The nine Indonesian activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla have returned home from a multinational, civilian-led humanitarian mission that defied Israel's blockade, but their sacrifices mean little without action from world leaders to end Palestinians' plight.

Indonesia’s flashy new fighter jets look impressive, but recent wars prove that expensive planes are useless without a powerful, layered missile defense system to back them up.         

Young Indonesian diaspora now question whether returning home to serve in public institutions is worth the risk if ambitious reforms can later be reframed as criminal acts.

This country is finding itself at a point where policymakers at the central bank and the government need to choose between faster growth or stability, we cannot have it all.

Almost 30 years later, there are still echoes of the past that stir a sense of déjà vu, along with anxiety that everything might once again collapse like a string of dominoes.

As its population graying at an unprecedented rate, Indonesia must pivot from viewing its elderly as a cultural burden to designing proactive policies that transform them into a national asset.

Any impression that rules are enforced selectively or that crackdowns are politically motivated would be extremely detrimental to the country’s investment climate.

There was plenty of pomp and pageantry, but when it came to substance, there was little for the rest of the world to cheer about.

As the Bantar Gebang landfill overflows, Jakarta’s new waste sorting mandate marks a vital yet long overdue shift toward sustainability. But its success depends on real solutions, consistent enforcement and above all, public education.

A series of crackdowns on public screenings and discussions of the documentary film Pesta Babi (Pig Feast) serves as a grim reminder that the nation’s democratic progress is not only stalling but effectively backsliding.

By intervening in ride-hailing commissions, the government risks turning a flexible "bridge" into a rigid dead end for the very workers it aims to protect.

By attempting to screen who qualifies for protection, the government risks transforming itself from a guardian of liberty into a gatekeeper for rights violators.

Disunity has held back ASEAN from making progress on many fronts, particularly resolving the persistent issues in its backyard, and the same could also apply to the Prabowo administration's foreign policy stance as regards the bloc: Perhaps it is simply not the time for Indonesia to take up the regional mantle.

The government's choice to respond to uncomfortable public statements with police reports and takedown requests only proves the shrinking space for freedom of expression.

Economists have warned of climbing inflation as soon as this month, as more of the global price pressure caused by the Middle East conflict is passed on to domestic consumers.

Indonesia must trade its outdated regional rivalries for a sophisticated maritime strategy that honors international law while finally turning the Malacca Strait into a true engine for national growth.

As viral tragedies expose a broken system of unregulated daycares and uncertified caregivers, Indonesia must choose between performing temporary damage control or finally building the foundational safety net its "golden generation" deserves.

Regional taxes will not be accepted if citizens see local elites living extravagantly, renovating official residences or wasting public money on nonessential spending.

A quick scroll on social media is enough to show the extent of the public relations problem, with netizens expressing vitriol toward not only some of the government’s signature projects, the free meal program in particular, but also making personal attacks against the President and members of his inner circle. 

Safety should be a structural guarantee, not a matter of luck. The Bekasi train collision must finally end the country’s deadly reliance on level crossings.

After nearly a quarter century stuck in legislative limbo, the nation has finally passed a law guaranteeing the rights of domestic workers, but structural gaps and deep-seated social biases may still stand in the way of true protection.

As Jakarta ramps up its war on janitor fish, the real enemy isn't the invasive pests, but the decades of systemic pollution that allow them to thrive.

When future judges and lawyers treat "silence means consent" as a punchline, the scales of justice are broken before they even enter the courtroom. This controversy at the University of Indonesia isn't just a private chat gone wrong, it is a chilling look at the foundation of the pyramid that keeps rape culture alive.  

The case should be tried in a civilian court to ensure accountability and uncover the full chain of command.

Standard practice around that period mostly revolved foreign correspondents parachuted from the major capitals of the West to report from the “exotic” East, who often wrote with an outlook which literary critic Edward Said deemed “orientalist”.

While government estimates suggest fuel hikes are a minor technicality, the real danger lies in a "squeezed middle class" whose forced spending cuts could trigger a much broader economic slowdown.

While the KPK’s arrest spree suggests a victory for the rule of law, it may indicate a deeper political rot. Without reforming how parties select candidates, we risk trading our hard-won democracy for a cycle of perpetual graft.