednesday April 23.

Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) is calling for President Prabowo Subianto's flagship free nutritious meals (MBG) program be stopped following a series of poisoning cases involving students in various regions. There have been more than 200 students who have been victims of poisoning due to eating the MBG menu.

President Prabowo Subianto has invited Fiji to conduct a joint military exercise in Indonesia as part of the bilateral defence cooperation.

"We are also open to carrying out joint exercises in the military field, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. We welcome the Fijian military to exercise alongside us in

Erfan Maruf, Mita Amalia Hapsari, Jakarta – Mangga Dua, one of Southeast Asia's largest wholesale markets, remains a bustling retail center despite coming under fire from the United States over alleged counterfeit trade.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Two major electric vehicle (EV) projects in Indonesia – by Vietnam's VinFast and China's BYD – are facing disruptions allegedly caused by local civic groups, or ormas, raising red flags over the country's investment climate.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – The number of Indonesians getting caught in US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown continues to grow, with Jakarta accusing Washington of ignoring the "due process of law" when detaining one of its citizens.

Thomas Rizal, Jakarta – Indonesia should not bow to US pressure over its national digital payment systems, an economist said Thursday, following American criticism of policies limiting foreign ownership and control in domestic payment networks.

Muhammad Naufal – Special Presidential Advisor for Politics and Security, Wiranto, says that President Prabowo Subianto respects the eight points in the demands by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Retired Soldiers Forum. This was stated by Wiranto after meeting Prabowo at the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday April 24.

Antara, Jakarta – Investment Minister Rosan Perkasa Roeslani clarified on Wednesday that South Korea's LG Energy Solution did not pull out voluntarily from its $7.7 billion battery ecosystem project in Indonesia, but that the government requested the consortium's withdrawal after five years of stalled negotiations.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – The government has turned down a request for rice from Malaysia, with Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman explaining that Indonesia cannot export the grain at this time as it seeks to maintain domestic reserves.

Amran said Kuala Lumpur had requested to import rice from Indonesia due to insufficient supply that had pushed up prices in Malaysia.

Jakarta – Seventy years ago, Indonesia stood at the forefront of a historic moment in Bandung, West Java, where leaders from Asia and Africa convened to forge a path of solidarity, self-determination and resistance against colonialism.

Sudarno Sumarto and Jan Priebe (The Conversation) – Providing cash transfers to low-income families can reduce child marriage rates among girls living in rural communities.

That is what we found in a recent study which looked at the impact of social assistance programs that gave money directly to families.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto will attend the International Labor Day event at the National Monument (Monas) Square here on Thursday (May 1), where he will address six key issues related to labor.

Rendy Tisna, Mantangai, Indonesia – The last time Remie recalled a good harvest season here in Central Kalimantan province was in 2018, when 20-liter bags of rice seed were piled against the walls.

"The house was full back then," Remie told Mongabay Indonesia. "We packed almost 100 bags of seeds in here."

Arnoldus Kristianus, Muhammad Farhan, Jakarta – Indonesia is well-positioned to weather increasing global economic uncertainties and keep its financial system stable, according to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati.