The commissioning of Indonesia's first aircraft carrier marks a strategic milestone, one best understood through the lens of defense diplomacy and naval modernization.

An appeals court in Jakarta has reduced the sentence of former education minister Nadiem Makarim convicted of corruption in the procurement of Chromebook laptops for school nationwide during his term in office.

Finance Minister Suahasil Nazara said there would be no additional allocation for free state schools, with the government instead reviewing how the existing education budget is distributed among the central and regional governments, ministries and agencies.

The Constitutional Court began hearing this week a petition challenging Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s educational qualifications when he ran for office in 2024, with petitioners asking the court to disqualify him two years after the election.

Upon closer reading of the released volumes, historians have identified problems ranging from questionable historical claims to gaps in chronology and concerns over how Indonesia’s history is framed.

A viral speech by Gontor Islamic boarding school leader Hasan Abdullah Sahal has underscored the institution’s distance from politics, amid growing questions over the independence of Indonesia’s major Muslim organizations under the current administration.

The long-awaited indigenous peoples bill might once again be left in limbo as the House of Representatives races to prioritize another bill on agrarian reform, raising concern among activists pushing for legislation on the recognition of the underserved and dispossessed.

M. Sarmuji, secretary-general of the governing coalition member Golkar, confirmed that Nusron had resigned as the party’s head of religious and spiritual affairs, although he noted that the minister remains a Golkar member. 

President Prabowo Subianto’s latest tirade against experts critical of his administration has drawn backlash from researchers and civil society figures, who warn that his repeated rebuke of criticism risks narrowing research-based policymaking and freedom of speech in the country.

Officials have touted the light aircraft carrier’s use in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, such as to fight forest fires or providing relief in response to various natural disasters.

Indigenous and civil society groups in West Kalimantan have sued the central government and local administrations, accusing them of deliberate negligence for failing to prevent and properly handle the widespread wildfires paralyzing the province.

A move to reduce regional transfers and a proposal to centralize teacher recruitment by the central government are defended as an effort to curb corruption and prevent local political interference, according to President Prabowo Subianto.

‘Any policy resulting in a fundamental change to the amount of central government expenditure by function must obtain House’s approval,’ according to Constitutional Court justices. 

The former Italian carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi docked at a port in Jakarta after sailing from Italy via Colombo and the Malacca strait, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali told reporters.

President Prabowo Subianto has hinted at another cabinet reshuffle ahead of his two year anniversary in office. But analysts say he will need to look beyond ministerial changes to improve government performance and address public concerns.

Political parties have begun discussing possible increases in the legislative threshold that election observers warn could further limit voter representation and narrow the space for alternative voices in the House of Representatives.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is probing a bribery case in the issuance of right-to-build (HGB) permits at the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry, which allegedly involved a Golkar Party politician the investigators described as a “right-hand man” to minister Nusron Wahid.

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is wrapping up corruption and money laundering investigations into former senior prosecutor Febrie Adriansyah and two other suspects, moving closer to bringing the case to court after two months of investigation.

The episode is another example of Prabowo's personal style of governance, with the former special forces commander making decisions based on feedback more from his trusted inner circle and loyalists than professionals and experts, analysts say.

A fresh proposal to extend the tenure of village heads and abolish village elections to save money for President Prabowo Subianto’s costly signature programs has drawn flak from critics over the risk of undermining democracy and weakening accountability at the local level.

The decision to place students in a military environment has raised concerns among civil society groups, who described it as part of the growing trend toward the “remilitarization” of civilian space.

The court also sentenced each firm with a Rp 1 billion (US$56,447) fine after finding them guilty of receiving benefits from the corruption case surrounding two venture capital arms of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to the agricultural tech start-up.

The next presidential election may still be three years away, but several potential contenders have already begun making early moves as President Prabowo Subianto’s approval ratings slide and criticism of his government mounts.

Recent remarks by Democratic Party chairman Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono highlighting the limits of power have fueled speculation that he is already laying the groundwork for the next general election, potentially testing the cohesion of President Prabowo Subianto’s ruling coalition.

Flying to Vladivostok at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin was part of President Prabowo Subianto’s effort to address domestic issues, according to Government Communications Agency (Bakom) head Muhammad Qodari.

Critics have urged lawmakers not to rush the bill through without “meaningful public participation,” warning that weak safeguards and oversight could allow the expanded asset seizure powers to be turned against political opponents and government critics.

BGN suspended 1,999 kitchens across Indonesia because they did not register with the health ministry to undergo mandatory hygiene and sanitation certifications, agency chief Sudaryono said on Monday.