Meaningful reform in the Prabowo administration would require not only a reshuffle but a reduction in size, a step that would signal seriousness about governance over optics.

This is how Indonesia is governed now: by spectacle so crude it dares the public to object, by narratives so inflated they collapse under their own weight, by numbers waved around like talismans against doubt.

Piles of plastic bags and household waste have been reported across South Tangerang since the Environment Ministry ordered a temporary shutdown of the city’s final trash disposal site, Cipeucang, on Dec. 10, citing failure to properly process waste.

Analysts argue President Prabowo Subianto and his administration have been using the Indonesian Military (TNI) as a tool to push for not only political consolidation and flagship programs, but long-term political and electoral interests.

From 24-hour city parks to libraries extending their evening hours, Jakarta closed the year with a series of public space initiatives. Yet these expansions remain concentrated around economic hubs, reinforcing the spatial inequality that has long shaped the capital. 

The Indonesian bourse recorded a 22.1 percent gain since the start of the year to rank third in performance among Southeast Asia’s equity markets, and outlooks by leading financial research firms point to continuing resilience in 2026.

As 2025 draws to a close, Indonesia faces the outcomes of President Prabowo Subianto’s first year in office, marked by rapid political consolidation that delivered stability for the elites but exposed weaknesses in the government’s coordination and policy execution.

The coal industry is bracing for heightened uncertainty and margin pressure following the introduction of a new price reference system that industry players warn will complicate pricing and erode Indonesia's export competitiveness.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chair Yahya Cholil Staquf asserted there are no changes to the organizational structure, while asserting that the group’s upcoming congress (Muktamar) in 2026 will become a forum to settle all differences between the conflicting parties.

A Spanish-inspired feast designed for sharing at Gran Meliá Jakarta.

The comments followed a statement by Coordinating Economy Minister Airlangga Hartarto on Friday that manufactured products such as garments and textiles would receive no exemption from the United states' 19 percent tariff.

Why does Indonesia appear so keen to protect its pride by refusing bilateral assistance?

Domestic players must adapt agilely and effectively to a noticeable shift in segment-specific consumer behavior amid weaker purchasing power, whether to more affordable products or reduced spending, including strategic marketing that takes a balanced approach to incorporating both online and offline channels.

An INDEF economist has said the loan growth target must aim for a higher target of 15-16 percent next year rather than 8-12 percent at present to boost GDP.

Precious metals extended losses Tuesday on profit-taking after hitting recent records, while equities fluctuated in quiet trade as investors wound down ahead of the New Year break.

Nearly a year on since the launch of the free meals program, several studies point to an opportunity for policy learning: scaling the program toward its envisioned targets by placing women at its heart.

After years of closure, the Jakarta Planetarium and Observatory has reopened to massive crowds, with thousands of visitors eager to experience immersive views of celestial objects projected across the dome-shaped building.

As countries shift away from multilateral cooperation as the world grows more multipolar, organizations that are mission-driven, involve multiple stakeholders and founded on a spirit of partnership will become ever more necessary to face contemporary challenges.

Remembering the sports greats who passed away this year.

While boasting in front of the international community of a commitment to grant 1.4 million hectares of customary forest in the next five years, the government was met with criticism of conflicting policies and increasing repression that put indigenous communities in a more vulnerable position.

Disaster risk reduction should be embedded in policymaking, especially industrial and spatial planning, to prevent economic activities from damaging the environment and thereby exacerbating the impacts of future calamities.

Since its launch in January, more than 11,000 children nationwide have been affected by food poisoning, according to data from the agency overseeing the free nutritious meals program.

Zulhendri said local opposition is rooted in the disputed status of the land designated for resettlement. Although PTPN holds official land-use rights (HGU), villagers claim the land is customary territory passed down from their ancestors.

But some areas that are priorities for the UN, including Yemen, Afghanistan and Gaza, will not be receiving US funding under the new mechanism, UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said.

Indonesia may face a tax revenue shortfall this year, as recent data show the country had realized only 74.62 percent of its annual tax target as of November, underscoring mounting difficulties in sustaining revenue growth amid global and domestic economic headwinds. The World Bank Group (WBG) has projected Indonesia's tax ratio, the share of tax revenue in gross domestic product (GDP), to fall to 9.4 percent in 2025, down from 10.1 percent in 2024. The downward trend is a worrying signal for future state spending, particularly as the government rolls out costly flagship programs that risk widening the fiscal deficit.

In one of the country’s most internationally visible stretches in years, Indonesia’s exposure more than doubled, with President Prabowo making 35 overseas visits to 29 countries in 12 months, nearly triple the average annual pace of the previous decade.

After a lack of progress in their 3-million-homes pledge this year, the government has signaled a shift in focus toward renovation rather than new construction.