President Prabowo Subianto’s recent budget cut to save over Rp 306 trillion (US$18.9 billion) to fund his administration’s priority programs is incomprehensible.

Urban spatial planning must be regulated and developed by shifting its orientation to a transit-based approach, prioritizing the development of settlements around public transport hubs.

Indonesia believes that this act of cultural justice is not just about returning the objects themselves but also about restoring the dignity of Indonesia’s identity, traditions and collective memory. 

As the world becomes increasingly dominated by technology, we as a society need to develop, maintain and provide free access to more open spaces to provide a balance between digital and interpersonal engagement for the well-being of youths today and generations to come.

Refugees should not be pushed back and they should be granted temporary asylum without being locked up in immigration detention. 

Coercing weaker nations rather than engaging in diplomatic solutions reflects the fundamental flaw of Trump’s unilateralism.

Just one month after its launch on Jan. 1, the government’s Rp 1.3 trillion (US$79.58 million) Core Tax Administration System (Coretax) is already under fire. Designed to modernize and streamline the country’s tax administration, Coretax has faced criticism for technical malfunctions, complexity and allegations of corruption.

The Foreign Ministry says there are 157 Indonesians in foreign prisons whose legal processes remain ongoing as they face the death penalty; 111 for drug trafficking and 46 for murder.

The age of empires seemed to be a thing of the past. But now there are signs that some world leaders hanker after imperial power and glory.

Efforts to end plastic pollution through bans and treaties aren’t getting anywhere, but the advent of bioplastics offers hope.

Indonesia’s IP framework was designed for a linear economy, where goods are produced, sold, and disposed of, rather than a circular economy.

Today’s extreme inequality is eroding democracy in unprecedented ways.

Trump's preference for a bilateral over multilateral agreements undermines ASEAN’s bargaining position to negotiate as a unite bloc.

President Prabowo Subianto, a former Army general, has relied heavily on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to accelerate the implementation of his flagship programs. However, he has maintained some distance from the National Police. Despite this, both the TNI and the police wield significant influence in Prabowo’s administration, with several figures from military and police backgrounds securing key cabinet positions and playing crucial roles in power transitions.

Prabowo and Gerindra have taken for granted the overwhelming legislative and executive powers that the people have lent them.

Disruptive technological innovations cannot necessarily be adopted for Indonesia's very diverse and complex agricultural conditions.

Japan will provide much more than just food procurement and provision for students.

The Commission has decided to advance its deregulatory agenda by using a controversial and opaque legislative mechanism: the omnibus bill.

Elon Musk has been accused of attempting a coup or hostile takeover of the US government. His actions could better be described as a form of "state capture".

Ensuring legal certainty and fairness by harmonizing the new OJK rule on bank secrecy and the PDP Law, along with clear and appropriate oversight by the Data Protection Agency, will be key to effective transparency and legal safeguards against potential risks.

Indonesia's research funding is significantly lower than global averages.

Indonesia’s international engagements on tech-related issues, from procurement of ICT equipment to technology and knowledge transfers, have been dictated by economic pragmatism and development needs. 

The prevailing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, namely in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, emphasize the urgency for Indonesia to build up its collaborative combat and interoperability capacities.

The House of Representatives Commission XII overseeing energy has approved a draft government regulation on the National Energy Policy (KEN), which carries a less ambitious decarbonization target. The new policy postpones the 23 percent share of renewable energy in the national energy mix to 2030 from its original target of 2025, while the share of coal is projected to rise from 39.48 percent last year to 40.7 percent in 2030.

We have reasons to worry about expanding the roles of the military beyond its domain as defender of the nation against external threats.

Mongolia, Norway and Kuwait all have one. So too do Texas, Alaska and New Mexico. But a US fund to invest in projects of national interest needs to be free of political interference.

Many lament social media companies dropping independent fact-checking but perhaps “false-checking” is a more honest and achievable target.