As several Asian countries grapple with a resurgence of COVID-19, the government has assured the public that Indonesia’s health sector is well-prepared to handle any future outbreaks, while authorities ramp up precautionary measures to prevent a domestic surge.

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin’s push to overhaul the healthcare system has sparked fresh backlash from medical professionals and professors, while his recent controversial remarks have further fueled public scrutiny.

President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship Sekolah Rakyat (community school) education initiative, designed to expand access for children from low-income families, has come under public scrutiny after the displacement of visually impaired students from a century-old special needs institution in Bandung, West Java.

The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) says it has frozen dormant bank accounts to “protect the public” from predatory schemes like online gambling and fraud, following reports that some bank customers found their accounts blocked without notice.

The police have begun cracking down on Facebook groups that allegedly posts adult content revolving around incest, amid mounting calls for the operators behind these illicit accounts to be brought to justice.

Some Indonesian netizens oppose the clinical trial of a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate in Indonesia, whose development has been supported by the Gates Foundation. They claim that the state is selling people as "lab rats" for the philanthropist’s agenda. 

Various ministries have been intensifying efforts to mitigate and prevent forest and land fires as most parts of the country are expected to enter the dry season soon.

President Prabowo Subianto’s initiative to equip every school with so-called “smart screens” has been met with concerns of a misplaced priority, with experts contending that the budget for the high-tech equipment should instead be used to solve more fundamental problems surrounding the country’s education system. 

The Press Council has elected prominent Islamic scholar Komaruddin Hidayat as its new chair, amid growing challenges the institution faces related to the digital space, the rise of AI and rising violence against the press.

A government project to rewrite parts of Indonesia’s history has prompted concern that it might discourage scientific discourse and close off any other interpretations of historical events.

Progresses made by diplomatic efforts in the field of science can only be hindered if the country does not work to improve its lengthy bureaucratic processes and academic freedom, researchers have concurred.

At least 8,000 potential students have registered to enroll in regions where the Sekolah Rakyat (community schools) are slated to open in July, the start of the 2025-2026 academic year.

The government has scaled up efforts against tuberculosis by empowering local communities and strengthening health facilities down to the village and subdistrict levels for the early detection and treatment of the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

According to the PPATK, online gambling transactions in the first quarter have dropped an astounding 80 percent due to a coordinated clampdown involving multiple state institutions.

Teenage students who skip class or play too many video games could land themselves in military bootcamp if a disciplinary pilot project rolled out in one province this month proves successful, a government minister told AFP on Friday.

The clinical trials for a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate developed with funding from the Gates Foundation are taking place in Indonesia under close monitoring by multiple national and international institutions and researchers, according to the Health Ministry.

Indonesian Catholics have joyfully welcomed Pope Leo XIV, the first pontiff from North America and the Order of Saint Augustine, expressing hope that he will continue the legacy of his predecessor by prioritizing the poor and marginalized, and promoting unity within the Catholic Church.

The government’s recent suspension of a digital identity platform, where crowds lined up for iris scans in exchange for cash, has raised alarms over poor digital literacy, made worse by the absence of a long-promised data protection agency.

Civil society organizations have demanded the protection of indigenous peoples’ rights as the Constitutional Court reviews the newly revised conservation law, which potentially enables the exclusion and criminalization of indigenous communities for defending their customary lands.

As the government embarks upon President Prabowo Subianto’s push for the revitalization of over 10,000 schools this year, calls are mounting for stronger oversight and strategic planning to ensure the Rp 16.9 trillion (US$1.02 billion) program effectively addresses the country’s crumbling education infrastructure.

Global tech giants control ‘over 75 percent of ads’ in Indonesia, putting local media firms and news organizations in a tight position financially, leading to recent mass layoffs, according to professional journalist associations.

According to the senior security minister, the new task force is part of a governtment clampdown on rampant extortion involving mass organizations that he described as a threat to national stability.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said artificial intelligence will play a key role in unlocking new tools for health, education and agriculture at a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday.

The country is lagging behind on the implementation of basic principles of work safety and health, potentially hindering the adoption of AI and other automated technologies that can improve the overall condition of occupational safety and health.

More than 7,000 Indonesian pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia during the first wave of this year’s haj departure, marking the official start of the annual pilgrimage for millions of Muslims worldwide.

In commemoration of National Education Day, which falls every May 2, President Prabowo Subianto announces some initiatives aimed at improving the country’s education system, ranging from school renovations to financial aid for teachers.

President Prabowo Subianto delivered on Thursday a fiery speech on International Workers’ Day, or May Day, pledging reforms to improve workers’ welfare and promote stronger labor protections, amid dissatisfaction over labor conditions and concerns of more job losses.

Launched in January, the vaunted programme has reached just 3.27 million recipients as of April 29, with more than 1,000 kitchens operating across the archipelago, the ministry said. 

Recent findings by antigraft watchdog Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) showed President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship initiative, the free nutritious meal program, lacks key principles of good governance, showing poor accountability and transparency and leaving it vulnerable to fund mismanagement.

The free nutritious meals program has faced intense public scrutiny following several food poisoning incidents that have caused hundreds of students to be hospitalized since its launch in January.