The reduction of Bank Indonesia’s key interest rate brings to an end more than two years of rising borrowing costs. The move follows weeks of well-contained inflation and a strengthening rupiah and comes just hours ahead of a much-anticipated interest rate decision by the United States’ Federal Reserve.

Students in most private schools in big cities, especially Jakarta, are affluent and the agency emphasized that their participation would be optional. 

The government and the House of Representatives are one step closer to inking the 2025 state budget bill, but the draft leaves many questions unanswered regarding the impending government transition and funding for key projects.

Delivering a strong rebuke to the Big Four firm, China's securities regulator said its investigation found that PwC Zhong Tian LLP "turned a blind eye" to and "even condoned" Evergrande's fraud while auditing the annual results of the developer's onshore flagship unit - Hengda Real Estate and assisting its bond issuance - in 2019 and 2020.

The Industry Ministry has proposed giving incentives sweetened beverage producers to counter an excise on their products that may kick in at the start of next year.

The government has stated that the introduction of cleaner – and costlier – fuel later this year will not necessitate price hikes or put further strain on the state budget. Instead, the rollout will be financed by preventing wealthier consumers from purchasing subsidized fuel.

The promised state revenue agency would be responsible for boosting tax revenue to fund Prabowo's campaign promises.

The deputy finance minister has revealed that the 2025 state budget plan has adequate fiscal space for the agenda of Prabowo's incoming government, including the creation of any new ministries under a law revision that eliminates the cap of 34, which is expected to be passed before the end of this month.

The government said it would make tech platforms set codes of conduct governing how they stop dangerous falsehoods spreading, to be approved by a regulator. The regulator would set its own standard if a platform failed to do so, then fine companies for non-compliance.

Cabbies, private-hire drivers and freelance delivery workers who rely on online matching platforms for income will get better labor protection in Singapore from Jan 1, 2025.

A regulation that would reopen the exports is set to take effect on Oct. 8, 30 working days from the day it was signed on Aug. 26.

Katsunobu Kato, Japan's former health minister and a candidate running in the ruling party leadership race, on Tuesday called for compiling a stimulus package to fund spending to boost domestic investment and revitalize regional economies.

The proposed program would require workers earning above a certain amount to enroll in an additional pension fund program.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said the moratorium could last five-10 years if the need arose, based on the government's assessment of current conditions. 

Hippindo has urged the government to consider tighter supervision and enforcement at ports of entry to tackle illegal imports, arguing that the Industry Ministry's plan to shift the destination zone to eastern Indonesia might only pass higher logistics costs on to consumers.

The government has allocated Rp 109.62 trillion (US$7.1 billion) worth of buffer funds, which were initially earmarked as reserves for education, transfers to regions and general purposes, to finance president-elect Prabowo Subianto’s costly Quick Win programs.

Experts believe that investors may only agree to invest in LCS projects if offered significant discounts, potentially leading to financial losses for the country.

This move will see a new Housing Ministry split from the current Public Works and Housing Ministry as Prabowo seeks to position the housing sector as a linchpin of economic growth under his presidency.

Musk has argued that Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes was trying to enforce unjustified censorship, while the judge has insisted that social media needs hate speech regulations.

Foreign arrivals in Bali have surged since the island reopened after COVID-19, and videos of misbehaving tourists often go viral, angering local residents and sparking harsh responses from social media users in Indonesia.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said that fiscal and monetary stimulus alone cannot boost Indonesian economic growth and instead should implement more structural reforms.

Industry association Asaki has made its case at a meeting with House Commission VI on Monday, saying that PGN's move in August to cut the subsidized gas allocation to just 50 percent had led to increased costs for producers, as they had to source additional supplies at market prices.

The government has signaled that it will enact subsidized fuel restrictions, but it has yet to make a decision on the matter.

The industry minister has told a House commission meeting that it was his office's duty to protect domestic industries against any negative impacts on their competitiveness from the planned carbon tax.

The government hopes new rules for gross split production-sharing contracts will lure more oil and gas investment to Indonesia, but experts say it may not be enough to significantly improve investment in the sector.

The transportation minister says the government plans to offer discounted prices for on-demand drivers in anticipation of its new subsidized fuel restrictions, due to kick in on Sept. 1.

Domestic firms want to see the state commit more funds to the future capital city before they themselves feel confident about investing, as they believe the megaproject’s development remains heavily dependent on fiscal support.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government was still developing carbon tax regulations, covering aspects like legislation and economic readiness.

The ministry set a 901 megawatt (MW) nationwide limit for rooftop solar panel installation this year. Less than 90 MW of that quota remains.

New Zealand said on Monday it would pass laws by the end of this year to reverse a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration, and take urgent steps to remove regulatory hurdles to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid energy shortages.