Public Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar “Ara” Sirait took many by surprise when he announced that Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) Investment Management Agency would finance one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship campaign promises: the construction of 3 million subsidized homes. Danantara has pledged a loan of Rp 8 trillion (US$ 138 million) for the project. With this move, earlier plans to finance the program through foreign loans were effectively shelved.

Danantara was not created just to hand out lifelines, it was established to generate long-term returns for the country.

The ceasefire deal offers a potential breakthrough but faces familiar obstacles, with both Israel and Hamas deeply divided on the path to lasting peace.

The most contentious aspect of this nutritional initiative is the prominent role given to the military in its implementation.

With the ability to make immediate purchases and defer payment to a later date, individuals are more inclined to indulge in impulse buying and overspending beyond their means.

Despite Indonesia being a younger nation, it can only come up with old people to occupy positions representing the country's most vital interests. 

News organizations will not go extinct as long as they continue to practice good journalism, defined as producing accurate, objective and credible content.

These challenges highlight some shortcomings that have limited the progress of ASEAN political-security cooperation and community building. 

North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution consistently attracts negative press. The 33-year-old Gerindra politician and son-in-law of former president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo may soon be questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) after his close aide was arrested in a recent graft scandal in the province.

We should take this as recognition of Indonesia’s position as a middle power, and hence its clout in influencing global development.

Initiatives to stop nuclear proliferation are hampered by multipolar rivalries and escalating nuclear competition.

Jakarta's struggle with rural migration stems from its colonial past, when the city, established as an administrative center, attracted migrants without adequate planning for their integration.

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped. 

Sovereign wealth fund Danantara is embarking on an ambitious overhaul of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), aiming to consolidate 844 SOEs and their subsidiaries into around 200 entities. As the fund moves forward with its major consolidation plan, questions about investment returns, governance and long-term strategy remain front and center.

While population growth brings development potential, it also raises pressing questions about infrastructure, education, employment and resource equity.

In the aftermath of the Rinjani tragedy, many hikers have criticized Indonesia’s tourism system for prioritizing commercial interests over the safety of its visitors.

Women’s options for improving their own economic circumstances are limited, not least because of limited access to finance.

Surf overtourism has led to conflicts over how beaches are used and concerns over social and environmental harms. But there are ways to address these issues.

Amid global SDG funding gaps, Asian universities are stepping up as leaders in sustainable finance, driving research and innovation to shape a more sustainable future.

Only days after Google News Showcase was launched in Indonesia, Google abruptly terminated multi-year licensing agreements with 24 small and ethnic media outlets in Australia, two years before they were due to expire.

Digital systems can uphold the foundational principles of democratic voting, confidentiality, security and certainty, more reliably than manual systems.

Nearly 30 percent of Indonesians, especially Gen Z and Millennial cohorts, now access religious knowledge primarily through digital platforms, including social media, streaming sermons and online preachers.

Indonesia’s position in the World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) has dropped significantly, according to the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) 2025, released in June by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD). The annual ranking evaluates 69 economies using global, regional, and national statistics, as well as surveys of corporate executives. The report highlights Indonesia’s sharp decline across key competitiveness indicators, amid ongoing economic headwinds.

The Constitutional Court’s recent ruling that splits national and regional elections starting in 2029 comes as a relief.

Indonesia has no shortage of talent. The real challenge is how to create more open, merit-based pathways into public leadership. 

We praise experimentation but reward compliance, celebrate innovation but reject rebels and assemble platforms but silence feedback.

Rather than looking for separate hedging strategies, Asia and Europe would benefit more from collaboration