Former vice president Jusuf Kalla presents his public lecture at the Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, the United States, on Oct. 13, 2026.`

Public office requires more than just popularity, Kalla says in lecture in Illinois

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla has said in his public lecture in Illinois, United States that holding public office requires leadership skills and competence rather than just relying on popularity, as he highlighted challenges to decentralization and democracy that Indonesia is facing.

4 hours ago

Archipelago premium

Batam blackout caused by wild animal costs at least Rp 233.9 billion

The number of losses was calculated conservatively based on Batam’s gross domestic production of Rp 200 trillion per year or some Rp 548 billion per day.

5 hours ago

Society premium

Government accused of limiting access to forestry data amid raging wildfires

The Forestry Ministry is accused of restricting data amid widespread wildfires raging the country, as it threatens criminal charges against unauthorized copy and use of geospatial data crucial for tracking deforestation and fire hot spots.

8 hours ago

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Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak (left) and Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita are sworn in on Thursday as Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy commander and Army chief of staff, respectively, in a ceremony at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Politics premium

Prabowo swaps army chief, TNI deputy commander in latest reshuffle

President Prabowo Subianto swapped the posts of the Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy commander and the Army chief of staff on Thursday, a move analysts say could signal broader changes in the military’s leadership amid the President’s effort to strengthen his grip on the security forces.

9 hours ago

Illustration of a police tape sealing a crime scene.

Society premium

Deadly Ciputat blast put free meals safety under scrutiny

A deadly explosion at a warehouse in Cimanggis Market in Ciputat, South Tangerang, on Wednesday has raised questions about safety oversight across the government’s free nutritious meal program, as police investigate whether the facility was part of the initiative’s supply chain.

19 hours ago

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) official Gabriel Purwaka Sigit (left), Bima Setiawan (right) who is the younger brother of BNPB chief Suharyanto, and private-sector figure Syifa Nrika Ghifarian (second left) walk in detainee vests after questioning at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday (Oct. 14, 2026). The KPK has detained five suspects in an alleged corruption case at BNPB, uncovered through a sting operation.

Politics premium

Lawmakers call for audit of disaster agency after graft scandal

A lawmaker expressed disappointment over alleged corruption involving a procurement project funded by BNPB’s ready-to-use emergency funds, as Indonesia grapples with widespread forest and peatland fires.

19 hours ago