Asian equities jumped Thursday after a three-day rout sparked by the Middle East war, but concerns about an extended conflict helped oil extend gains, while analysts warned of more volatility ahead.

The more realistic question is whether Indonesia can help slow the climb, widening the space for restraint before escalation crosses a dangerous threshold.

Cross-border data flows raise the question whether the authority that sustains safety and soundness remains fully enforceable once the relevant information is placed in another jurisdiction. 

China set its economic growth target for 2026 at 4.5%-5%, a slight downgrade from the 5% pace achieved last year, which leaves room for greater, albeit not decisive, efforts to curb industrial overcapacity and rebalance the economy.

Off Sri Lanka, an Iranian ship that had been on a friendly visit to India was suddenly sunk by a US submarine, the first such torpedoing since World War II. The attack killed at least 87 people, Sri Lankan officials said, with 61 remaining missing. 

The relevant question is no longer whether Indonesia should have signed the ART. It is what Indonesia does with the leverage it still holds.

As global trade deals collide with Middle East volatility, Indonesia faces a "policy dilemma" where sacrificing short-term growth may be the only way to save long-term stability.

The import bribery case implicating three customs officials has entered a new phase with the discovery of several safe houses in Jakarta, where investigators found a stash of money amounting to billions of rupiah. The emergence of what appears to be a sophisticated bribery network not only further erodes institutional credibility but also raises a deeper question: Can corruption at the Customs Office truly be eradicated?

The quasi-opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has stepped up criticism of government programs and policy decisions, including questioning President Prabowo Subianto’s silence on the escalating Middle East crisis, signaling a shift toward a more assertive counterbalance in the absence of strong legislative opposition.

In a briefing with the country’s top political figures, President Prabowo called for ‘national elite solidarity’ against impacts of the United States-Israel war on Iran.

As the Middle East teeters on the verge of a wider conflict, Jakarta must move beyond intensive monitoring and honor its constitutional mandate to protect its citizens residing in the region.

Civil society and industry groups warn that the agreement on reciprocal trade (ART) could weaken local control over Indonesian data, erode publisher rights and tilt the digital economy further toward US tech giants.

The Jakarta Corruption Court has found a former executive and two lawyers linked to palm oil giant Wilmar Group guilty of bribing judges to clear three palm oil companies in a high-profile corruption case involving crude palm oil (CPO) export permits.

The flow of water from upstream areas is one of the factors triggering the widening of the sinkhole. 

The South Jakarta District Court said the fugitive businessman did not have legal standing for pretrial because he is still at large and failed to appear for interrogation, hindering the KPK’s investigation into his activities.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said the country rescued 32 "critically wounded" sailors aboard the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, which sank just outside the island's territorial waters, said.

Late last week, Indonesia's foreign ministry said that President Prabowo Subianto was willing to travel to Tehran to carry out mediation if agreed by both parties.

The petrochemical company will reduce operational run rates at its plants as it monitors developments in the conflict, predominantly involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Hundreds were crowded at Ngurah Rai International Airport, many dressed in shorts, flip-flops and summer dresses, their expressions dour.

Trump called Spain a "terrible" ally on Tuesday as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

The US State Department ordered non-emergency US government employees and the family members of US government personnel from US consulates in Lahore and Karachi to leave Pakistan due to "safety risks", the US embassy in Pakistan said in a statement.

The Southeast Asian country, which is one of the world's top chip exporters, signed an agreement with the firm last March to boost production of high-end semiconductors, as the US-China tech trade war shook global markets.

If convicted by the Senate at trial, Duterte would be removed from office and disqualified from holding any future government position.

Asian stocks tanked on Wednesday, with a record-breaking market crash in Seoul, as investors dumped crowded bets on chipmakers on worries a widening Middle East war will drive an oil shock that raises inflation and delays interest rate cuts.

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has reaffirmed its commitment to swift capital market reforms aimed at addressing transparency concerns around Indonesian stocks flagged by global index compiler MSCI.  

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) has rejected claims that an elementary school student’s death in Bengkulu was linked to the government’s free meals program, as the initiative faces mounting scrutiny over mass food poisoning incidents and potential corruption concerns.

Purbaya said expenditure on Indonesia's free meals program could be scaled back, saving the country about Rp 100 trillion ($6 billion).