Self-sufficiency and natural disasters

Dec 17, 2025 | Politics

President Prabowo Subianto is obsessed with self-sufficiency in food and energy. So, his lesson learnt from natural disaster killing thousands of people and millions isolated from cyclone in northern tip of Sumatra Island is the need for a local-level self sufficiency...

West Java’s Housing Freeze Policy

Dec 17, 2025 | Market

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi’s decision to suspend housing construction permits across the province has quickly evolved from an environmental policy into a national governance problem. What was framed as disaster mitigation is now testing the limits of...

Binar and the reality check facing EdTech ambitions

Dec 17, 2025 | Market

For several years, Binar Academy has been held up as one of the most credible edtech success stories. Founded by Alamanda Shantika, a former senior product leader at Gojek, Binar emerged with a compelling narrative: closing Indonesia’s digital talent gap while...

MBG program on school break?

Dec 17, 2025 | Politics

The holiday season is around the corner and some schools are already closed. This, however, doesn’t mean that the MBG program also comes to a halt. SPPG kitchens will continue distributing free meals to students to ensure their nutritional needs are met. Here’s the...

When Sinarmas enters LNG transportation business

Dec 17, 2025 | Market

Sinarmas, controlled by Widjaja Family, is not a new player in energy sector. Other than operating power plants, the group is one of the largest coal miners in the country (through Berau Coal and Golden Energy Mines). But, the group’s entry into oil and gas surprised...

Hefty fines without legal challenge?

Dec 17, 2025 | Law

Some nickel associations have reportedly written a letter to President Prabowo Subianto complaining about hefty administrative fines charged to those using forest area without proper permits.  They complained about Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No....

The curious acquisition of Naga 3

Dec 17, 2025 | Market

KLSE-listed Velesto Energy Berhad informed market authorities on Tuesday (Dec 16) that PT Indonesia Drilling Energy (IDE) has signed a sale and purchase agreement for its jack-up drilling rig, Naga 3, for a total consideration of US$63 million.  “Following the...

Social Media Ban for Underaged Users

Dec 16, 2025 | Market

After months of deliberation and preparation, Indonesia is finally set to enact a social media ban for underaged users, following in the footsteps of Australia that became the world-first country to do so. The new policy, which will take effect from March 2026, is...

Coal Journal

Dec 16, 2025 | Market

China Shenhua Energy Company, one of the world’s largest coal producers, sold 37 million tons of coal last month, down 3.6% year-on-year, confirming softening demand across China, the largest importer of the commodity. China Shenhua informed HKSE on Monday (Dec 15)...

EV Industry Update

Dec 16, 2025 | Industries

The Vietnamese EV manufacturer VinFast has officially inaugurated its manufacturing plant in Subang, West Java province with an initial production capacity of 50,000 units per annum, following its Indian factory’s inaugurated last August. The company said that the...