On Panjang Island in Batam, Riau Islands province, the Pantai Basri Troupe keeps the centuries-old tradition of Mak Yong theater alive through regular performances.`

Artists calls for stronger support for Mak Yong theater amid UNESCO bid

At present, only two troupes in the Riau Islands continue to practice Mak Yong, with just one still actively performing, placing the survival of this centuries-old art form at risk for future generations.

4 minutes ago

Archipelago premium

Police rescue 64 tourists stranded on tourism island

During a trip to Salah Nama Island, the boat engine developed problems before cutting out. This resulted in seawater entering the boat, causing passengers to panic.

1 hour ago

Politics premium

Didit visits former presidents as part of Idul Fitri tradition

Ragowo “Didit” Hediprasetyo, the only son of President Prabowo Subianto, marked this Idul Fitri through a series of visits to families of former presidents, continuing a tradition he began since his father took office and positioning himself as a bridge to other political figures.

3 hours ago

The Latest

Motorists queue at a petrol station in Surabaya, East Java on March 9, 2026.

Society premium

Doubts linger over effectiveness of one-day remote work in curbing fuel use

The government’s plan to enforce a mandatory one day of remote work per week for civil servants has drawn skepticism among analysts, who are calling for longer-term solutions to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices triggered by the Middle East war.

4 hours ago

Vehicles are seen stuck in traffic on Tuesday on the toll road heading out of Jakarta at the Cikampek Utama toll booth in Cikampek, West Java, as people headed to their hometowns for the Idul Fitri holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan.

Society premium

'Mudik' chaos strikes again

Heavy congestion and traffic accidents have again marked the annual Idul Fitri travel season this year, despite extensive preparations by the government to manage the surge in travelers making homebound trips.

4 hours ago

A police tape reads "Crime scene [...]" in this undated illustration of a crime scene.

Archipelago premium

Police investigate fatal stabbing of Dutch man in Bali

Bali has experienced a worrying rise in violent crimes involving foreign nationals in recent years, amid a surge in tourism on the island.

5 hours ago

Saltwater break: Visitors play along the shore at Lagoon Beach in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Jakarta, on Feb. 21, 2026. As screens dominate daily routines, many Indonesians are rediscovering simple pleasures away from the glow of their phones. Antara/Darryl Ramadhan

Archipelago premium

12 dead in separate drowning incidents during Idul Fitri holiday

Each year, millions of visitors flock to the country’s coastline, one of the longest in the world. Many beaches, however, still lack adequate safety measures, including lifeguards and warning signs, leaving swimmers vulnerable to accidents and fatalities.

15 hours ago

Eli Triana, 43, leads an online learning session on Oct. 5, 2023, from her classroom at an elementary school in Palembang, South Sumatra, after local authorities ordered the change due to worsening air quality from wildfires in the province.

Society premium

Govt drops hybrid learning from energy saving measures

A hybrid learning plan has been scrapped from austerity measures amid a rise in global energy prices due to the Middle East war, even as legal challenges continue against the multibillion-dollar free meals program.

17 hours ago

politics

President Prabowo Subianto (center) points to his ministers on March 13, 2026 ahead of a plenary cabinet meeting to discuss the government's preparations ahead of the Idul Fitri holiday and response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East at the State Palace in Jakarta.

premium

politics premium

Planned salary cuts for public officials welcomed

Former religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas walks toward an interview room at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s building in Jakarta, on Aug. 7, 2025.

premium

politics premium

Yaqut returns to KPK detention

Advocacy for Democracy Team (TAUD) members hold posters in solidarity with Andrie Yunus, an activist and deputy coordinator with rights group Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), who suffered burns to 24 percent of his face and arms from acid thrown by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle on March 12, after a press conference in Jakarta on March 16, 2026.

premium

politics premium

Pressure for military accountability, reform grows after acid attack on activist

President Prabowo Subianto (right, rear), accompanied by his son Ragowo “Didit” Hediprasetyo (left, seated), speaks with former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (center) on Saturday, during a private meeting on the sidelines of the Idul Fitri open house at the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta.

premium

politics premium

Palace projects unity on Idul Fitri over global fragmentation

Former religious affairs minister and graft suspect Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (center) is escorted on March 12, 2026, out of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in South Jakarta. The antigraft body arrested the former minister one day after a court rejected his pretrial motion challenging his suspect status.

premium

politics premium

KPK under fire over Yaqut’s house arrest

politics

Prabowo says no to $1bn fee for Trump's 'Board of Peace' seat

The Indonesian president said he would withdraw from the Board of Peace if it does not bring benefits to Palestinians or align with Indonesian national interests.

2 days ago