Jakarta – The government is ready to adjust budget expenditure to keep its fiscal deficit below 3 percent of GDP as the conflict in the Middle East threatens to drive up oil prices and pile more pressure on the economy, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said on Tuesday.

Agencies, Jakarta – Passengers stranded in Bali clamoured for flight news Tuesday as the outbreak of war in the Middle East grounded planes and turned a tropical holiday dream into an ordeal for many.

Hundreds were crowded at Ngurah Rai International Airport, many dressed in shorts, flip-flops and summer dresses, their expressions dour.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Yahya Cholil Staquf, Chair of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU), urged the Indonesian government to utilize its presence and position on the Board of Peace (BoP) to end the war between Israel and the United States with Iran. Indonesia, Yahya said, must urge the United States, Israel, and all parties involved to pursue a peaceful resolution.

The Indonesian government's stance in approving the trade agreement with the United States brings to mind the old Malay proverb: sepiring bagi dua, sebutir bagi tiga – one plate shared by two, one grain shared by three. It boasted of its success in the negotiations, but the fact is that the agreement is highly favorable to the US.

Jakarta – A number of student and youth organisations held a peaceful demonstration in Jakarta on Tuesday February 3 condemning the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran and accusing the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka of siding with imperialist interests.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – The joint strikes on Iran by Israel and the United States are unjustifiable under international law, said the chair of Foreign Affairs and International Agreements of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Central Executive Board, Luluk Nur Hamidah.

Anwar Siswadi, Jakarta – As one of the parties likely to be affected by the US-Israel war on Iran, the Indonesian government must take a firm stance, said Dina Yulianti Sulaeman, a Middle East geopolitical expert from Padjadjaran University (Unpad).

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – A group of professors, academics, and faculty members from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has stated that the bilateral cooperation agreement between the United States and Indonesia, known as the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), is detrimental and threatens national sovereignty.

Antara, Jakarta – The government is under mounting pressure to expand energy subsidies as escalating tensions between Iran and the United States threaten to drive up global oil prices and squeeze household purchasing power.

Alfida Rizki Febrianna, Jakarta – Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has banned poultry and egg imports from 40 countries, including Indonesia, tightening health controls and raising urgency for Jakarta to restore its avian influenza-free status.

The restriction on Indonesian products is stipulated under SFDA Policy No. 6057 and took effect on March 1, 2026.

Celvin Moniaga Sipahutar, Jakarta – Indonesia is stepping up its push to become a regional poultry exporter after declaring self-sufficiency in chicken meat and eggs, with Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman on Tuesday flagging off 75 tons of poultry products to three countries.

Nabila Kusworo, Jakarta – Leo Tolstoy once wrote that "all happy families are alike, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Consumption cycles follow a similar logic. When household balance sheets are healthy, festive seasons move in sync. When buffers thin, divergence follows.

Devy Ernis, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ministry of Defense has dismissed rumors of a purchase contract related to the grant of the Giuseppe Garibaldi aircraft carrier from Italy. Information circulating on social media suggests the ship's grant is intended to support the purchase of defense equipment.

Petra Mahy – Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) is currently debating a new labour law. Labour law has been left in a very messy state following the protracted saga of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation during the second period of the Joko Widodo presidency (2019-2024).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – A politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Mohamad Guntur Romli, has questioned why President Prabowo Subianto has not publicly expressed condolences over the reported death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Dian Rahma Fika Alnina, Jakarta – President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSPSI), Andi Gani Nena Wea, announced that this year's International Labor Day rally will be held at the National Monument (Monas) in Jakarta.

Dani Prabowo, Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has condemned the military aggression carried out by Israel and the United States against Iran, as well as other conflicts in the Middle East.

Ervana Trikarinaputri – Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri has condemned the sudden military attack launched by Israel and the United States against Iranian territory.

M. Faiz Zaki, Jakarta – Around 500 to 1,000 workers will stage a protest in front of the Ministry of Manpower office tomorrow, March 4, 2026, to demand a tax-free Eid allowance and reject the imports of 105,000 Indian pickups for the Red and White Village Cooperatives.

Antara, Jakarta – The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel poses the risk of widening Indonesia's state budget deficit, according to the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef).

Radhiyya Indra, Jakarta – Try Sutrisno, who served as vice president from 1993 to 1998 under president Soeharto, died in Jakarta on Monday, his family has said. He was 90 years old.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – The rapid spread of padel courts across residential neighborhoods in Jakarta has triggered growing public backlash, with residents complaining of constant noise and late night activity, prompting the city's administration to crack down on venues found to be in violation.

Maretha Uli, Jakarta – Once widely seen as a rite of passage, marriage is being redefined by Indonesia's Generation Z, who are increasingly choosing to wait or keep celebrations modest as rising living costs and evolving personal values reshape their priorities.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia is banking on supplies from the US after the Iran war triggers oil price hikes and unstable waters in the Strait of Hormuz.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesian palm oil exporters started 2026 strong as shipments soared in January, according to the Central Statistics Agency or BPS, although the growth was not good enough to lift the country's shrinking surplus.

Antara, Jakarta – Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla doubts President Prabowo Subianto's "well-intended" plan to fly to Tehran as a "mediator" in the Iran-Israel war.

A US-Israel joint attack on Tehran has been taking the global news cycle. The attack quickly morphed into a regional conflict after Iran targeted Arab nations that host US military bases.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has temporarily suspended the operations of 47 Nutrition Fulfillment Service Units (SPPGs) for the free nutritious meal (MBG) program since the beginning of Ramadan. This decision was made following repeated findings of failure in meeting food quality standards.

Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – A number of parties have called on the Indonesian government to withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP) following the United States and Israel's attack on Iran. Israel launched an unprovoked attack on Iran on Saturday morning, February 28, 2026. This attack on Iran was carried out as a joint military operation between the US and Israel.

Defara Dhanya, Jakarta – A screenshot from the Threat Watchdog account circulating on social media claims the "240 Million Population Database" has been leaked, or a database of 240 million Indonesians.

Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office has searched dozens of locations in connection with a corruption investigation into crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivative product exports between 2022 and 2024, officials said Monday.

Deasy Pane and Dharendra Wardhana – Prabowo's agenda is being driven by flagship programmes focused on nutrition, state-owned enterprises, and cooperatives. These programmes can complement long-term development, but Indonesia should maintain industrial, technological, and green transition priorities.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – Global rating agency Standard & Poor's Global Ratings (S&P) reported that Indonesia's manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) in February is still in the expansion zone with a score of 53.8. This marks an improvement from January.

Dani Aswara, Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Defense estimates the budget for the repair and modernization (retrofitting) of the aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi will reach Rp7.2 trillion. This cost is adjusted based on the ship's technical condition and the need for equipment installations to support the Indonesian Navy's operations.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The joint aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, has triggered a surge in global crude oil prices. This price spike poses a risk factor that could impose additional burdens on the State Budget (APBN).

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) condemned the attack launched by the United States (US) and Israel on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026, local time. Reflecting on the attack on Iran, the Council considered the existence of the Board of Peace (BoP) useless because it was unable to create peace.

M. Syaifullah, Jakarta – The joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday prompted Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro, Professor of the Department of International Relations at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), to urge Indonesia to immediately withdraw from the Board of Peace (BoP) established by US President Donald Trump.

Agencies, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto is prepared to mediate between Washington and Tehran, the foreign ministry said on Saturday following US strikes against Iran.

"Indonesia calls on all parties to exercise restraint and to prioritize dialogue and diplomacy," it said in a statement on X.

On February 28 at approximately 5 am Eastern Time (ET), the United States and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran. The operation reportedly targeted dozens of military facilities and strategic installations across the country.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – A former senior Indonesian diplomat has described President Prabowo Subianto's reported plan to travel to Tehran to mediate between Iran and the United States as highly unrealistic.

Jakarta – The Indonesia Digital Mobility and Delivery Association (Modantara) has urged the government not to require online taxi and courier platforms to pay a mandatory Ramadan bonus to their driver-partners this year, arguing that such payments should remain voluntary.

Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Former presidential candidate Anies Baswedan has highlighted concerns over the rise of political dynasties in Indonesia, noting that the country's democratic system often enables the concentration of power within certain families.

According to him, such practices have become increasingly evident in recent years.

Antara, Jakarta – Thousands of Australians who wish to travel to Bali have canceled their trips due to flooding, according to a local chamber of the restaurant and hotel association PHRI.

Antara, Jakarta – Rapid expansion of modern retailers have led to a sharp decline in Indonesia's mom-and-pop stores, coloquially known as "warung kelontong", according to the street vendor association APKLI.

Divya Karyza, Jakarta – Industry players warn that a push to diversify investment in Indonesia's minerals sector under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) signed with the United States last week must not disrupt the nickel ecosystem.

Wahroni, Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Villages Minister Yandri Susanto has denied plans to shut down modern minimarkets such as Alfamart and Indomaret in rural areas, clarifying that the government is only considering halting new expansion permits to protect small local businesses.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara marked its first anniversary on Feb. 24 with an ambitious mandate: oversee the country's vast state-owned enterprise (SOE) portfolio and steer multibillion-dollar strategic projects.

Gembong Hanung, Jakarta – The government's plan to recruit thousands of forest rangers to combat forest crimes has been met with doubts over their authority in safeguarding forests, with questions lingering over efforts to rein in extractive businesses that have devastated swaths of the country's remaining forests.

Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – Around 500 students who are members of the student executive board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) are set to stage a protest at the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Headquarters in Jakarta this afternoon, Friday, February 27, 2026. The students are demanding immediate police reform.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Indonesia's Agreement on Reciprocal Tariff (ART) with the United States is increasingly seen by economists as a structural policy gamble rather than a straightforward export breakthrough.

Agencies, Jakarta – The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced the son of an Interpol-wanted oil tycoon to 15 years in prison on Friday in connection with a corruption scheme estimated to have cost the government $17 billion.

Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza is the highest-profile defendant to be convicted in the sprawling scandal involving state-owned energy firm Pertamina.