Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Indonesia is gaining greater respect on the global stage, claiming that foreign leaders now view the country as an important partner capable of helping others.

Ria Fortuna Wijaya, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia unexpectedly delivered a larger-than-anticipated interest rate hike on Wednesday, raising its benchmark BI Rate by 50 basis points to 5.25% as the central bank moved aggressively to defend the rupiah amid escalating global market volatility triggered by the Middle East conflict.

Jakarta – Ride-hailing company Grab Indonesia said it will discontinue its "Akses Hemat" subscription program for motorcycle taxi driver-partners, citing the need for better adjustments to support a sustainable ecosystem for all stakeholders.

There is nothing surprising about the recommendations made by the Commission for the Acceleration of Police Reform. As we suspected from the outset, this team was merely a ploy by President Prabowo Subianto to respond to public anger over police repression in the handling of the August 2025 public protests.

Coordinated disinformation campaigns portraying government critics as "foreign agents" are silencing dissent and fueling intimidation and violence under Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's external debt rose to $434 billion in the first quarter of 2026, increasing 0.5% from the previous quarter and 0.8% year-on-year. Economists warned that the rising debt trend is narrowing the government's fiscal space, especially as the rupiah continues to weaken to record lows in recent weeks.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The chairperson of Centra Initiative, Al Araf, has said that what he describes as the strengthening of militarism in Indonesia is rooted in the negligence of civilian authorities, including the president and parliament.

He argued that in a democratic system, control over the military should rest firmly with civilian leaders.

Jihan Ristiyanti, Jakarta – Lawyers from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), including Andrie Yunus, have reported a panel of judges from Military Court II-08 Jakarta who are handling their client's case to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Antara, Jakarta – The rupiah weakened at the close of trading on Tuesday, falling 38 points or 0.22 percent to Rp17,706 per US dollar, from Rp17,668 earlier.

Bank Woori Saudara analyst Rully Nova said the rupiah's decline was driven in part by rising global oil prices, which remain above US$100 per barrel.

Chairul Fikri, Jakarta – Indonesia is considering legal measures to seek the release of nine Indonesian citizens reportedly detained by Israeli forces while participating in the humanitarian aid fleet known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Monday.

Herman, Jakarta – Ride-hailing company GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO) said on Tuesday it fully supports the Indonesian government's new regulation requiring ride-hailing platforms to allocate at least 92% of fares to drivers.

Halmahera, Indonesia – New research examining Indonesia's vast nickel-processing regions has documented rising rates of ill health and workplace harm linked to a key industry supplying the global energy transition.

Ananda Teresia, Jakarta – Indonesian authorities, including the military, used online disinformation campaigns to brand activists and journalists as "foreign agents" and silence dissent, sometimes leading to physical threats, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

Pradipa P. Rasidi – With the enactment of Government Regulation 57 of 2025 on Electronic System Operators and Child Protection (PP TUNAS), the Indonesian government plans to restrict access to various digital platforms – from TikTok and Instagram to Roblox – for children under 16. The aim is to prevent cyberbullying, addiction, fraud, and other harmful content.

Agencies, Jakarta – Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said on Tuesday that he had signed a letter of intent last month with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on granting US military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace, but said no commitment was made.

Endang Mulyani, Jakarta – Authorities in Jakarta are stepping up vigilance against hantavirus after six suspected cases were identified, along with three confirmed infections, according to the city's health agency.

Jakarta Health Agency head Ani Ruspitawati said the capital had recorded six suspected hantavirus cases currently under monitoring.

Jakarta – The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) officially reported alleged violations of the code of ethics and behavioural guidelines by the panel of judges at the Jakarta II-08 Military Court, which is currently hearing the case of the acid attack on Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Deputy Coordinator Andrie Yunus.

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has clarified the intent behind President Prabowo Subianto's recent statement that villagers do not use the US dollar, stating the remarks were meant to engage and entertain the public.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto said Monday that the Southeast Asian country will continue to build up its defense capabilities as the government handed over equipment including six French-made Rafale jets to the military.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Jakarta – Around 200 students from 12 kindergartens, elementary and junior high schools in Tembok Dukuh subdistrict, Surabaya, East Java, suffered symptoms of food poisoning after consuming state-provided free nutritious meals on May 11.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) are warning that the rupiah's continued depreciation against the US dollar could lead to layoffs if the currency weakness persists, as companies face rising operational and production costs.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia's external debt edged higher in the first quarter of 2026, driven by government borrowing, although the central bank said the country's debt profile remained healthy with a lower debt-to-GDP ratio and a continued dominance of long-term liabilities.

Zhulfakar, Jakarta – Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has pushed back against criticism from British magazine The Economist over the fiscal direction of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, arguing that the country's economic fundamentals remain strong and fiscally disciplined.

Alfi Dinilhaq, Jakarta – Indonesia is securing the number one spot in the global ranking for tax expenditure transparency, dethroning South Korea.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid has denied that Indonesia's new trade agreement with the United States includes the transfer of citizens' personal data, following growing public concern over a cross-border data clause in the deal.

Agus Pambagio, Sidik Pramono, Jakarta – Logistics costs are a key factor in national economic competitiveness. In recent months, however, Indonesia's national logistics system, particularly its maritime transportation, has sounded serious alarm bells.

Ricky Juliansyah, Jakarta – Student Executive Board of University of Indonesia, known as BEM UI, has criticized the government over recent remarks downplaying the impact of the weakening rupiah on rural communities.

Dinda Shabrina, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto often makes controversial statements in his various speeches. Most recently, he mentioned that even though the exchange rate of the rupiah weakened against the US dollar, it did not affect the villagers. His reason was that, according to him, villagers do not use dollars.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Rupiah's slide past Rp 17,600 per US dollar reflects mounting fiscal and structural concerns at home rather than purely monetary pressures, according to an economist at the University of Indonesia's Institute for Economic and Social Research (LPEM FEB UI).

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will inject Rp 2 trillion ($113.2 million) per day into the domestic bond market to help stabilize the rupiah as the currency continues weakening against the US dollar, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudho Sadewa said on Monday.

Jakarta – An Indonesian official announced on April 30, 2026, that the government would seek to amend the country's 1999 Human Rights Law to allow authorities to determine who is a recognized human rights defender, Human Rights Watch said today.

Candle Heiner Rogaga, Manado – A fire at Megamall Manado in the eastern Indonesian city of Manado killed a female employee and injured four visitors on Saturday night, authorities said.

The victim was identified as Pricilia Tamawiwy, who died after becoming trapped during the incident.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto acknowledged on Saturday that the government's program to provide free meals to combat malnutrition, his signature project, "comes with many problems".

Ervana Trikarinaputri, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that all Indonesian citizens are shareholders of the nation's wealth. Prabowo stated that Indonesia stands on the principle of familyhood.

He expressed this thought while attending the inauguration of the Mother Marsinah Museum and Shelter in Nganjuk, East Java.

Alfitria Nefi Pratiwi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has criticized the government's decision to increase the fuel surcharge on airline tickets.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto addressed the weakening Indonesian Rupiah during the launch of the Red and White Village Cooperative in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, May 16, 2026. The head of state urged the public to remain calm despite the currency sliding to Rp17,500 per US Dollar.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Nganjuk, E – Java. President Prabowo Subianto said on Saturday that he was "deeply saddened" by reports of government officials allegedly abusing their authority and stealing public money, pledging that his administration would not protect anyone involved in corruption, including close allies and members of his own party.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is not worried about the weakening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. Prabowo believes that the decline in the rupiah's exchange rate does not directly affect rural communities.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The Indonesian rupiah exchange rate plummeted to 17,600 per US dollar during the long weekend on Friday, May 15, 2026. Based on Google data, the rupiah reached 17,602 on Saturday morning, May 16, 2026.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the killing of labor activist Marsinah 33 years ago should never have happened. Prabowo voiced his opinion while inaugurating the Marsinah Museum and Resting House, dedicated to the woman who was killed and tortured in 1993.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has described the murder of Marsinah as involving collusion between the state apparatus and capitalists. He voiced his opinion during the inauguration of the Ibu Marsinah Museum and Shelter in Nganjuk, East Java, on Saturday, May 16, 2026, nearly 33 years after the activist's death.

Bambang Ismoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia's business sector is facing mounting pressure from the weakening rupiah, with industry leaders warning of rising production costs, heavier dollar-denominated obligations, and growing uncertainty for investment decisions.

Padang – Searchers recovered nine bodies after a landslide hit near an illegal gold mine in Sijunjung regency, West Sumatra, police said Friday.

A cliff near the mine collapsed on Thursday, burying a group of miners working only three meters away, said West Sumatra police spokeswoman Susmelawati Rosya.

Simon Butt – Indonesia's old KUHAP was often criticised for making the state and law enforcement too powerful. Coordinating Minister for Law Yusril Ihza Mahendra has called the new Code of Criminal Procedure (Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Acara Pidana, or KUHAP) a new era of law enforcement that is more humane, modern and just.

Anastasya Lavenia Yudi, Jakarta – The rupiah could weaken beyond Rp18,000 per U.S. dollar by the end of May and potentially slide further to Rp22,000 if external pressures persist, according to Ibrahim Assuaibi, director of futures brokerage firm PT Traze Andalan Futures.

Martin Bagya Kertiyasa, Jakarta – Indonesian sellers are facing mounting pressure as rising marketplace fees collide with an influx of low-cost Chinese products, squeezing profit margins and intensifying competition across the country's e-commerce sector.

Kutai Kartanegara, Indonesia – Asniah recalls nights lying in darkness listening to cicadas and the passing hum of outboard motors after her family moved to Muara Enggelam in the 1990s, an over-the-water village in the interior of Indonesian Borneo, cut off from basic services.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – The rupiah's depreciation beyond Rp 17,500 against the US dollar has triggered a rise in foreign-exchange transactions at money changers across Jakarta, as people seek to convert funds for investment, savings, and overseas travel.

The establishment of the National Park Management Financing Innovation Task Force has sparked serious concerns about the direction of environmental governance. Behind the buzzword "financing innovation" lie risks of conflicts of interest, as well as a push for the commercialization of conservation areas, which could potentially undermine the protection mandate.

Ilona Estherina, Jakarta – The Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) this week, May 11-13, plummeted by 3.53 percent to 6,723.32, amid the announcement of Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) rebalancing.